EVERYTHING'S BIGGER IN TEXAS, INCLUDING HAIR LOSS: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT HAIR REPLACEMENT OPTIONS
Hair loss is a very big problem that more than half the population will have to deal with during their lifetime. The numbers are quite staggering in fact with as much as 50% of women and 70-85% of men affected by age 50+. When you start losing your hair your self-esteem can plummet, and that spills over into nearly every aspect of life. For a problem this big you need a big solution, and that’s what we are going to talk about today- your options for hair replacement here in Texas.
The Best Permanent Hair Replacement Solution
The most common type of hair loss is androgenic alopecia, also known as male or female pattern baldness. This type of hair loss results from a rise in the production of a substance called DHT or dihydrotestosterone that affects the hair follicles causing them to stop growing hair. As we age DHT levels rise and hair loss progresses. Certain areas of the scalp on the sides and back of the head remain unaffected because those follicles are not sensitive to DHT. This means that through the advancements of modern science and medicine hair transplant procedures have been developed to harvest those hair follicles that are DHT and graft them into the balding areas to create a fuller head of hair. And because these follicles are DHT resistant you never have to worry about them falling out again, aside from the hair shedding that occurs naturally in your hair’s growth cycle.
Points To Ponder Before Considering Hair Transplant Surgery
There are a few things that you need to think about before seriously considering hair transplant surgery. The biggest concern is finding a hair transplant clinic with the very best hair transplant surgeon that is fully qualified and highly skilled. You will find exactly that here at the Hair Restoration Institute. The next thing to consider is having a one-on-one consultation with the hair loss experts at your clinic to allow them to examine your scalp and evaluate your hair loss. After discussing the potential complications, risks, and side effects of surgery your hair restoration team will develop a personalized plan of care to ensure the best possible outcome.
What Is The Process Like?
There are two major types of hair transplant surgery to discuss. They both offer very natural-looking results. They really only differ in the way that they are performed. Both hair transplant procedures start with your scalp being shaved down by the surgeon. This allows them to see your scalp very clearly and provides direct access to all of your hair follicles and scalp. Next, your scalp will be thoroughly cleaned and numbed in preparation for the surgery. From here is where things differ between the procedures.
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)- With an FUE transplant procedure the surgeon uses a special medical suction device to gently and precisely extract individual follicular units from the donor areas of your scalp in a diffuse pattern that leaves no discernable scarring. Follicular units typically contain 1-4 hairs. They are carefully sorted to ensure even hair density and treated to prepare them to be grafted into the balding areas of your scalp. The implantation device used inserts the prepared follicles into the scalp in a way that mimics natural hair growth in both pattern and direction of hair growth. The surgeon will expertly construct a natural-looking hairline and fill in thin spots in a way that makes your hair look well distributed over your entire scalp.
Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)- The way hair follicles are harvested is the main difference between FUE and this procedure. With a FUT transplant, the surgeon harvests a strip of hair follicles from the back of your scalp. The rest of the procedure is essentially the same as an FUE transplant. The donor strip of an FUT transplant is very thin, but it will leave a very discreet linear scar. Unless you like to wear your hair extremely short this should never be an issue because the scar will be completely concealed by the remaining hair. The biggest benefit of this procedure is its lower price point.
Recovery Time
Recovery from hair transplant surgery is not long or difficult, but FUE transplant patients tend to recover just a little faster. Your scalp should be healed and free of scabs within around 10 days. Within a few days to a few weeks of the transplant, you will experience what is known as transplant shock where the grafted hairs fall out. This is normal. The hairs will gradually regrow and within 6 months to 1 year, you will have a fuller-looking head of hair again.
Keeping Realistic Expectations
It’s important that you realize that a hair transplant cannot give you more hair than you already have. Its purpose is to redistribute existing hairs evenly over your scalp to create the look of fuller hair. You won’t have as much hair as you did in your teens, you’ll just look like you do.
If you’re ready to explore permanent hair replacement to treat your hair loss schedule a private complimentary consultation with the caring hair loos professionals here at the Hair Restoration Institute. We will evaluate the health of your hair and scalp and the degree of hair loss and discuss the best hair replacement options to restore your hair and bring back the look you want. You can find us at 1201 West Lancaster Avenue in Fort Worth, Texas, or call 817-854-HAIR (4247) to schedule your consultation today.