For more and more of the men and women of Los Angeles, hair loss is becoming an epidemic. As alopecia and male pattern baldness take effect on the young and the old, people are turning to all forms of hair restoration treatments. Prescription drugs, over the counter medicines and hair replacement forms of cosmetic surgery have increased in usage over the years as people hope for results. Among the more popular and permanent repair work offered are hair grafts.
Hair grafts have become just as popular as any other form of plastic surgery in Los Angeles. Countless celebrities have been able to cling to their youth and good looks with hair restoration and so can you. Not only are the doctors in the area the best in their field, but the procedures are affordable as well. Side effects are fairly minimal and may include headaches, light bleeding, temporary thinning of the hair and numbness of the scalp. All of these are temporary conditions and will subside with time. Most doctors will provide a prescription drug to help relieve any pain that you may endure or you can take over the drugs such as Tylenol and Advil. Consult with your doctor before hand if you have any concerns.
Who Are the Best Candidates for A Hair Transplant
Not all people make good candidates for hair follicle transplants. Age in fact plays a part in evaluating who should receive hair grafts. Young patients generally don’t qualify for a hair transplant simply because they are young. If they recently have started to lose their hair, then there is a possibility that they will continue to lose it. Having this surgery so soon will more than likely only cause more problems down the line. Propecia and Rogaine are usually better treatments for men younger than thirty. Men around the ages of their late forties and higher will most likely make better candidates because around this time is when they have losing hair for years and are no longer in the early stages. Family history also plays a big part in the age that a man starts to lose his hair and how rapidly he will do so. This should be something that is discussed with a doctor just as every case should be taken into account individually and treated accordingly.
Most women do not make good candidates at all because their hair thins all over instead of in one spot, making it almost impossible to treat with hair grafting. There would be very minimal hair to make a donor area from and no one spot will need attention. African Americans have naturally coarse hair and their skin and hair can easily be manipulated and moved from one area of the head to the next without being made noticeable. When it comes to scarring they are the more likely group to develop keloid scars. These scars won’t be as visible since they blend into the hair color, making this procedure ideal for African American males. Caucasians with coarser hair and similar skin and hair colors also make for better candidates than Asians would, simply because of hair texture. However there are still surgeons that specialize in Asian hair restoration. Be careful to research your doctor and the clinic that you will be having the procedure done at before you commit to them. Choosing the cheap prices or the most convenient location may not be the best option for you.
How Many Hair Transplant Procedures Would I Need
The number of hair transplant procedures can vary from person to person. The more severe your hair loss appears to be, the more procedures you will need to have. Most patients have been reported to have up to three hair restoration sessions to complete your transformation. Most hair loss patients only have to go through one session of follicle grafting. It all depends on the number of grafts your surgeon is allowed to complete within a session and the amount of hair that you desire. Even if the surgeon can complete five thousand hair follicle transplants within one session, does not necessarily mean than they should or want to. The scalp can only take so much at one time. A surgeon may divide your treatment up into more than one session in order to ensure safety as well as the best possible results.
Hair follicle transplants can take as many as eight to fourteen hours to complete depending on the number of grafts the patient desires and the difficulty of the transplant. The patient may be in the clinic for more than a whole day at times. Most patients will be advised to take up to five days off from work in order to recover from the surgery although each session requires very minimal time to actually recover.
How Many Grafts Will I Need
The number of hair grafts the patient needs, all depend on four factors. The patients goal and hair loss at the time of the session is a major factor. Another factor is the projected pattern of hair loss to come later in life based on age and family genetics. The amount of hair in the donor area that can be safely transplanted as well as economic and time restraints of the patient also determine how many grafts a person will need.
How Hair Transplants Work
Hair transplantation surgery is done by moving the hair from the donor area, which is usually the back of the head, to the balding spots on top of the head. The hair follicles that are located on the back of your head are bald resistant so once they are relocated to the balding spot, the baldness will not re-occur. This makes the surgery a one time operation and you will never have to deal with the baldness occurring in the same places again.
How long Does It Take For Transplanted Hair To Grow
Transplanted hair can take about three or four months after the surgery to begin growing. It may not be noticeable to you yet but the procedure is indeed working. Hair will continue to grow for up to a year after the surgery, but around six months post operation the hair growth will be more significant than before.
How To Get Natural Results From Hair Restoration
Of course, as with any plastic surgery, you will want to see natural results. Hair restoration is no different. The results can be so natural looking that even the people closest to you will not know that you had a procedure done. Your best friend, your mom, nor your hair stylist will be able to tell unless you are the one to let them know about your surgery. The doctor that you choose can also determine how natural your hairline will appear as well as how many grafts you choose to have transplanted. Choosing the right procedure and having the right surgeon carry it out is detrimental to how natural your hair will look in the end.
After the grafts have been allowed to grow the full year, you can style, cut and manipulate them in any way that you feel is appropriate in order to make it appear as normal as you wish.