Debunking 4 myths about hair transplants

Globally, millions of individuals suffer from permanent hair loss due to genetic and hormonal factors. Fortunately, though, it is possible to permanently restore your hair through FUE hair transplant.

In this, basically, hair is taken from the back and sides of the scalp, which rarely goes bald, and placed in balding areas. The concept sounds simple enough, but there are still some things that many people don’t know about. And that only ends up fueling the rumour mill. So, we’ll debunk some of the most common myths about hair transplants to help you feel more at ease with the procedure.

Myth #1: Hair transplant results are temporary

To understand this, you should know that androgenetic alopecia – the most common cause of hair loss – results from both genetic and hormonal influences. If your family has a history of hair loss, you’re likely to go through the same. However, it’s not just your genetics that is to blame here.

Androgenetic alopecia occurs when you have too much dihydrotestosterone, which is a by-product of testosterone. This hormone will shrink the size of your hair follicles and shorten the length of the growth cycle. And curiously enough, usually, the hair at the top and front of the scalp is affected by the presence of this hormone. That’s why you only lose hair there (hair loss at the back of the head usually occurs due to other factors).

And since the hair at the back and sides of the head isn’t affected, hair transplant surgeons take these and transplant them to the balding areas. And once this hair is transplanted, it will not fall. It’s essentially immune to the effects of the hormones that cause hair loss. So, the results of your surgery will be permanent.

Myth #2: Hair transplant is very painful

That may have been true a few decades ago (when plugs of hair were taken out from the scalp), but that’s not the case anymore. Patients are given local anaesthesia before the surgery (even a needle-free option is available for that) so that they don’t feel pain during the surgery.

You might have some pain after the surgery once the effects of the anaesthesia wear off, but even that doesn’t last for long. And you’ll also likely be prescribed painkillers for pain management. So, rest assured that pain is not an issue when it comes to hair transplants, at least not anymore.

Myth #3: Hair transplant is not an option for women

Androgenetic alopecia is also the most common cause of hair loss in women. And to reverse its effects, women can also undergo a hair transplant. In fact, they make just as good candidates for this surgery as men. However, it’s also true that not as many women undergo this surgery as men. And many are also ashamed to talk about it.

One thing to note here is that androgenetic alopecia can sometimes occur diffusely. Meaning it affects the entire scalp and not just the top and front. In this case, since you don’t have stable “donor” hair (that is unaffected by the presence of hair loss-causing hormones), you might not make a good candidate for this surgery. Still, even in this case, you should first consult a medical professional.

Myth #4: Hair Transplant is not for old people

Again, not true. There’s no upper age limit for a hair transplant. No matter how old you are, as long as you have enough hair on the back and sides, you can have a successful hair transplant.

There is, however, a lower age limit for this procedure. You need to be at least 20 years old. When you start losing your hair, it’s better to wait for a while so that there’s a clear pattern of hair loss on your scalp. That way, a hair transplant surgeon will easily and clearly demarcate the balding regions on the scalp and transplant hair in them. But if you get the surgery too early, your balding area will grow in size as you age, and you’d end up needing another hair transplant.

Conclusion

A hair transplant is one of those procedures that has stood the test of time. Done by the right professionals, it has a very high success rate, and you can enjoy its results for a lifetime. Don’t rely on Dr Google alone if there is anything frightening you have heard about this procedure. Consult a board-certified professional about it instead.