Hair Transplant — Success rate

Hair Transplant Mistakes: What to Avoid

Posted on August 30, 2010

Although today’s hair transplant technology have come along way, it is crucial to get it right the first time around, and try to make sure a corrective hair transplant will not be needed. Though hair transplant standards have been raised significantly, it is still possible to get a less than successful hair transplant, and there are a few mistakes that need to be identified. Because getting another hair transplant to fix the first one is an exhausting, frustrating experience that must be avoided at all cost.

Perhaps one of the most common mistakes a hair transplant doctor can make is to attempt to cover an area when there is not enough hair to do so. The doctor needs to make sure that the patient has enough hair that can be transplanted to the balding areas. The area from where the hair is taken is referred to as the donor supply, and is of utmost importance. A low donor supply will not allow for sufficient coverage and can leave important areas too thin. Enough hair must be reserved for future surgeries, as they might be needed if balding continues. Also, spreading the grafts out too far apart doesn’t provide enough coverage and will result in an unnatural look.

Scalp tightness is another problem that some doctors fail to identify. A tight scalp will limit the total amount of donor hair that can be transplanted. Also, taking out a donor strip that is too wide or placing the donor incision too low puts stress on the patients scalp and can result in a more obvious scar. In addition to complicating future hair transplants, the scar itself can become a cosmetic problem.

A hair transplant doctor trying to save time may use a multi-bladed knife for collecting donor tissue. However, using a multi bladed knife can cause unnecessary damage and should be avoided.

Dry or injured grafts are not optimal in the hair transplant process. Grafts are delicate and prone to injury and must be handled with care, as well as be kept in a special solution until they are transplanted into the receiving area of the scalp.

Angling the hair in the wrong direction is a mistake that will undoubtedly look unnatural. In order for the transplant to look natural, the patient’s own hair direction must be closely followed. Placing the hairline too low or too broad is another mistake. Proper placement is just as important with today’s refined hair transplant methods.

It is also important not to get surgeries that are too close in time, as this will not allow a clear view of the final result.

Though most hair transplant doctors do not use the older methods anymore, it is still important not to assume that any doctor can give you the natural hair transplant you are looking for. Find a skilled, experienced surgeon who uses the FUE method (follicular unit extraction) and you are more likely to have a successful outcome.

Photo via OECD

Hair Transplants for Twenty-Somethings

Posted on July 30, 2010

Many people think of old or middle aged men when they hear the phrase “hair transplant.” However, many younger men deal with the troubles of hair loss every year. A sizable amount of men begin to experience hair loss starting in their late teens and early twenties. It can be very embarrassing and damaging to the psyche to realize that you need a hair transplant before you’re out of college.

There are many reasons to consider a hair transplant at an early age. Men in their twenties are often at their most sexually active, and many people may equate hair loss with a lack of virility. Young men may be so ashamed of their hair loss that they will not try to court with potential partners.

However, there are different sets of circumstances for younger men considering a hair transplant than there are for older men. Younger men who opt for a hair transplant operation often have to come back for at least one future hair transplant later on in life. Since there’s only a finite number of areas to transplant hair from, each successive hair transplant will yield diminishing returns. This is especially true if a young man wants to pursue a radical hair transplant early on into their hair loss woes.

Therefore, any man in his twenties should opt for a less dramatic hair transplant than he might have at first imagined. Many younger men may be disappointed with their hair transplant initially, but the long term results are often much more satisfying. By the time these men reach their thirties, their peers are suffering from thinner hair as well. The initial hair transplant by this time has had plenty of time to blend in with the natural hair, creating a much fuller head of hair than men just starting to go bald.

If you’re in your twenties and you’re interested in a hair transplant, you may need to use extra caution in choosing a hair transplant specialist. Ask older men you know who have received a hair transplant about their experiences. You may get some great advice.

Many younger men rush into the hair transplant process without understanding more about the long term consequences of hair loss and hair transplant procedures. Be sure that the surgeon performing the hair transplant has discussed all of the aspects of the operation beforehand. See if your hair transplant specialist has operated on men in their late teens and twenties before, and how they view the process.

Photo via Igh75