When suffering from a hair loss condition, you have three options: you choose to wear a wig or hairpiece, make peace with the condition and live your life, or get a hair restoration procedure. Which one will you choose? Before answering, you should know that hair plays a big role in not only our facial beauty but our general appearance.
Advanced hair restoration techniques such as FUE hair transplant have made it easier to restore hair without spending a lot of money. Today, we will explain the various latest hair restoration techniques and what they have to offer. However, you should know that not everyone can get a hair transplant procedure. Several factors will determine if you are the right candidate for the procedure. Some of these factors include:
Hair Transplant Eligibility
Before opting for a hair transplant procedure, you need to know if the procedure will work well for you. Once you know what to expect from the procedure’s outcome, you won’t be disappointed if it doesn’t meet your expectations. To know whether you are eligible, here are several factors that you need to consider. Here are some of them:
The Cause of the Hair Loss
You will know that you are a good candidate for a hair transplant procedure if the hair loss cause is due to trauma that resulted from balding. You are also eligible if the cause of the hair loss was brought about by androgenic alopecia or traction alopecia. The hair transplant procedure won’t work for anyone who is suffering from full androgenic baldness. This is alopecia totals or an autoimmune disorder. However, these hair loss conditions are quite rare.
The Patient’s Age
For a hair transplant to work effectively, the patient needs to be 21 and above years old. A hair transplant at this age will produce desirable results because the patient will have a stabilized hair loss pattern.
Sufficient Donor Hair
Another critical factor that may affect a hair transplant is whether the patient has enough healthy hair follicles in the donor area. Donor area refers to the area where hair needs to be extracted for transplantation. If a patient has less healthy hair at the scalp’s back, the transplant procedure won’t work.
Choosing Hair Transplant Technique
Although there are several hair restoration techniques, the most effective one is the hair transplant treatment. Selecting the best hair restoration method can be tricky if you don’t have the slightest idea of what a hair transplant is. Understanding how each procedure works first will help you make an informed decision. The two latest methods of hair transplant are surgical and non-surgical. Let’s look at what each method involves. The surgical methods of hair transplantation are more effective compared to the non-surgical procedures of hair restoration. The non-surgical hair restoration techniques include:
- Finasteride
- Minoxidil
- PRP for hair loss
The surgical methods include:
- Follicular unit transplantation
- Follicular unit extraction
- Sapphire FUE
- DHI Choi
Surgical Hair Transplant Techniques
There are several steps involved when performing a surgical hair transplant procedure. They include:
- Drawing the hairline
- Shaving
- Applying local anesthetic
- Extracting grafts
- Separating follicular units
- Opening channels
- Implanting grafted hair in the incisions.
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
The FUE hair transplant procedure is one of the most advanced methods of hair transplant. It is preferred more often because it doesn’t leave a linear scar in the donor area, only tiny white spots. The doctor will use general anesthesia while performing this hair transplant. Hair grafts are removed from the donor area using a micro punch device. This device removes individual follicular units. After harvesting the hair follicles, the doctor will implant them in the recipient area.
Sapphire Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
This method of hair treatment involves the same steps as the FUE hair transplant procedure. The difference is in the material used to create the surgical device. The scalpel blades are made from sapphire gemstones. The blade is used to make incisions in the recipient area, used for implanting graft hair. The healthy follicles are protected from damage due to the V-shaped scalpel blade, making it easier to make specific and immaculate minuscule punctures.
Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)
The FUT method of hair restoration works the same way as the FUE hair transplant procedure. The only difference is how hair is extracted and transplanted. After extracting a strip of skin with hair follicles from the donor area, the doctor will cut the graft hair into follicular units. Small cuts are then made in the recipient area for implantation. This method can be used with PRP for hair loss procedures to promote healing and speed up hair growth.
Conclusion
Having a hair transplant surgery is the same as any other surgical procedure. There are risks involved, such as allergic reactions and excessive bleeding. However, all these side effects are manageable. Before settling for a particular hair restoration clinic, ensure that you have done your research first to see whether they are reputable. You should also consult your doctor first to see whether you are eligible.