What are the Differences Between Surgical and Non-Surgical Hair Restoration?
Everyone loses hair and it’s normal to lose 50-100 strands a day.
However, if you are noticing bald patches or lots of thinning, you may be experiencing hair loss. Whether your hairline is just starting to recede, or you’ve lost a good amount of hair, there are options for you. The surgical and non-surgical procedures available can help you overcome hair loss and gain confidence.
How Stages of Hair Loss Affect Your Decision
The extent of your hair loss is key when considering whether surgical hair transplant procedures or non-surgical hair restoration is right for you.
Having enough active, healthy donor hair growing on your head is critical, so it’s imperative to get a proper diagnosis for the cause of your hair loss from a qualified medical professional. Because of the differences in the way men and women lose their hair, men are typically better candidates for surgical hair restoration than women.
Surgical Hair Transplant** Types
There are two main techniques used to obtain healthy hair follicles for transplantation: follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE). In some cases, as with our Biograft® solution, additional non-surgical solutions are used to restore hair.
Who Are the Best Candidates for Surgical Hair Transplants?
- Men who have been losing their hair due to male pattern baldness for more than five years.
- Men who have advanced to class 3 or above on the Norwood Scale.
- Men who have set realistic expectations. It is important to recognize that the hair loss might continue to progress post-surgery, even if you are taking prescription medication to stop this progression. It is likely some men will have to remain on these medications after surgery to preserve as much hair as possible.
- Men who have been losing hair for several years, and whose hair loss pattern has steadied.
- Men and women with hair loss caused by trauma or burns.
- Men and women who have lost hair as a result of cosmetic procedures, such as a face lift.
- Women with thinning hair yet have enough donor hair available to be successful.
Surgical Hair Transplants Aren’t a Good Option For
- Women whose hair loss is spread throughout the scalp.
- People who lack “donor” hair sites which are needed to acquire hair for relocation.
- People who are prone to keloid scars after surgical operations
- People whose hair loss is caused by medication.
Benefits of Surgical Hair Transplants
- Enhanced appearance. This procedure will fill in receding and bald areas, which will help with confidence.
- Permanent remedy.
- Minimal maintenance. There is not much maintenance after surgery. This is because the transplanted hair emulates regular hair. There are no additional chemicals or shampoos required to maintain hair density.
- Long term cost savings. Hair transplants can be a one-time procedure.
While surgical hair transplantation is the only permanent hair loss treatment, there are other non-surgical hair loss solutions can help in your fight against hair loss.
Who Are the Best Candidates for Non-Surgical Hair Loss Solutions?
- Non-surgical options are great for men and women with any level of hair loss. If you're not a candidate for surgery, this type of hair loss treatment is your best option to regrow hair, or improve the way it looks.
- Benefits of Non-Surgical Hair Loss Solutions
- Quicker results. With non-surgical hair replacement, you can have a full head of hair in as little as four weeks.
- Often less up-front cost than surgery.
- Limitless styling options.
- Not dependent on donor hair. If you do not have a donor area, non-surgical solutions will still work for you.
- Non-surgical solutions are reversible in nature. Unlike surgery which is permanent, if you are unhappy with your new look, you can always change things up.
- There is no pain involved. One of the most advantageous components of non-surgical hair replacement is that there are no incisions, which means no soreness or discomfort.
- There are no complications like the likelihood of a linear scar or the risk of disease.
For informational purposes only. The information presented herein is general in nature and is not intended to substitute the advice of a physician or other health care professional.