Last Updated on March 5, 2021 by Filip Poutintsev
Hair transplantation is a surgical procedure that extracts follicles from one part of the scalp and implants it on the bald or thinning area.
The hair to be implanted is taken from the posterior and sides of the scalp and are transplanted to the cap and frontal areas of the patient scalp. They even use beard hair in men, eyelashes, chest hair and eyebrows for the restoration process.
Hair transplantation was first introduced in the late 19th century. Japan introduced modern transplant techniques in the 1930s, but couldn’t get attention due to world war II.
In the late 1980s, B.L. Limmer introduced the use of the stereo-microscope to dissect a single donor strip into small micrografts. The follicular unit hair transplant procedure has continued to evolve, becoming more refined and minimally invasive as the size of the graft incisions have become smaller.
Hair transplantation ensures the growth of healthy hair with the life long guarantee, and what more do you need. There are two types of hair transplantation cure i:e, FUE(Follicular Unit Extraction) and FUT(Follicular Unit Transplantation) based upon the density and thickness of your hair.
Hair transplant has gained popularity in recent years. Hair transplantation is a simple surgical procedure showing instant or faster outcomes than other transplantation or hair re-grow methods.
As it is a surgery there are some advantages and disadvantages which can inherit during hair transplantation. Some people will get a satisfying outcome which they never expected to have, others may be disappointed with the unnatural looks of the hair.
Pros of Hair Transplant
Hair transplant is a surgical procedure that pursuits restoration of hair loss caused by male baldness, trauma or burns. Hair loss is also treated by living a healthy lifestyle and having a diet with vitamins and micronutrients and regular exercise, such as with a personal fitness trainer.
But hair loss caused due to genetic or hormonal conditions cannot be easily modified by these measures or with the use of drugs. The best option which shows instant and the guaranteed result is hair transplant. Here are some advantages of hair transplant stated below.
Natural Hair
The eligible looks are the major advantage of hair transplants. The looks of the hair are natural after the transplantation process. The donor site is not visible after the surgery and the hairlines are mixed well with the person’s features.
The implanted hair grows naturally and the result is better than the other methods that use synthetic hair or other techniques. Experts place the grafts taken from the donor site(implanted hair is taken from this site) to create the natural hair.
Guaranteed Result
The instant result is the advantage of hair transplant surgery that attracts many candidates. It’s your choice from which part and how much amount of hair you want to transplant. It guarantees the cultivation of healthy hair on your head. The hair you gain will last for a lifetime. From 6-9months you can see the 50% growth of new hairs.
Well-distributed Hairs
The distribution of the follicles is done in a well-balanced manner. The overall look of the hair is intact, which enhances the finalized outcome, and increases the chances of successful transplantation. Harvesting hairs at follicular components eases the transplantation procedure.
Simple Procedure
The whole process is carried out only under anesthesia. It may require treatment more than once but the result is permanent right after transplant. Follicles are extracted from the areas like mostly back of the scalp, it will permanently stop hair fall.
The hair follicles are taken from the area genetically resistant to balding. The minor but scary treatment carried out easily can also be included in the advantage of hair transplant.
Long-Term Results
Whereas other treatments like minoxidil, finasteride requires repetition but hair transplantation is carried out in multiple session but at once. After its implantation treatment, post-operation maintenance and touch-ups nothing is required. The most significant advantage of hair transplant is to produce long-term results.
Safe & Painless
The hair transplant surgery only requires anesthesia as well as its effect doesn’t last long and is also manageable. Not much sharper blades are use and no incision and sewing are required. It proves to be safe and painless. Such an effective process is carried out safely and is painless.
One-time Process
Once the hair replacement is carried out its life long. The advantage of a hair transplant is to be a one-time process. You don’t have to compromise with your hairstyle life long, once a hair transplant is done it is for a lifetime. You can apply and change any operations but the hair continues to grow.
Improves Self-Confidence
Premature hair loss and thinning hair have caused many problems among youth. As a matter of fact, in today’s world appearance matters the most. After the completion of the treatment, the person would not believe what they are seeing.
Hair transplant improves self-esteem which motivates the youthful appearance and increases inner confidence in both social and business interaction.
Cons of Hair Transplant
Hair transplant is a simple procedure with uses anesthesia as the sedative to carry out the surgery. But the risk of having skin bumps and the scar is still possible. If the doctor is not experienced then your hair might not be the same or would look unnatural.
While talking about the disadvantages of hair transplant it is very expensive. Here are some disadvantages of hair transplant listed below.
Cost
The cost of the operation is the biggest disadvantage of hair transplants. They demand fee upfront as per the procedure and the chance of failing is 10% which may be caused by improper implanting of grafts, injury, surgery, and exposure to certain medications, resulting in the wastage of money, energy and time.
Instead of this expensive method, you can go through natural treatment like shampoos, changing lifestyle and diets. Financially comparing you may prefer other options rather than hair transplant surgery.
Skin Bumps and Scarring May Appear
The risk of hair follicles dying before hair regrowth lead to bumps and lumps on the area of transplantation. The larger area of scars can be visible on the head of the patient which is known as stretch-back scars. There is minimal possibility of healing the scar which is also one of the disadvantages of hair transplant.
Infection
As the procedure is simple and convenient, the risk of infection in the area may lead to headaches, black eyes, nausea, and other located symptoms. Nerve damage on the donor site is the commonly found problem in hair transplant treatment. Even the sensitivity of the scalp can decrease in rare cases.
No Margin of Error
It is the one time process and cannot be reversed. Due to the male pattern baldness, the transplanted patches only remain while the surrounding area may start to fall. This results in a weird-looking hair pattern and odd appearance.
Mistakenly if the hair is implanted in the wrong direction or move during healing process hair looks unnatural. The irreversible procedure is also the disadvantage of hair transplant.
Retrieval Time
You need to prevent itching, pulling, scratching which would irritate the transplanted area delaying the recovery process. Protecting the hair from the direct sun contact and avoiding the pressure from hair follicles by sleeping with your neck and head raise is mostly recommended. If all these things aren’t kept under consideration then it would prove to be one of the vital disadvantages of hair transplant.
Pregnable Hair Follicles
As the follicles are transplanted from one area to another the exposed sizable part will be vulnerable. The scalp-safeguards the hair follicle from trauma and if not carried out with sincerity the follicle may not grow or may not be eligible for transplantation. This disadvantage of hair transplant makes people think about it, whether or not to have a treatment