With so many options to prevent hair loss, it is essential to understand the potential risks of each treatment before committing to something that may or may not work. Hair transplants are a form of cosmetic surgery that many people consider in their search for hair loss solutions.
Hair transplants are an aggressively-marketed treatment for hair loss, with practices spending hundreds of thousands of dollars a month on infomercials, print ads, and billboards across the U.S. The procedures involve taking hair that already exists and redistributing it on bald areas of your scalp. However, hair transplants are usually not a permanent solution. In many cases, hair loss is attributed to conditions like alopecia which continue to cause hair loss even after the hair transplant has been performed.
Cost Compared to Results
Hair transplants are expensive, and recipients are likely to spends tens-of-thousands of dollars out of their own pocket to have multiple surgeries. The patient can receive several thousand grafts during each surgery, but multiple surgeries are necessary to ensure the greatest amount of hair density is achieved. The average density of hair follicular units on a non-balding scalp is anywhere from 90 to 100 units per square centimeter. Surgery can replace roughly 25 follicular units per square centimeter, meaning the patient could possibly restore up to 28-percent of their original hair density.
There is also a host of risks that come with this type of procedure. WebMD says that these treatments can cost up to $15,000 and are prone to infections and scalp bleeding. Inflammation of the transplanted hair follicles or folliculitis can also develop causing pain and swelling. Other side effects are permanent scar tissue and unnatural looking hair growth. In fact, in an interview with the Daily Mail, 51-year-old Graham Ryder said that he left the procedure with over 50 scars all over his scalp after his surgery failed. He booked a hair transplant after losing his hair 30 years ago and rapidly lost the rest of his hair in the days after his procedure. This left 50 very distinct tufts of hair from the transplanted follicles standing on his scalp. If Graham tried a scalp micropigmentation treatment with us at Hairline Ink, he would have no scars and a brand new, custom-designed hairline. At this point, Graham is trying to maintain a positive outlook and is seeking one last surgery to remove the scars.
Complications of Hair Transplants
The typical hair transplant procedure involves the removal of a strip of hair from the lower neck where the hair is more or less permanent. This strip is then placed over the balding areas on the top of the scalp. However, this can cause unforeseen problems. If the balding pattern isn’t fully understood or continues after the transplant then the transplanted hair can continue growing while the hair around it falls out. This can cause an odd, patchy pattern of permanent hair and bare scalp.
Some experts guarantee they can return up to 30-percent of a patient’s original hair density, but this is not a consistent result. Other doctors will try to transplant at higher densities, but only if they are reasonably certain that the scalp’s blood supply won’t be overwhelmed. Otherwise, the patient can experience shock hair loss soon after their surgery. Shock hair loss is one of the unfortunate side effects of hair transplants that results in the loss of natural hair, either from the patient’s donor site or at the site of the transplant. This can leave the patient with less hair than they originally started with, and create a vicious cycle for someone who is desperate to treat hair loss with more hair transplant surgeries.
When it comes to combating hair loss, proper research into all the different procedures available is the most important step. Talk with a doctor before pursuing any kind of treatment so you fully understand your scalp’s balding pattern and can find the procedure that compliments your hairline.
Hairline Ink is home to multiple hair loss experts. For several years, we have refined our techniques to offer affordable and effective solutions for men and women who are struggling with hair loss. Our unique application recreates the look of natural hair follicles that grow on the scalp in three treatments or less. To understand more about scalp micropigmentation and why it may be the best option for you, contact the experts at Hairline Ink.
Have questions about hair loss? Hairline Ink has the answers. If you or someone you know is suffering from hair loss, contact our team of experts to learn how scalp micropigmentation can help you to defy hair loss and reinvent the way you feel. We offer Scalp Micropigmentation in over 50 US cities. Call or text us today at 833-HAIR-INK (833-424-7465) to schedule an appointment, learn about our pricing, or to get a free quote!
