Hair transplant is recognized as the most effective option for restoring lost hair, is this permanent? Nevertheless, clients considering a hair transplant always ask the same important question: Will it last, or will I inevitably lose the hair I’m replacing?
The good news is yes – a hair transplant is permanent, and here’s why …
An Ample Supply
Most people have permanent hair in ample supply – even people who experience severe hair loss. That’s because hair is usually found in the back of the head, where we don’t see it and it doesn’t make an impact on our appearance. During a hair transplant, those healthy hair follicles are taken from one location and moved to the area where your hair is thinning, or where your scalp is bald.
Whether your hair restoration specialist uses the FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) method – in which each follicular unit is individually relocated – or the FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) method – in which a strip of tissue is removed and individual follicular units are transplanted – the procedure is carefully performed to match the patient’s hair growth pattern so that new hair will continue to grow in the targeted area.
A Painless, Permanent Procedure
A hair transplant is a relatively simple and painless outpatient procedure that can be done in less than one day. In fact, it’s not the procedure itself that is time-consuming, but making sure a natural-looking hairline is created using the correct hair textures and placement that matches the shape of your face and features.
And grow they will because the transplanted hairs are resistant to the DHT hormone that causes hair loss in the first place – which means they won’t thin or fall out at a later date. In fact, it is the permanence of a hair transplant that makes it the best choice over temporary hair loss solutions. When performed by an experienced medical professional, a hair transplant will look perfectly natural because it is your own hair.
Temporary Shedding
Although you can experience some additional hair loss after a transplant, this shedding is to be expected and usually temporary. That’s because it is caused by a stress-related condition known as Telogen Effluvium (TE), which is triggered by trauma to the scalp during the hair restoration procedure. TE typically develops around three months following the transplant and is linked to the hair growth cycle, causing some a temporary halt to hair production. It’s a short-term effect, followed by a long-term resumption of healthy hair growth within about three months after the procedure.
Let’s face it. Toupees and hairpieces are passé, spray-on fibers will mask thinning hair until your next shower, and topical formulas may or may not prevent further hair loss until you stop using them – but a hair transplant is permanent.
Whatever is causing your hair loss, MAXiM Hair Restoration has plastic and hair transplant surgeons who every day artfully create an attractive hairline that is unique to each clients. We have convenient locations throughout the United States in New York, Long Island, Connecticut, Chicago, Dallas, and the Washington, DC area, as well as several international locations. Contact MAXiM today to find out if you are a candidate for a hair transplant.
Once a person determines they want to do something permanent about their hair loss, they will have various treatments to consider. A couple of options available worth mentioning and widely chosen on the market for hair restoration solutions are FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction/Excision) and FUT (Follicular Unit Transplant). Both procedures are very effective and accessible to patients.
For many people, a healthy head of hair provides feelings of vitality, energy, youthfulness, and a sense of identity. However, baldness and thinning hair is something that affects millions of men and women around the globe. Hair loss can be a concern no matter what age you are, with many people showing noticeable hairline recession or hair loss as early as their late teens and 20s.
Living with noticeable hair loss can be traumatic to young people, causing a loss of confidence and making them feel older than they are. Female hair loss is a problem that affects about 50% of women at some point in their lives and it is much tougher at times because society expects a woman to always have hair in comparison to men. Although it is not as traumatic for older people, it still affects their self-image.
Are you Choosing a Hair Transplant Procedure Between, FUE and FUT?
Hair loss can occur for a variety of reasons, but if you are in your 20s or older, and are worried about hair loss, you may be exploring ways to address the problem. We have all seen those hair loss and hair restoration commercials that target people who are insecure about their balding or thinning of hair. Some people try to deal with the problem with a scalp micropigmentation, hair loss solutions such as Rogaine, medications such as Propecia (Fin########), and other methods. Unfortunately, these solutions are not always effective or convenient. It can become overwhelming and frustrating to try and navigate through all the options that exist in the hair restoration industry.
There is definitely a lot of different information out there, which makes getting familiar with the accurate data a key factor towards achieving the best outcome. It is greatly advised to become an educated consumer and know the details about effective and permanent treatments such as FUE and FUT.
The great news is that as research and technology continue to grow and evolve, so does hair transplantation surgery. For those who struggle with hair loss, they feel their confidence and sense of self gradually diminish with each fallen hair.
The most common and effective solution is a FUT or FUE, which are proven surgical methods that have helped many people recover their confidence. Let’s explore the differences between the two, and help decide which treatment may be right for you.
FUE: Follicular Unit Extraction
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), also known as follicular transfer (FT), is one of the two primary methods for hair restoration solutions. FUE is a surgical technique that aims to remove a patient’s individual hair or follicular units (hair follicles) one at a time from the back of the scalp, which is known as the donor or harvesting site. This hair transplant procedure is minimally invasive, and after the hair is taken from the donor site it is transplanted into the areas that are experiencing bald patches also called recipient sites. This procedure creates a fuller looking head of hair with an improved visual impact in thinning or bald locations.
Patients who have a genetic hair loss condition called androgenetic alopecia also called male or female pattern baldness, are the best candidates for FUE hair transplantation procedure. Follicular Unit Extraction results in a more natural-looking hairline, with no linear scarring, which means that hair transplant scar revisions are not going to be necessary when receiving this type of procedure.
FUT: Follicular Unit Transplantation
Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) involves removing a strip of tissue from the back of the head, where healthy hair follicles will be removed. The hair follicles are harvested from the strip of tissue before being individually transplanted to the recipient area. FUT allows for a high volume of grafts to be transplanted in a single session.
Some patients report higher levels of discomfort with FUT procedures compared to FUE due to the more invasive nature of the procedure, occurring in the area where the strip of tissue was removed for grafting. The FUT hair transplant method typically results in a very narrow linear scar in the back of the head, that will gradually start to fade with time, and may often be covered with the existing hair.
Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT)
While FUT is a bit quicker than FUE, Follicular Unit Extraction typically is more expensive and provides a more natural look. They both have their ups and downs, but they also will both result in a healthy-looking head of hair. After having a hair transplant, people have noted the hair transplantation procedure as an emotional and transformative experience, giving them more confidence to face life and achieve their goals.
During your initial consultation, your clinical team will determine which transplantation method is best for you based on multiple factors; how much hair loss you have, the size of the thinning area, and the quality & quantity of hair you have as a donor site for the balding areas.
What Are the Pros and Cons of the Two Hair Transplant Techniques?
Both methods, the FUT and FUE include their set of pros and cons. Although both methods provide great outcomes, the more modern and advanced technique is often seen as the Follicular Unit Excision. Both you and your surgeon have to discuss both types of procedures in detail to choose the one that best meets your needs and specifications. Each patient has unique characteristics that are considered in order to choose the appropriate procedure.
Below, we’ll cover some benefits that you and your physician will want to discuss during your initial consultation:
Benefits of FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction/Excision)
No trace of a linear scar is caused by the surgery. The nice thing about FUE is that it does not leave the noticeable scar that FUT can leave behind. During this procedure, individual follicular units are obtained. It only creates a small scar that appears like a dot, which cannot be seen through growing hair. It is also referred to as hypopigmentation due to the minimal scarring appearing only as a small tonal difference in color. This is very beneficial to those people who will like to quickly get back to their normal activities that may require physical strain such as exercise.
Ability to wear hair short without a noticeable scar. Because FUE leaves practically no scars, it is ideal for patients who like to wear their hair very short at the back of the head. This is the case for people that get the number one or number two haircut setting on the hair clippers. Oftentimes, a person may even clip their hair with a 0 and see no visible scarring.
It is a great technique for relatively minor transplants. The FUE method is more appropriate for patients that are younger and don’t have much balding. It is ideal for those who only need a relatively small number of grafts in the hairline.
Benefits of FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation)
This technique is appropriate for people who need a large number of grafts. FUT provides the patient with a larger volume of hair restoration than FUE. Patients that are looking to achieve fuller results from their hair replacement surgery can take advantage of this method.
There will be a linear scar in the back of the head with the FUT technique, which can be covered up with medium length hair. In case the scar is too noticeable, it may be appropriate to perform a hair transplant scar revision.
Another key factor with FUT is that the surgery is completed in a lesser amount of time, which is approximately anywhere from 6-8 hours, give or take, according to the number of required grafts. On the other hand, FUE tends to be more laborious and take longer to complete due to the intricacies of removing each follicular unit one-by-one.
Both FUT and FUE procedures are virtually painless and require only a local anesthetic.
Do hair transplant works on women? Simple, the answer is “YES”. Although hair loss and thinning hair is typically viewed as a problem somewhat unique to men, the fact of the matter is that women are also quite likely to suffer issues associated with hair loss or thinning hair. In fact, women often suffer from a number of common conditions that may result in hair loss, not to mention the variety of habits that are also associated with hair loss or thinning hair. Each of the following can be included among common causes of hair loss in women:
Anemia
Anxiety
Hormonal imbalances
Post-menopausal changes
Pregnancy
Routine daily trauma (due to styling or braiding)
Skin conditions (lupus, melanoma, lichen planis and others)
Stress
Thyroid conditions
Use or discontinuation of certain medications (including birth control)
Due to the variety of causes of hair loss in women, it has been estimated that about a third of all women will suffer some form of hair loss or hair thinning at some point in their lives. As a result, many women find it necessary to seek out a solution to rectify their hair loss or hair thinning. Fortunately, it is possible for women to undergo a hair transplant procedure at a hair transplant clinic in New York City; Greenwich, Connecticut; Chicago, Illinois; Washington DC and Northern Virginia; Houston, Dallas, Texas; Manila, Philippines; Dubai, Abu Dhabi,U.A.E.; and Karachi, Pakistan, as a means for permanently addressing their hair loss or hair thinning, although the viability of a hair transplant procedure will depend upon the root cause of the hair loss or thinning hair.
Does hair transplant work for women?
Hair transplants are indeed effective as a solution for women experiencing some form of hair loss or thinning hair. Prospective female hair transplant patients should seek out an experienced and skilled hair transplant surgeon to schedule an initial consultation, as it will be during this time that the hair transplant doctor can identify the cause of the patient’s hair loss and determine if a hair transplant procedure is the ideal solution. The hair transplant surgeon will also discuss the variety of available solutions, which could include surgical or non-surgical options like FUE, FUT, or scalp micropigmentation.
A female hair transplant patient undergoing a Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT), for example, would have the donor tissue excised from the back or sides of her scalp to be prepared for insertion into the recipient site. Once complete, a female patient can expect the same general timeline for healing and will begin seeing the results of the procedure after a period of four to six months.
What’s better hair transplant for women: Strip or FUE?
Whether the patient is a man or a woman, there are still several factors that the hair transplant doctor and patient should consider before determining the ideal hair transplant procedure. This includes evaluating the pros and cons of each procedure and considering how each procedure aligns with the specific needs of the patient.
A female patient requiring significant coverage might prefer an FUT procedure, as a significant number of grafts can be transplanted during a single hair transplant session. Since most female patients prefer to keep a longer hairstyle, the horizontal scar left behind by the FUT procedure can be easily obscured by the patient’s remaining hair.
Patients with more modest hair loss may instead opt for the FUE procedure, as this no linear scar, no-suture hair transplant procedure allows patients to permanently address their hair loss or hair thinning. Even though the FUE procedure limits the number of follicular unit grafts that can be transplanted during a single procedure, achieving more than adequate coverage is possible for those with less extensive hair loss. With a shorter recovery period, patients can also return to normal activity within a day after the procedure’s completion.
Depending on the nature of their specific hair loss or hair thinning, female hair transplant patients may also be ideal candidates for non-surgical options like scalp micropigmentation, or laser hair therapy.
Hair Transplant Clinic for Women
During the course of an initial consultation at a hair transplant clinic in New York City; Greenwich, Connecticut; Chicago, Illinois; Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia; Houston, Dallas, Texas; Manila, Philippines; Dubai, Abu Dhabi,U.A.E.; and Karachi, Pakistan, a good hair transplant doctor can evaluate the patient’s eligibility for any number of options, including surgical and non-surgical procedures.
It is also possible that the doctor will recommend a combination of surgical and non-surgical solutions, as some patients respond best to a hair transplant procedure like FUT or FUE in conjunction with a topical or oral medication like Rogaine or Propecia.
A tale as old as time, hair loss has plagued man-and-woman kind dating back 3,500 years. Even the great Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine, searched endlessly for “remedies” for baldness around 2,500 years ago. It wasn’t until the 1950s, when tangible solutions – such as Dr. Norman Orentreich’s infamous hair plug, became available. However, these modern-day techniques weren’t without their aesthetic limitations.
Have you experienced significant hair loss, or pattern baldness? If so, you may have tried the creams, foams, and shampoos – but to no avail. As one of many “follicly challenged” among us, you have nothing to fret about. By the age of thirty-five, two-thirds of all American men will deal with some degree of hair loss. Thankfully, hair restoration is offering a concrete solution to the problem – and there are many modes to address your unique needs and concerns.
The first step would be to speak with a reputable hair restoration clinic. Their surgeons can help guide you toward the procedure that is best suited for your individual hair loss. There’s no need for embarrassment surrounding your hair restoration procedure; after all, these doctors and surgeons are highly skilled, and have seen everything from receding hairlines to sparse scalps. Your surgeon will examine your hair and determine if you’re a candidate for Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT) or Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). They will most likely recommend that you be over the age of 30 to undergo either procedure – as hair patterns aren’t fully established prior to that point.
Unlike medications, there are no side effects of Follicular Unit Extraction – making it a smart choice for long-term results. A good metaphor for FUE would be gardening; hairs are transplanted from one location to another, and will continue to grow completely naturally. Best of all, FUE sidesteps the long, linear scars required during FUT, for several smaller, less noticeable marks. If you’re looking to conceal your surgery and fly under the radar as much as possible, first consider how you style your hair. Those who prefer buzz cuts, or short, sleek styles (or those with tight scalps) usually opt for FUE.
As surgeons have harnessed better technology and techniques, much of the stigma surrounding hair restoration has faded away. Additionally, hair transplants are now considered mainstream. High profile celebrities and athletes undergo these procedures in droves as a way of addressing thinning hair & maintaining their youthful good looks; there’s no reason you can’t achieve the same promising results.
The surgeons at Maxim Hair Restoration have performed thousands of these surgeries, and will work meticulously to ensure you achieve optimal results. Not only will you regain a great head of hair; you’ll also capture your confidence to reach goals in other areas of your life – whether it be that big promotion at work, or catching the eye of that special someone. For more information about hair restoration, or to schedule a consultation, visit maximhairrestoration.com to find the location nearest you.
What To Expect From Surgical Hair Transplant? Is pattern baldness making you pull your hair out? You’re not alone. According to the American Hair Loss Association, 95% of males will have faced some degree of hair loss by the age of 35; and this condition affects many women as well. If you’re one of these follicular-challenged fellows, you may have considered surgical hair transplant procedures. Today, this prospect offers several successful and AHLA-approved techniques for remedying thinning hair due to a variety of causes.
There are two main types of Surgical Hair transplant procedures and what to expect? The first is hair transplant, or Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT). In order to utilize FUT, you’ll need to have adequate hair at a donor site that can be transplanted. Typically, when male pattern baldness occurs, a permanent ring of hair will remain around the sides of the head. This “strip method” extracts strips of follicular units.
Because of the method in which this technique is carried out, a patient should be prepared for significant linear scarring; which can sometimes be up to 1.82mm wide. Luckily, a thick head of hair post-surgery will cover this up. If you’re a person who prefers a shorter haircut, you should consider this.
This technique is one case where the risk is worth the reward. If you’ve selected FUT, you’re probably already suffering from considerable balding. Harnessing the power of stereoscopic microscopes, this process gives your surgeon a superior view of the individual hair follicles – allowing them to achieve maximum hair volume. If you undergo FUT, be prepared for longer recuperation periods which can last several weeks.
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is an alternative to traditional hair transplantation, and has myriad benefits when compared to its more invasive counterpart. Conducted by punching small incisions around hair follicles and extracting them, FUE harvests and implants these grafts in sparse areas of the scalp. Because scarring is much more minimal with this procedure, it’s recommended for younger patients, or those whose scars don’t heal as easily. Imagine getting back to work and play sooner; recuperation time is also much more favorable with this procedure. It typically takes about 10 days for a donor site to look healed.
Speak with your surgeon about your role in achieving optimal results with your hair restoration surgery. It all starts with you; most physicians will recommend that a patient stop drinking and smoking for up to two weeks leading up to a surgery, as it decreases the effectiveness of grafting. Following your procedure, you may feel some pain and tenderness on the scalp.
Neither FUT or FUE is a quick fix. In the two to three weeks following your procedure, don’t be alarmed if some transplanted hair sheds. This is completely normal and means that your follicles are making way for new, healthy growth. Be patient, as it may take about six to nine months, post-operation to see significant results. If they feel it is necessary, your surgeon may recommend a hair regrowth drug such as propecia or minoxidil to accelerate the growth process and minimize future hair loss.
Expect a Good Hair Transplant Results from Expert
If you’re considering undergoing hair transplant, be sure to select a highly-qualified, board-certified surgeon who will ensure both your safety and natural-looking results and you can expect a better results. The experts at Maxim Hair Restoration have extensive experience conducting FUE and FUT procedures, and will help you make an informed decision. Are you ready to make today your last “bad” hair day? Contact MAXiM Hair Restoration for a free consultation.
Hair Loss can also affect Women. Most women hold a special value to their hair, whether it be color, style, volume, etc. It is a symbol for both health and vitality, and it can be a standout way to express individuality. Everyone is unique, and so is their hair. So, when a woman looks down at her brush or the shower drain and sees hair falling out or shedding, noticing the increasing signs of thinning or balding, it is obviously demoralizing and traumatizing.
Especially for a woman, hair loss can be a crisis of vanity and sanity. And it’s not so rare as you might think, where research shows that 28% of women tend to report affected by hair loss at the age of thirty. By age fifty, this hair loss statistic grows to 50 percent. While there can be several reasons for a woman to experience hair loss, it may come as a small comfort to know that there are also several options to help turn the tide.
How Hair Loss can Affect Women?
We have all seen the hair infomercials (mostly targeting men) and advertisements for Rogaine, with before and after photos. Rogaine (minoxidil) and Propecia (fin########) are the two most common treatments out on the market for treating hair loss. This is because hair loss treatments tend to favor men, which does make sense considering it is more prevalent among men than women.
And many of these medications and treatment options that have been available for men tend to not be as available or effective for women, bringing on the need to compensate and camouflage their hair loss.
Celebrities such as Bruce Willis, Vin Diesel, Samuel L. Jackson, or Pitbull have made a “bald” statement, making baldness look sexy, instead of receiving today’s backlash and negative connotation. For men, it seems that baldness and hair loss is socially acceptable and physically appealing. Although, in the tabloids, until very recently, we had rarely seen female celebrities shave their head and go bald, as baldness still culturally hasn’t become as socially accepted for women.
It is usually uncommon for women to flaunt bald spots or hair thinning, and they can even be hidden behind extensions, wigs, and hair products that make hair thicker and more voluminous. There is definitely a double standard in the way female-pattern baldness is perceived. The notion that men experience more hair loss than women is true, but the way society portrays hair loss for women is not.
So, the obvious truth is that hair loss and baldness can also happen to women, and it is called female-pattern baldness. In fact, up to 40 percent of hair loss sufferers are women.
Contact your Hair Loss Specialist Near You
Before women start looking for a solution to their hair loss in a box from the drugstore or a pill bottle, doctors are encouraging them to look inside their bodies, and see that the reasons for hair loss can be linked to underlying health conditions, aging, hormonal imbalances, stress, and more. So, with most hair-loss treatment methods targeted to men, where or who can women turn to for help?
If you are a woman experiencing hair loss and need treatment, MAXiM Hair Restoration is here to help break the hair loss stereotype. We have locations in New York, Long Island, Connecticut, Chicago, Dallas, and the Washington, DC area. Contact MAXiM today for a consultation. With several options to choose from, whether via medication or hair transplant procedure, MAXiM can help women restore their desired image and confidence.
Hair loss can seriously affect your self-confidence, based on how you feel about your appearance. More people are looking at the only permanent and natural solution to hair loss – a hair transplant. How does a hair transplant work and could it be the right solution for you?
This is the traditional method of hair transplant. The surgeon removes hair from the donor site where hair is thick and dense, usually from the back of the head. There will be a scar where the strip of hair was removed, which is covered by the surrounding hair. It is performed under local anesthesia while the patient is free to relax, watch TV, or even take a nap. FUT has the advantage of allowing larger sections of hair to be transplanted within one session.
In FUT, hair grafts are transplanted, which usually contain 1-3 hair follicles. The procedure takes around four hours but depends on the size of the area being treated. The incisions made to receive the grafts are then stitched by the surgeon. The new hairline is designed with patient input before the procedure.
Most patients resume their normal activities after a day or two. The newly transplanted hair begins to grow in about four months, resulting in visible new hair within six months of the transplant.
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
This method of hair transplant requires no stitches and does not leave a scar. Downtime is minimal, and patients can usually go back to work the next day. Under local anesthesia, the surgeon removes individual grafts of hair from the donor area and transplants them into the area with thin or no hair.
As each graft is implanted individually, FUE can take about 8 hours per session. Because it is minimally-invasive, FUE sessions can be performed each day for several days depending on the desired results.
FUE results in natural growth of your own hair that is visible usually within 6 months. Full regrowth can take up to a year, but it is permanent.
As with any cosmetic procedure, the experience and aesthetic skill of the surgeon makes all the difference. At MAXiM Hair Restoration, our surgeons artfully design your new hair line with the final style always in mind. You will love your new appearance. MAXiM has locations in New York, Long Island, Connecticut, Chicago, Dallas, and the Washington, DC area. Contact MAXiM today to find out if you are a candidate for a hair transplant.
Hair transplants do work for African-American patients, and there are surgical and non-surgical options available for patients regardless of their ethnicity. This is because hair transplant procedures like FUE and FUT utilize the patient’s own, naturally growing hair as the donor tissue for the areas in which hair has thinned or loss has occurred.
Every patient poses unique challenges with regard to their hair loss, and the unique characteristics of each individual hair transplant patient’s hair follicles does play a role in determining how much coverage is possible through the procedures that are available. For African-American patients, the typically curly hair follicles present challenges for the doctor but also offer benefits not available to patients of other ethnic backgrounds.
The typically curly hair follicles of an African-American hair transplant patient make it possible for the hair transplant surgeon to cover a larger area without requiring more follicular unit grafts to be utilized. It is also easier to craft a natural-looking hairline since a straight or slightly curved hairline is in keeping with the preferred hairstyle of most African-American patients. These are substantial benefits for African-American patients undergoing surgical procedures like FUE or FUT.
Although African-American patients enjoy the aforementioned benefits when undergoing a surgical hair transplant procedure, it is important to note that there are also some challenges that these patients will face. The same qualities that provide greater coverage for the patient — thicker, curlier hair follicles — also make it more difficult for the doctor to remove each follicular graft without damaging the follicle. Hair transplant surgeons at MAXIM Hair Restoration centers in Manhattan, Washington D.C., Houston, Dallas, Philippines; Dubai, generally recommend the strip method (FUT) for African-American hair transplant patients. The hair transplant surgeons have to exercise much greater caution when excising the follicular units from the donor site, as there is an increased risk of damage to the root of the follicle that could lead to graft failure.
African-American hair transplant patients should therefore seek an experienced and skilled hair transplant surgeon with previous experience working with other patients with similar hair follicle characteristics. Even though there are additional challenges created by the thicker and curlier hair follicles, a skilled surgeon is more than capable of excising hair follicles in a way that ensures viability for transplantation into the recipient site.
Patients should ask for examples of hair transplants completed for previous African-American patients, as previous and successfully completed hair transplants will demonstrate that the doctor is familiar with the unique challenges posed by the typical characteristics associated with African-American hair.
Which procedure is best for African-Americans: FUT or FUE?
In most cases, the unique characteristics of the patient’s hair loss will determine the most ideal hair transplant procedure. Surgical options like FUT or FUE are usually considered in terms of the total amount of coverage required and the patient’s individual preferences regarding the recovery period associated with each. This is true for most African-American hair transplant patients as well, but the challenges associated with the removal of the donor tissue may dictate which procedure is most ideal.
Since African-American hair transplant patients tend to have thicker and curlier hair follicles, some doctors will recommend the FUT procedure in order to make it easier to secure the largest number of follicles without damaging the root of the follicle. This ensures that the follicular unit grafts are more likely to be viable for transplant once they are inserted into the incisions made in the recipient site. Other hair transplant doctors might argue that since the FUE procedure allows for the individual removal of follicular unit grafts, it is easier to account for the curvature of the root and ensure the viability of the graft for transplant.
Also at issue is the type of hairstyle usually preferred by African-American hair transplant patients. Most African-American males prefer a short, close-cropped hairstyle that would make it difficult to obscure the scar left behind by the FUT procedure. Since the FUE procedure is known as a no linear incision, no-suture option, patients do not have to worry about a visible scar being left behind as a result of undergoing the hair transplant procedure. Also, the thick, curly hair follicles offer better coverage than other types of hair follicles, which makes the FUE procedure a more viable option despite the limited number of grafts that can be transplanted during a single session of FUE.
What are the challenges with African-American hair transplants?
Prospective hair transplant patients all bring unique challenges that a hair transplant surgeon must be able to overcome. African-American hair transplant patients pose a challenge for hair transplant doctors due to the typical characteristics associated with their hair follicles, which tend to be thicker and tightly curled. The curvature of this type of hair extends into the root of the hair follicle, which makes it more difficult for a hair transplant doctor to remove for the purpose of transplantation into the recipient site.
The curvature of the root must be accounted for during the excision of donor tissue, otherwise the doctor risks damaging the root of the follicle in a way that could reduce the viability of the transplanted graft once it is transplanted into the surgical incision created in the recipient site. While the curvature of the hair is a challenge associated with hair transplant process, experienced doctors at hair transplant clinics in New York City; Greenwich, Connecticut; Chicago, Illinois; Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia; Houston, Dallas, Texas; Manila, Philippines; Dubai, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.; and Karachi, Pakistan, understand how to account for the unique characteristics of African-American hair follicles and can still create a natural-looking hairline and a thicker head of hair through the use of a surgical hair transplant procedure such as FUT or FUE.
African-American hair transplant patients are not limited to surgical options for hair restoration, as a number of non-surgical options could be effective in generating the permanent solution being sought by the patient. Patients who prefer to maintain a shorter hairstyle could be ideal candidates for scalp micropigmentation, a non-surgical procedure in which special pigments are inserted at a shallow depth just below the skin to replicate the appearance of naturally growing hair. This pigment can be inserted in a way that looks like stubble or short hair, which is ideal for patients who prefer a close-cropped hairstyle.
As is the case with every prospective hair transplant patient, it is best to consult with an experienced and highly skilled hair transplant surgeon before making any decision regarding a hair transplant or a specific hair transplant procedure. Each patient is unique and should be evaluated by a professional in order to determine the most ideal course of action based on their unique hair loss characteristics and their individual hair restoration goals. Most reputable hair transplant clinics offer free consultation, and these consultations can be performed in-person or, if it is more convenient for the patient, via a host of digital methods like email or videoconferencing.
There are few circumstances in which something can go wrong with a hair transplant, especially if the patient is in good health and follows the pre- and post-operative instructions provided by their hair transplant surgeon in New York City; Greenwich,Connecticut; Chicago, Illinois; Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia; Houston, Dallas, Texas; Manila, Philippines; Dubai, Abu Dhabi,U.A.E.; and Karachi, Pakistan. In the overwhelming majority of hair transplants, the end result should closely align with what was discussed during the initial consultation between the doctor and patient. It is also during this time that the doctor will be able to outline any potential issues that could arise due to circumstances unique to the patient. A relative lack of available donor tissue, for example, could make it difficult to deliver the appropriate degree of coverage in the recipient site.
This is especially the case with surgeons who work with a team of nurses and surgical assistants, as desiccation is the most common reason for a follicular unit to fail. This occurs when the follicular unit grafts spend too much time outside of the body, which is why doctors use advanced technologies designed to preserve the follicular units and work with a team of medical professionals to ensure the procedure is performed in the most efficient manner possible.
It is worth noting that even though there is a difference between a “failed” transplant and one that does not meet a patient’s expectations, the cause is of little consolation to a dissatisfied patient. Fortunately, it is possible for patients who have experienced a “failed” hair transplant or can go wrong and to address any problems or to revise any issues associated with scarring.
Common problems with hair transplants
It is hardly accurate to refer to any problem with a hair transplant as “common” without adding a qualifier like “relatively.” With the continued advance of new technologies and procedures, hair transplants are remarkably effective and yield consistent, predictable results. This is especially true for patients who select an experienced doctor and a reputable hair transplant clinic.
The most common issue encountered during the hair transplant process has to do with factors outside of the control of the doctor, such as the availability of sufficient donor tissue. The problem is often exacerbated when a patient is seeking to achieve substantial coverage through a single hair transplant procedure, as it is simply not possible to cover large areas of the patient’s scalp without the availability of donor tissue.
Even though doctors in New York City; Greenwich, Connecticut; Chicago, Illinois; Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia; Houston, Dallas, Texas; Manila, Philippines; Dubai, Abu Dhabi,U.A.E.; and Karachi, Pakistan, are able to obscure the visibility of the scar, patients who have undergone FUT procedures in the past sometimes wish to have the scar revised or corrected through an additional procedure. Patients who underwent an FUT procedure long before recent advances in medical technology or who wish to switch to a shorter hairstyle tend to be chief among those who seek scar revision procedures, as the horizontal scar left behind following an FUT procedure is now quite easy to cover up with the patient’s own, naturally growing hair.
The best way to address any potential problem with a hair transplant is to seek out the assistance of an experienced and reputable hair transplant surgeon who possesses a clear track record of success performing hair transplant procedures. This includes problems associated with a lack of adequate coverage or problems associated with a failed hair transplant in which far too many grafts failed to take root in the patient’s recipient site.
How to address problems with a hair transplant?
Patients with inadequate coverage but sufficient donor tissue available can easily address their hair transplant issue with additional sessions of FUE or FUT. Of course, patients requiring multiple sessions of hair restoration should have been informed of the need for more than one transplant right from the outset during the initial consultation process, but, unfortunately, this is not always the case.
Patients who are dissatisfied with the result of their hair transplant due to the failure of the grafts to take root can also undergo additional sessions to achieve the coverage they initially sought, provided, of course, that there is sufficient donor tissue still available for use in future sessions. These patients should also seek out the expertise of an experienced hair transplant surgeon at a hair transplant clinic in Houston, New York City; Greenwich, Connecticut; Chicago, Illinois; Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia; Houston, Dallas, Texas; Manila, Philippines; Dubai, Abu Dhabi,U.A.E.; and Karachi, Pakistan, to identify the cause of the initial hair transplant failure in order to avoid a reoccurrence of the issue.
Each and every patient who undergoes any medical procedure is unique and may therefore heal differently than others. This simple fact might cause the horizontal scar left behind by FUT to be more visible than they hoped, especially in patients who underwent FUT or other hair restoration procedures many years before medical technology made it possible to leave a far less noticeable scar behind. Patients with a visible hair transplant scar have several options available for hair transplant scar revision or correction, including each of the following:
The most effective course of action for hair transplant scar revision or correction will depend on a number of different circumstances, so it is always best for the patient to discuss the various options with a skilled hair transplant surgeon via an initial consultation at a hair transplant clinic in New York City; Greenwich, Connecticut; Chicago, Illinois; Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia; Houston, Dallas, Texas; Manila, Philippines; Dubai, Abu Dhabi,U.A.E.; and Karachi, Pakistan. A scar that appears concave, for example, may be best addressed through the use of dermal fillers. A thick or raised scar may benefit most from a cortisone injection.
What is Scalp Micropigmentation
Scalp micropigmentation is an increasingly popular option for hair transplant scar revision or correction, as this process is perhaps the most versatile and most effective of all the aforementioned options. This non-invasive, non-surgical option involves the injection of a specialized pigment at a shallow depth, which recreates the appearance of naturally growing hair and therefore obscures the scar so that it is no longer noticeable.
How does a good surgeon correct a wrong hair transplant?
Hair transplant procedures are designed with the goal of providing the patient with a natural-looking hairline and thick head of hair that restores a sense of self-confidence and improves the patient’s self-esteem. A bad hair transplant does not accomplish any of this, and in many cases will make the patient feel less confident than ever before. This is why it is so important to seek out the assistance of an experienced and exceptional hair transplant surgeon right from the beginning so that it is not necessary to consider how one can go about correcting a bad hair transplant.
Contact your Hair Transplant Specialist; MAXIM Hair Restoration
Patients who are dissatisfied with a bad hair transplant have many options available to them, all of which can completely transform a bad hair transplant into the exceptional hair transplant they sought in the first place. Assuming there is more than enough donor tissue available, a hair transplant surgeon at a reputable hair transplant clinic in New York City; Greenwich,Connecticut; Chicago, Illinois; Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia; Houston, Dallas, Texas; Manila, Philippines; Dubai, Abu Dhabi,U.A.E.; and Karachi, Pakistan, can perform an FUE or FUT procedure to address the lack of coverage yielded by the first hair transplant.
These same procedures can be used to address issues associated with a hair transplant that does not appear as natural as it should, as a good hair transplant surgeon understands how to artistically craft a hairline so that it is so natural-looking that the transplanted grafts are indistinguishable from the patient’s own natural hair.
Some patients may have experienced additional hair loss since undergoing a hair transplant procedure, which can make a good hair transplant look bad. Although it is recommended that patients wait until their hair loss has stabilized before undergoing a hair transplant, it is sometimes the case that hair transplants are performed while a patient’s hair loss is still ongoing. A good hair transplant surgeon can use the FUT or FUE procedures to ensure that any new hair loss is properly addressed and that the original hair transplant procedure is corrected when it’s wrong.
Most people have permanent hair in ample supply – even people who experience severe hair loss. That’s because hair is usually found in the back of the head, where we don’t see it and it doesn’t make an impact on our appearance. During a hair transplant, those healthy hair follicles are taken from one location and moved to the area where your hair is thinning, or where your scalp is bald.
Whatever is causing your hair loss, MAXiM Hair Restoration has plastic and hair transplant surgeons who every day artfully create an attractive hairline that is unique to each clients. We have convenient locations throughout the United States in New York, Long Island, Connecticut, Chicago, Dallas, and the Washington, DC area, as well as several international locations. Contact MAXiM today to find out if you are a candidate for a hair transplant.
