Ten Most Common Myths About Hair Transplantation

Hair transplantation is one of the most popular hair loss treatments, which produces excellent results. It is a decision you have to take when you realize the fact that you are losing your hair at a rapid rate. Once you have decided to go for it, you should try to collect as many information as possible from all the available sources about hair transplantation. Most people rely on the internet for this because it is the easiest method to collect information these days. But, unfortunately, the internet also has all kinds of uncertain and false information. Often people who are not well-informed about hair transplantation may give wrong information.  Therefore, always rely only on properly researched information provided by experts in this area. Here we will try to clarify some myths circulating on the internet regarding hair transplantation.

1. Hair transplantation is not a permanent solution for hair loss.

One of the most popular myths amongst people about hair transplantation is that it is not permanent. Let us see what happens during hair transplantation. The hair to be transplanted is usually taken from the nape region, which is also called a donor area. The nape region is also referred to as a “safe zone” because the hair in this region are resistant to hair loss as they are not affected by the DHT hormone. Therefore, even after transplantation, the hair follicle from the donor area will retain their resistance to fall out. But in spite of this, there will be some inevitable shock loss following hair transplantation due to the short-term trauma experienced by the scalp and transplanted hair follicles, which is normal. There is no need to worry about shock loss as the hair will regrow as long as the transplanted hair follicles are not damaged.

2. Only men can do hair transplantation

Even though men are more susceptible to hair loss and undergo hair transplantation more frequently, women can also go for it if the need arises. According to the data available, around 14.7% of those who experience hair transplantation are women. Often, women opt for hair transplantation to increase their hair volume or to lower their front hairline. There is no need to shave their entire head for the procedure. Instead, a small window is created behind the head to extract healthy hair follicles which won’t be recognizable from outside, and so many women are ready to undergo hair transplantation for cosmetic reasons.

3. Hair transplantation is painful

As FUE technology is used for hair transplantation these days, the hair transplantation procedure is very smooth, needle-free, and do not cause any pain. Before the process, donor area and the receiver area will be numbed by local anesthesia. On the other hand, in the traditional way of hair transplantation, anesthetic agents are injected into the patient’s scalp using needles in which case some amount of pain is inevitable which may be uncomfortable for people who have a needle phobia. However, nowadays, hair transplantation is carried out using superior anesthesia devices which deliver anesthetic agents with a pressurized spraying process and is entirely needle-free and painless.

4. Hair transplantation is not suitable for elderly people

Most people have a biased notion that hair transplantation is not worth the risk in the case of older adults, which is not valid. The pattern of hair loss you suffer from determines the eligibility of a person to undergo hair transplantation and not your age. In other words, he or she should have enough healthy hair follicles in the donor area for successful hair transplantation. Another thing to observe is whether the hair loss experienced by the person is persistent. Male-pattern hair loss or Androgenetic Alopecia is generally a lifelong condition if not treated. Therefore, if you suffer from this condition, hair transplantation is a possible solution at a younger age also. But keep in mind that younger people might need repeated sessions later in life to achieve better results. Therefore, hair transplantation is found to be more successful for seniors when compared to young people.

5. It is better to do hair transplantation at a young age.

The proverb “prevention is better than cure” does not hold in case of hair transplantation. A number of people think it will be better if they go for hair transplantation at a young age so that they won’t have further hair loss. On the other hand, having this procedure later in your life is preferable. Often in a very young age, the hair loss will not be stabilized, and this will cause the method to fail, and they might need repeated sessions of hair transplantation. Therefore, if you are under 20 years and already started showing symptoms of male pattern baldness, make sure you consult with a qualified specialist and determine your rate of hair loss and try preventive methods such as drugs or lotions, before rushing into hair transplantation.

6. Hair transplantation gives you immediate results

People undergoing hair transplantation always think they will get instant results. But in reality, healthy hair growth after hair transplantation begins only after the proper healing process, which may take a period up to one year. In the 2-3 weeks that follow the procedure, most patients go through a phase called shock loss in which they experience sudden hair loss. There is nothing to worry about having a shock loss because following that hair follicles will start regenerating, and you will begin to see the results of the operation. Your hair will enter the normal growth cycle within 2 to 2.5 months. Keep in mind that hair grows only about 1.5 cm a month and so it will take at least nine months for the transplanted hair to gain their original form and within a year of the operation hair will become thicker and will start to blend with the person’s non-transplanted hair.

7. Hair transplantation is expensive

People who suffer from continuous hair loss and baldness spend a lot of money on wig-like synthetic hair prostheses. When you compare the price of such products and their maintenance cost with the amount of a permanent solution like hair transplantation, the latter is more cost effective. If you are looking for hair transplantation, which is incredibly affordable and of superior quality, always make Turkey your first choice. However, stay away from clinics and centers which offer you very cheap service, because you might be compromising the quality of the procedure unknowingly by selecting such services.

8. Hair follicles for transplantation can be taken from another person

Many people believe that they can do hair transplantation by receiving healthier follicles from another person. Keep in mind that hair transplantation is not similar to organ transplantation, and only one’s own hair follicles can be taken for transplanting his or her hair. The donor area hair follicles are generally resistant to hair loss. When they get transplanted to a new location, they carry all their genetic properties and grow in the new site. But if hair follicles are received from another person, except your identical twin, it will be considered as a foreign body by the receiver's body, and it will reject it.

9. Hair transplantation requires a complete shaving of your head.

Unlike earlier days, hair transplantation does not require you to shave your entire head now because of the new technological advances in this particular area.

There are mainly two techniques in which hair transplantation can be done without shaving your head:

1. Using an invisible shaving method:

It is a method a small window is created behind the head to extract healthy hair follicles which won’t be recognizable from outside because the hair from above will cover it after the operation.

1. Without shaving:

Here instead of shearing the donor area, a unique tool called a DHI implanter is used to directly implant the hair follicles to the area of hair loss. This method is called Direct Hair Implantation or DHI technique. DHI is usually helpful when only a small area needs transplantation.

10. Hair transplantation will not provide a natural appearance

People are often afraid that after hair transplantation, their hair might not look natural. But the fact is that if a senior dermatologist with good experience does your hair transplantation with the help of a certified team, the results will undoubtedly look natural. For the results to look natural, there should be correct planning behind each transplantation. For example, the patient’s hairline design should match his facial lines. Also, certain other factors like patient’s hair quality and the hair density in the donor area will also affect how natural the hair transplantation will look.

Even though during the first year, you may have a non-aesthetic and unnatural look often called as a “grass head,” it will get better as your natural hair starts to grow in the new location. Sometimes it is also observed that the transplanted hair grows in different directions and at different angles. To avoid this, and to maintain the natural feel of the transplantation, factors like the direction of the existing hair and its growth angle should also be considered while selecting hair follicles for transplantation. Another tool used in hair transplantation is sapphire tips which help to transplant grafts more densely so that scars are maximum avoided and natural feel of the transplanted hair is maintained.