Things to
consider before a hair transplant
Having a hair transplant is a big
decision for a number of reasons. The cost of a high quality hair
transplant can be a significant outlay for many people. A bad hair transplant
can have major long-term detrimental effects on the patient, both psychological
and physical. Despite the claims of some clinics, there is no such thing as a
non-surgical method of carrying out a hair transplant. A hair transplant is an
elective surgery.
Important things to
consider before having a hair transplant?
1. Do you need a hair transplant?
Nobody needs a hair
transplant, If your hair
loss is causing you concern, speak to an expert. They will talk you through
your treatment options.
2. The cause of your hair loss
There are many causes of hair loss
but, in the overwhelming majority of men experiencing hair loss, the cause is
hereditary Androgenetic Alopecia, more commonly known as “male pattern
baldness”. Hair transplant surgery is a permanent treatment for Androgenetic Alopecia.
3. Your age
It is important that the hair loss
pattern is established before surgery is undertaken. Therefore, young men under
25 are often offered medical treatment initially, which usually proves very
effective. The second factor determined by a patient’s age is how it influences
the hair transplant design. A patient suffering from pattern hair loss will
continue to lose their non-transplanted hair throughout their lifetime. That’s
a crucial factor to consider when it comes to designing a natural and
undetectable hair transplant.
4. Alternatives to
hair transplant surgery
Medical treatment is available for
hair loss. There are two US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved
medications which have proven effective as a hair loss treatment in more than
80% of male users with hair loss. This treatment is effective but not
permanent. When you stop taking the medication, your hair loss will resume.
5. Skill and experience of hair
transplant surgeon
The skill and experience of your
surgeon in this process is vital to a successful outcome. The degree of
scarring you will experience in the donor area following a hair transplant will
be determined by your body’s own ability to heal, the technique used to extract
the grafts, and the skill of the surgeon.
The difference between FUT and FUE is
essentially the way the donor hair being transplanted is removed from the
patient’s scalp. For many patients the optimal treatment plan would involve the
use of both techniques over the patient’s life. Before you make a decision as
to what technique you wish to choose, a consultation with a properly qualified
consultant surgeon is essential.
7. How soon after surgery can I return to work?
Depending
on the type of procedure you have done and type of work you do, it is often
possible to go back to work within a few days. Most of our patients return to
work after about 3 days. Your surgeon will confirm this at your consultation.
8.
What
is the success rate of hair transplant surgery?
In a non-smoker between 95-98% of the
grafts will grow successfully provided the highest international standards of
surgery are used in the transplant procedure, such as those used at CUTIS. Our studies have shown that 98% of
all the grafts we place will eventually grow normal hair.
If you are considering hair surgery
and would like to arrange a consultation with one of our hair transplant
doctors, please contact us.
