In a prior post, we discussed some of the most common questions we hear from prospective customers during consultations. There were too many to fit into one article, so here are some more to read about in case any of these have ever crossed your mind.
How Do I Stop Hair Loss?
Hair loss can be caused by a wide variety of issues, including male pattern baldness, alopecia areata (a disease that causes your body’s immune system to attack your hair follicles), vitamin or mineral deficiencies, and the use of certain medications.
Once Dr. Williams has determined the likely cause of your hair loss, he’ll develop a treatment plan to stop it and to start regrowth. This may include the following:
- Taking Vitamin or Mineral Supplements
If you’re not getting enough of specific vitamins, including A, B, C, D, and E, or minerals such as iron or zinc, you may need to take supplements to help stop hair loss. Some supplements are being specifically designed to promote hair growth, but they’re often more effective when used as a preventative measure.
- Hair Loss Medication
Finasteride is a topical or oral medication that can treat hair loss related to male pattern baldness. It works by blocking the androgen responsible for this issue. Minoxidil, which is a foam or topical medication, may also be used alone or in combination with finasteride. It promotes blood circulation to your follicles, making your hair shaft stronger and wider.
- Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)
Safe and painless lasers increase blood flow and nutrition to help improve thinning hair and prevent future hair loss. This treatment can be used with or without hair transplants.
- Changing Your Diet
Hair loss can be caused by a deficiency of protein in your diet, so you may need to increase the amount of protein in your diet. This problem is more likely if you’re a vegan or vegetarian.
- Hair Transplant
Dr. Williams offers multiple options for your hair – Follicular Unit Transfer Process (FUT) and Scalp Micro-Pigmentation, to name a couple. FUT is generally recommended for more advanced hair loss, and Dr. Williams is highly skilled and experienced in performing these procedures.
Which Factors Determine How Long A Hair Transplant Will Last?
After transplanting hair follicles, they maintain the characteristics they had in the donor area. Although they’ll remain healthy, other aspects might affect the results. The following factors determine how long your new hair will last:
- The Quality of the Procedure
Hair restoration techniques have undergone significant improvement over the years. However, your choice of surgeon and clinic still matters. A highly skilled and experienced professional like Dr. Williams provides more accurate and customized results.
Please avoid substandard clinics that advertise cheap rates because the results might turn out disastrous and costly in the long run. The fine print usually states the low price is for the first of many procedures needed at those places.
- The Extent of Hair Loss
Although hair restoration procedures are efficient, they don’t always work for everyone. There’s a higher likelihood of having poor results if you have advanced hair loss and a donor area with thinning hair. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a successful transplant. Although expectations might be lower, a well-executed procedure is the key to the best results.
- The Donor Area
The size of this area varies from one patient to the next. If you have an ample donor area, it means we can harvest enough healthy grafts. As a result, your transplant is more likely to last.
- Chances of Undergoing Future Hair Loss
A hair restoration procedure is not a permanent cure for hair loss. Although transplanted hair usually lasts a lifetime, the area around it may still experience hair loss depending on genetic factors.
Other considerations include the contrast between your skin and hair, skin laxity, your head size, and the type of donor follicular groupings. Dr. Williams considers these and more factors before providing customized treatment plans that promise durability.
Will I lose any of the transplanted hair?
Hair transplant shock loss is when there is a loss of natural hair after a hair transplant surgery, whether it be from the donor area or the recipient area itself. Those who experience it can wonder if the surgery was all for nothing.
Not to worry! If this rare occurrence does happen, typically within six weeks of surgery, it resolves itself within six months. Shock loss is a normal (temporary) side effect, so try not to panic if it happens to you. Your new hair will get back on track soon!
Will a hair transplant stop me from my active lifestyle?
No, not at all! As with any surgical procedure, you need to follow special care instructions for a while before and after the procedure. However, once you have completed those short periods of rest and recovery, you can jump right back into your lifestyle again!
The biggest concern for hair transplant patients is ensuring that the scalp is protected. That means avoiding direct sunlight on the affected areas (which you should already be doing anyway as much as possible), staying away from chlorine and other harsh chemicals for a while, and following your Hair Restoration Specialist’s instructions. Many celebrities and athletes have undergone modern transplantation procedures, and most people can’t even tell!
Bonus: I’m still fairly young, so should I consider Hair Transplantation?
This is a question that will depend on many factors, but the general consensus is that it’s best to wait until you are between the ages of 25 and 30 before considering a hair transplant procedure.
Biologically, this is the point at which the human body reaches its state of maturity, and it also allows time for the specialist to determine hair growth and hair loss patterns for the best surgical outcome.
Since there are so many treatment options available, we can develop a customizable plan that considers age and growth patterns. Contact us to find the best course of action for you!
