Four Ways to Protect Your Hair and Avoid Hair Transplant
Hair loss in men is mostly hereditary, making it hard to treat. Hair experts, however, say the severity of hair loss and the associated stigma can be reduced by identifying the disorder in early stages.
According to hair restoration expert Dr. Alan J. Bauman, how early a person spots thinning hair determines how much hair they save. If you wait until the hair loss is visible to the naked eye, you would have lost 50 percent of hair in that area. This is because most people fail to differentiate between normal hair fall and hormone induced hair fall (androgenic alopecia).
If any of your parents or close relatives suffers from baldness, it is advised that you start the treatment in your early twenties.
At the recently held Cosmetic Surgery & Wellness Expo 2012 at the Miami Convention Center, Dr. Bauman explained the safe and effective medical therapies available to protect, enhance and restore hair growth in men and women.
Bauman stressed the importance of preventive care treatments. Advancements in hair loss treatments have given rise to several such treatments including low level lasers, FDA approved medications and nutritional supplements. The preventive care treatment also focuses on understanding the hair loss process, including the importance of meeting with a board-certified hair restoration physician.
Hair transplant surgeries are gaining importance as they offer permanent solution to hair loss and with minimum medication. Some patients prefer hair transplants over drugs fearing the side effects of these drugs. Certain hair loss drugs like Propecia have been identified as harmful as they cause sexual disorders in males. Following this revelation by researchers, recently FDA
issued label changes to these drugs.
Among the hair transplant procedures, the most popular is the Follicular Unit Extraction or FUE because it is more comfortable and yields a natural looking hair and a scalp free of surgical marks.
Despite the availability of hair transplant techniques, most patients want to reduce the amount of transplants required or avoid any type of surgical procedure altogether, Bauman added.
Bauman suggests four ways to help patients avoid a hair transplant.
Firstly they should know if they bear the genetic factor that causes hair loss. Genetic tests like HairDX can accurately predict the risk of hair loss for both men and women. These tests can help patients get started early on preventative treatments to reduce the chance of irreversible hair loss.
If you are prone to any type of hair loss, identify it at the very early stage of the disorder. With the help of a HairCheck Trichometer, you can accurately measure the amount of hair loss or hair regrowth. The tool gives a combined cross-sectional measurement of a bundle of hair. It is scientifically accurate, non-invasive, painless and takes literally less than five minutes.
Genetics apart, lack of nutrition also plays culprit in hair loss. There are several hair vitamin supplements like Viviscal and laser therapy devices like the LaserCap, as well as new powerful topical treatments prescription-based Formula 82M, to prevent damage of hair due to lack of nutrition, dry weather and polluted water.
Last but not the least you should take help from a board-certified hair restoration physician. Hair loss is a specialized field in the medical community. Only specialized physicians can prescribe the right combination of therapies, tracking the results of a medical hair re-growth regimen and performing hair transplant surgery.
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Frequently asked questions about hair transplant procedures
How much does a hair transplant cost?
Hair transplants can vary in price based off of the area in the world that you are interested in getting a hair transplant as well as the size of the area where you may need a hair transplant. Experienced doctors in the United States will often charge some of the highest prices for a hair transplant worldwide and this is why so many travelers make the move to other parts the world like Turkey, India, Thailand, Mexico...etc for their hair transplants.
Will a hair transplant hurt?
Although hair transplants may look like a particularly
unpleasant or painful experience is actually very little discomfort involved
with the surgery itself. Hair transplants are always done under an anesthetic so there's absolutely zero pain during the treatment itself. Many people actually relate the process as being very similar to going to the dentist for filling or root canal. Mild pain can persist over the course of postop treatment but he generally just resumes for a few days.
Who can deliver the best surgery?
It's usually best to consider working with surgeons who have and IAHRS certification or international alliance of hair restoration surgeons recognition. IAHRS can often deliver recommendations for the best surgeons in each particular area.
Is this scarring noticeable?
Any type of hair transplant will require the use of incisions throughout the scalp. There can also sometimes be a small scar from the donor area towards the back of the scalp. Asking to look at photos of the surgeon's previous work will help you to see roughly how bad the scarring could be. In most cases an experienced professional can limit the look of scarring and noticeable marks from the surgery.
How long does it take for the hair to grow?
In most cases hair growth will start within eight months and you can start to see a full effect from the hair transplant after a full year. The initial signs of growth can usually start between 3 to 4 months after the surgery.
Are the results permanent?
The hair follicles that are transplanted are generally the ones which are genetically resistant against the symptoms of baldness. As long as you receive hair loss treatment later in your life after the symptoms of balding have started to subside, you can have a better chance at permanent results.
While everyone know you've had surgery?
If you want to limit the chance that people may find out about your surgery it's important to give at least three weeks of healing as the surgical area will be affected and red just after surgery. After around a month of healing it can look far less noticeable. You could consider wearing a hat while time passes or opting for some extra time off if possible.
How long should I rest after surgery?
It's recommended to rest for at least a few days after surgery so that your body can recover. Trenton to over exert yourself and limit sexual activity, running in the gym for around 10 days after surgery.
Is it possible to lose more hair as a result of surgery?
There is always a chance of shock loss which happens when the hair is weak and miniaturizing after the surgery. As long as the surgeon is choosing the correct hair follicles and performing the surgery well it's possible to minimize the chance of this happening however.
Will I need another hair transplant?
The need for another transplant really depends on the individual. With a solid foundation surgery and working to potentially bolster results with drug therapy, you can improve the stability of the hair that was transplanted as well as prevent further loss. Getting a hair transplant early
on in your 20s or early on in life could lead to needing long-term transplants as hair loss can be progressive.
