Most Common Question about a Hair Transplant – Answer Revealed Here
There are times when the public is not sure about the advanced hair restoration methods that are available to them, and this is especially true when it comes to hair transplants. Many people still think of hair transplant results as being the very noticeable hair plugs that were common in the past. Thankfully, hair transplants have evolved quite a bit over the past decade or two and the older, obvious hair plugs are a thing of the past. Even with the advances in hair transplant technology, there is one common question that seems to be on the mind of most patients (and it might be on your mind!). In order to put your mind at ease, this article will answer the common question:
- “Are the results of a hair transplant permanent????”
Hair Transplant Results Explained
In general, a hair transplant is when the surgeon takes donor hair from the back or sides of the scalp (the donor area on the body) and transplants it to the balding area of the head. The back and sides of the scalp are the most popular areas for hair grafts as the hair on this part of the head is resistant to balding. The hair grafts that are moved to the area of the scalp with balding or thinning hair act like the native hair in that area and the results are both long-lasting and natural in appearance.
But…How long is “long-lasting” when it comes to the final results?
Patients who are worried about the longevity of their hair restoration procedure will be happy to know that the results are permanent. The results are not immediately visible, and it can take anywhere from a year to eighteen months to see the final results. But, once the healing process has finished, the hair that was transplanted into the scalp will remain there for a lifetime. The thinning and balding patches will fill-in on the head and will look just as natural as the rest of the hair on the scalp.
Hair Transplant – Will Another One be Needed?
The answer to the question, “Will you need another hair transplant,” is both “yes” and “no.”
Confused? Let us take a moment to explain this double answer.
If you have a hair transplant, that section or area of the scalp will usually not need another hair restoration surgery (unless you experience some sort of accident or traumatic experience in the treated area). One other exception is if the doctor informs you in advance that you will need to undergo multiple sessions to achieve the desired results so you will know going into the process that your procedure will take more than one scheduled surgery day.
There are also some patients who are quite happy with the results of their hair transplant, but they are starting to see balding patches on other areas of the scalp. They might decide to have an additional hair transplant on another section of their head in order to address additional thinning or balding spots.
Hair Transplant – What is the Most Popular Technique?
The most popular hair transplant method that is currently being performed by experienced and board-certified hair transplant surgeons is Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). This hair transplant method is performed by the surgeon individually harvesting the hair grafts from the donor area of the scalp. This surgical method allows the hair grafts to be removed individually without the need to create, or leave, a linear scalp scar that will be visible after the surgery.
(FYI: There are times when a patient might not have enough high-quality donor hair on the scalp to provide the desired results. If this is the case, the surgeon can use donor hair from other areas of the body such as the beard and scalp and transplant this hair into the targeted area on the head.)
Hair Transplant – When is it Time to Have a Procedure?
There is no certain time or “right time” to have a hair transplant. In other words, you do not hit a certain age that makes it the perfect time to have a procedure.
The right time to schedule a consultation appointment with a doctor is when you are starting to notice thinning hair or bald patches appearing on the scalp. It is also the right time to get more information when you are tired of the appearance of a balding head, and you want to make a change in your appearance.
This article started with a very common question about the surgery, and you should enter the consultation appointment with as many questions as necessary for you to feel comfortable about having a hair restoration surgery. A patient who is knowledgeable and informed about each step of the hair transplant process is one that is able to make an educated decision about whether or not a hair transplant is the right choice for them to achieve the look they desire for their hairline.
