Hair Transplant Myths – The Truth Revealed
All across the globe, millions of people experience some form of hair loss due to genetics or a medical condition. Many of them have the option to restore their hairline thanks to a hair transplant that takes hair grafts from the donor section of the scalp (typically the back and sides of the head) and moves them to the thinning or balding areas of the scalp. While this seems like a procedure that is very easy to understand, there is still some confusion and misconceptions that are part of the hair restoration process. In this article, we will discuss some of the most common myths regarding hair transplants in order to make anyone who is interested in having the procedure feel more comfortable about making the decision to have the treatment.
Hair Transplant Myths – Are They True?
One of the most common myths about a hair transplant is that the results are only temporary. This is not the case as the hair that is transplanted from the donor area of the scalp is resistant to balding. As mentioned earlier, the donor area of the scalp is normally the back and sides of the scalp as the hair that is located here is resistant to the balding process. This means that it will not be subject to the factors that caused the original hair in the balding section of the scalp to fall out. In other words, once this hair is transplanted to the thinning and balding section of the scalp, it will not fall out. This does not mean that additional balding will not occur on other areas of the scalp but the section of the scalp that is treated by a hair transplant will not be impacted by the balding process once the hair grafts are placed in the desired area.
When it comes to the age of patients, there is a common misconception that older patients are not ideal candidates for a hair transplant. There is not an upper age limit for hair restoration surgery. No matter the advanced age of a patient, they can have a hair transplant as long as they are identified as an ideal patient by their surgeon. On the other hand, there might be a lower age limit for the procedure as a younger patient might not have a clear hair loss pattern on the scalp (yet) when they are interested in having the treatment. A clear pattern of hair loss will help the surgeon more easily identify and distinguish the balding areas of the scalp from the non-balding hair. By identifying and determining the reasons for the hair loss, the surgeon will be able to share the reasons for the hair loss with the patient and also tell the person the extent of the results they can expect to see.
Another common myth (and fear) that patients believe about the hair transplant process is that surgery is a painful experience. This might have been the case many years ago when hair plugs were the most common type of hair transplant procedure. During this treatment, the surgeon would “punch out” large areas of hair and skin from the back of the scalp. These areas of skin and hair would then be transplanted into the balding area of the scalp. As medical technology and knowledge has improved over the years, the performance of hair transplants has also evolved to the point that the amount of pain felt during the surgery is little to non-existent. Patients are given anesthesia before the beginning of the procedure in order to keep them comfortable and free from pain while the surgeon performs the task of transplanting hair grafts into the scalp. There might be some pain that is felt once the anesthesia wears off, but this pain will not last for an extended period of time. In addition, patients will likely be prescribed pain medication in order to manage the amount of pain they experience after the procedure.
One final myth about the topic of hair transplants is that it is only an ideal treatment option for male patients. Many females can also experience hair loss and they can have a hair transplant to restore the look of their hairline. In general, hair loss in female patients can result in hair that is miniaturized as well as hair that becomes much finer in its appearance and texture as the person ages. In addition, female patients often show a gradual amount of thinning on the scalp while still maintaining the appearance of their front hairline. In addition, the progression of female hair loss is sometimes viewed as a pattern of diffuse thinning across the entire scalp. The diffuse thinning pattern means the female patient might not be an ideal candidate due to a lack of stable donor hair. However, they should consult with a medical professional who specializes in treating hair loss to determine if they are a viable surgical candidate.
Now that the truth behind these myths has been revealed, a person who is interested in having a hair transplant can schedule a consultation appointment with a board-certified, medical professional who specializes in hair transplants. The doctor will examine the scalp to identify the reason for the hair loss and also make sure the patient is an ideal candidate. The surgeon will also discuss each step of the process to make sure the patient has the knowledge they need to make an informed decision about having a hair transplant.
