Thinning hair and hair loss are conditions affecting people of all ages and gender. However, the impact they have on the individuals varies. For instance, people in their youth who suffer from hair loss may get upset, driving many to seek treatment. Similarly, older individuals suffering from chronic hair loss will seek treatment, but some may take it as part of aging.
If you have thinning hair or hair loss and want to restore your healthy and full hairline, there are some treatment options for you. We have discussed some of them in the sections below. But first, let’s get some facts about hair loss.
Understanding Hair Loss
Many people are familiar with myths and misconceptions about hair loss. For instance, it’s common to hear people associate hair loss with excessive hat-wearing, dandruff, or poor blood circulation. And others believe they can tell whether they will suffer from hair loss by checking the hair loss pattern in their maternal grandfather.
Many common theories about hair loss have been disproven by medical research. According to several studies, hair loss is mainly caused by a combination of factors ranging from aging and hormonal changes to genetics. Any other explanation on why you have a bald head or suffering from hair loss should be subject to scrutiny.
Surgical Hair Restoration Options
There are multiple treatment options for hair loss. Hair transplant surgery is considered the most effective treatment option compared to the hundreds of ointments and over-the-counter medications. This surgery can be classified further into two main types. These are:
- FUT or Follicular Unit Transplant
- FUE or Follicular Unit Extraction
Follicular Unit Transplant
With the FUT method, a small strip of the skin consisting of hair follicles is taken from a specific site (preferably the back of your head), prepared, and transplanted to the recipient site. Hair follicles from this region of your head are preferred because they are less prone to hair loss and balding. The process creates wounds, resulting in a horizontal scar at the back of your head. However, it is an effective technique that has been used for more than two decades.
Follicular Unit Extraction
As noted above, the FUT method has two main disadvantages; the horizontal incision that requires intensive care during recovery and the scar that remains afterward. The Follicular Unit Extraction, or FUT technique, seeks to solve these disadvantages.
With this technique, hair follicles at the back of the head are still used, except that there’s no removal of scalp tissue. Instead, the surgeon will directly harvest the hair follicles from your scalp and insert them into small incisions already prepared on the region receiving the transplant. The FUE technique takes a slightly longer time but eliminates massive wounds and scars. It’s also associated with lower levels of post-surgery discomfort.
Seek Medical Assistance
If you are struggling with hair loss, a hair transplant surgery is one of the best restoration options you can choose. With advancing technology, the two procedures are becoming more automated. This helps increase speed, enhance safety, and lessen discomfort. Still, you want to choose a reputable, licensed, and experienced cosmetic surgeon to avoid complications and ensure you get the best results possible.