Modern Hair Restoration Techniques:
When hair loss is irreparable and permanent, you may be pondering on what other options you can take to possibly gain back some of your youthful looks. If you have absolutely tried all products and advice on your hair but are still searching for scientific solutions, there are basically 2 alternatives to hair growth and hair restoration:
- Medical Hair Restoration
- Surgical Hair Restoration
Medical Hair Restoration:
This involves the use of Topical Hair Loss Solutions that are medically proven to regrow and restore hair. Top of the list is Minoxidil and Tretinoin. The best way to use these medical products is if you use them in tandem.
You would need to keep applying these topical solutions for at least 3 – 4 months before you see any noticeable effects of thickening hair. The downside is that as soon as you stop applying these medications, the hair will return to its previous state and you will lose whatever progress you have seen.
If you would like view other Topical Hair Loss Solutions you can apply to your hair, click this link to our other webpage on this topic or see other Related Information on the right panel.
Surgical Hair Restoration:
Surgical Hair Restoration is anything that involves a permanent transfer of healthy hair from an area where it is continuously growing to a balding or thinning area.
Hair Transplant
Simply put, hair is taken out from an area where hair growth is normal (donor area) and is grafted into an area where hair was lost or is thinning (recipient area). Usually the area where normal hair growth would remain in a balding patient is in the back of the scalp therefore follicular units (comprised of hair follicle and its supporting system) are harvested from there. Of all methods, this is the most natural looking.
There are various strategies of harvesting hair from the donor area:
Follicular Unit Transplant
This method involves extracting a strip of skin containing many follicular units from the scalp area where hair growth is normally occurring. Harvested strips are usually dissected into smaller units ready for hair grafting.
Follicular Unit Extraction
Here, hair is harvested by using a surgical puncher or similar device usually 1mm in diameter.
Hair Flap method
This is the old way of hair transplanting or hair grafting. It involves cutting away a fairly large strip of scalp from an area where normal hair growth is occurring (usually in the back of the head) and is then sewn in on an area that is balding. This leaves a scar along the suture lines and is very noticeable even from a distance.
There are various ways of transplanting hair into the recipient area:
Micro-grafting
This is a procedure of transplanting a group of 1-3 hairs or follicular units into a recipient area or area of the scalp that is thinning/bald.
Mini-grafting
This is a procedure of transplanting a group of 4-12 hairs or follicular units into a recipient area or area of the scalp that is thinning/bald. Micro and Mini grafting are often used in tandem to mimic natural looking hair growth.
Implanting Artificial Hair
Synthetic hair is implanted into the scalp. This procedure may cause some complications and since there is no renewal process on artificial hair, once it is damaged it can only be replaced by another surgery. This procedure is not the most natural looking option.
Hair Extensions/Hair Integration
This strategy is often used by the stars as well. Commercially produced hair is integrated into otherwise thin or diffused hair. These hair extensions may be made of natural or artificial hair. The effect of using this method adds volumes to otherwise thin looking hair. There are many methods of integrating these hair extensions and they can usually be done in one sitting and it will transform your whole look yet keep it natural looking. This usually only lasts for a period of 8 weeks.
Wigs
This may be one of the cheapest alternatives. Hair strands are all made of artificial or natural hairs. Wigs can be in a form of the following:
- Toupée to cover a partial area that is balding
- Lace wigs which are typically glued, taped and tied
- Full Wig which covers the whole scalp area
Caution should be taken when using this option as there is a tendency for wigs to looks unnatural.
In order to get a good and proper assessment of one’s condition as well as the best hair restoration alternative to take, it is best to consult your doctor, surgeon or trichologist.