The pros and cons of hair transplant

Hair loss is a common problem that affects both women and men. It can be caused by a variety of factors, while some of them last temporary, some of the factors cannot be reversed and may result in permanent hair loss.

What is hair transplant surgery?

Hair transplant involves relocating small-portion of hair-bearing follicles from the donor area and transferring it to the balding area of an individual's scalp. It can be an effective treatment for treating permanent hair loss among individuals. Besides, treating baldness, the treatment can also be used to re-grow hair on the chest, eye-lashes, and brow.

Advantages of hair transplant

Aesthetic change: The biggest benefit of a hair transplant is the aesthetic change that an individual receives with the completion of the treatment. It gives a more youthful appearance and increases inner confidence in both social and business interactions.

Improved self-esteem: Premature hair loss can be devastating for some individuals breaking their confidence. The option to regain a more youthful appearance, especially when the signs of aging arrive prematurely, always improves their outlook on life.

Treatment: One of the scientific advantages of the treatment is that the hair that grows back is uniform and remains intact for a long time. The technique guarantees that the overall follicular distribution does not change.

Natural hair: Hair transplant mimics the look of the original hair. Follicle grafts that contain only a few hairs are used in this treatment. Experts then strategically place these smaller grafts over the head to recreate a complete natural head of hair. As the recipient is also the donor, the hair ends up looking completely natural.

Simple procedure: The operation is carried out under local anaesthesia, so the treatment is reasonably safe. Moreover, if individuals have not undergone many grafts treatments, it does not result in any serious complications.

Growth: With the completion of the treatment, individuals need not go for any other types of treatment for renewing the hair. The hair implanted will continue its growth for its entire lifecycle.

Cons of hair transplant

As with any other medical treatment, hair transplant also involves a number of disadvantages. It is imperative that individuals weigh the risk of hair transplants against the benefits and consult an expert before undergoing any treatment.

Cost: One of the most evident disadvantages of the surgery is its high cost. Hair transplant surgeries can be expensive and financially unviable. It is important to try other inexpensive treatments such as incorporating lifestyle and diet changes or using dedicated hair loss shampoos such as Alpecin Caffeine Shampoo, to effectively treat hair loss. There are a number of effective medications such as Alpecin Liquid that individuals can opt for before assuming that natural hair growth is difficult to achieve.

Recovery: Although most people are able to return to work 3 days after a hair transplant surgery, the recovery process can pose some challenges. You could experience significant swelling, pain or bruising.

Scarring: Scarring is another disadvantage of this procedure. The surgery may leave minor and unnoticeable scars on some of the areas of follicular insertion sites. These scars are usually not visible, but it can be noticed if individuals opt to shave the hair. There is also a minimal risk of improper healing of the scars.

New Hairline: Oftentimes a hair transplant won't be able to give you back your old hairline. The transplant will be positioned somewhere in between your old hairline and your current one.

Hair loss: In many cases the hair line will continue to get thinner in other areas on the head, leading to the need for another transplant surgery.

Infection: Hair transplant also includes minor risks such as infection or haemorrhaging. However, these risks are unlikely to occur if individuals strictly follow the instructions of their doctors. If infections or excess bleeding persist, patients need to undergo simple treatments to cure them. The risk of nerve damage in the donor site is also found to be a common problem in such treatments.

It should be remembered that hair loss can be effectively cured by taking dedicated medications for hair loss, following a healthy lifestyle, and using shampoos and treatments that combat hair loss. It is advisable to opt for surgical treatments only when reviving natural hair growth becomes futile.