Part Two: Understanding Hair Transplants
A hair on the head is worth two on the brush
-Irish Proverb
There are so many hair loss restoration cures, treatments and systems on the market today that it can be difficult for a discerning consumer to find out which ones work, which hair growth products are merely snake oils dressed in a modern day package and of the ones that do work; what is most appropriate for them and their situation.
Hair transplantation surgery, like any other kind of surgical procedure, is a big step for most individuals. Most people are at least curious about the hundreds of other hair loss products on the market and want to know whether or not these cheaper products and systems can live up to their claims or not; before they invest thousands of dollars in a surgical hair transplant procedure.
To figure out if hair transplant surgery is right for you, it's best to know what hair transplant surgery is not first. Before we move on to discussing hair transplantation surgery, we'll take a few minutes to look at the other products on the market
Propecia, also known as finasteride, bases its claim to a hair loss cure on the fact that it blocks the ability of the enzyme known as 5-alpha-reductase to convert testosterone to DHT. It was first marketed as Proscar for the purpose of treating prostrate problems and symptoms; as DHT is known to create problems in this area as well. In this regard, Propecia does have some merits to its claim as a hair loss cure; in as much as it may tend to slow down the hair loss process some.
To date, however, there has been no drug or prescription that has been proven to 100% stop the loss of hair. The hair loss will continue, even though it may have been briefly halted.
The drug minoxidil is frequently marketed as Rogaine. Surprisingly the drug first began its prescription use as a treatment for high blood pressure; however it proved to be less than popular because of the number of side effects noted in users.
One of the side effects that frequently appeared was a growth of hair, usually in the facial region, referred to as hypertrichosis. As the drug was no longer popular as a treatment for high blood pressure, the advantages of the less than desirable side effect began to be marketed under a different name and thus Rogaine was born.
Rogaine is similar to Propecia in that it appears to delay the hair loss process. Again, however; no drugs has been proven to be able to completely stop the loss of hair. Besides the fact that drugs such as Rogain and Propecia are not 100% effective, studies indicate that they may very well need to be continuously used in order to be effective at all. Discontinuing the use of the drug will halt whatever small restorative benefits they may have contributed to the user.
Neither of these drugs appears to be effective in growing any hair in areas that had already become completely bald. In addition, both drugs appear to work best in the crown hair and do not appear to be effective at all in the frontal and temporal areas.
In recent years, a number of natural products containing various herbs and vitamins have been marketed for the purpose of reducing hair loss and even restoring lost hair in some cases. One of the most popular herbs used for as an alternative to hair transplant surgery is Saw Palmetto. This natural product is derived from a palm like plant native to the North American continent.
The extract used in natural and herbal remedies is taken directly from the berries produced by the plant. Saw Palmetto extract is reputed to provide many benefits, one of which is the ability of the fatty acids contained within the plan to inhibit the effects of testosterone. Since the effects testosterone, particularly when converted to DHT, are believed to responsible for both prostate problems and hair loss; this has proven to be a popular herbal remedy for both conditions. While Saw Palmetto extract continues to be aggressively marketed as a natural and safe cure for hair loss and hair restoration, there are no scientific results to prove the validity of this hair transplantation alternative.
Hair systems is the phrase commonly used to refer to a wig, hairpiece, toupee or the less appealing term of a rug. There are a number of ways of obtaining hair systems. The most prominent, probably because they are cheaper, are basically purchased off the rack, so to speak. This means that the hair system is mass produced, rather than being custom made for the individual wearer. This can present a number of problems.
Hair systems that are not custom made tend to be of poorer quality; resulting in a lower price. Individuals who can afford the high dollar price tag of a custom made hair system will soon discover that creating such a piece requires quite a bit of time and several fittings. The cost of hair systems can vary.
In the last few years it has become increasingly popular for many people to seek a hair weave as a solution for thinning or balding hair. The problem with this process is that it requires constant maintenance, which continues to increase the price of upkeep every time the user has to return to have a new weave done. While hair transplants are expensive, costs are actually cheaper in the long fun than hair loss treatments that require constant maintenance.
Hair Transplant Surgery is the best option for permanent hair regrowth. Hair tranplantation has evolved a long way from the hair plugs popular in the 1970's. Modern hair transplant surgery uses micro-grafts or follicular unit transplantation to achieve a more natural look. Micro-grafts are much smaller than the large hair grafts used 30 years ago, and can mimic natural hair growth almost flawlessly.
Micro-grafts use follicular units of hair comprised of microscopic groups of 2-4 hairs. Hair transplant surgeons, doctors, and clinics use intense magnification and the latest tools to keep the integrity of follicular units intact, thus preserving natural looking hair. By maintaining the composition of follicular units, hair transplant surgeons can imitate the way hair grows in real life and restore the hair in bald or balding regions. The best hair transplant surgery keeps three things in mind: achieve maximum hair growth, replicate natural hair growth patterns, and minimize trauma to the scalp. Hair transplant recovery is minimum, usually within 72 hours, some can even return to work the nest day.
By using micro-grafts, hair transplant surgeons can make hair virtually indistinguishable even from a hair salon. When hair transplant surgery is successful the results are just as good as natural hair growth, this is living hair that you can style the same way you would before hair loss occurred.
Find out more about Hair Transplant Costs or move onto facts about the history of hair transplantation.