When experiencing hair loss or baldness, the last thing anyone is thinking about is undergoing a surgical procedure. One of the main reasons may be the fact that it IS a tad pricey, and not only that, some people think they don’t have the budget for or access to the best doctors. With the help of certain hair loss medicines, there are some forms of baldness that can be slowed down, but if the hair fall is due to genetics, these kinds of treatments are not as likely to be as effective and the only real solution may indeed be a hair transplant!

Genetic hair loss is referred to as “alopecia areata” and is found in both men & women (male pattern baldness for men, female pattern baldness for women). Men are typically more likely to experience balding then women, and it may start off as just hair thinning. There many things you can do to slow down or even reverse hair loss such as nutrition, medication, and lifestyle. But, when those things stop slowing down or reversing the balding process, hair transplant surgery has been proven to be one of the best cures in making hair growth again. Before you undergo this procedure, there are a few things you should consider:

1. FUT vs. FUE
There are 2 different kinds of hair transplants: Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) or Follicular Unit Transplantations (FUT).

  • FUT: This is referred to as the strip method. This is a procedure that involves cutting and removal of a strip of skin and hair. It’s these follicles that are then transferred to the balding areas of the scalp.
  • FUE: During this procedure, there is no incision made. Rather a robot assists the doctor in extracting each individual hair follicle from the donor area and then placing them in the balding areas.

2. Cost of Surgery
Many times, surgeries are pricey, especially detailed surgeries like a hair transplant. While cost is a good factor to consider before having the procedure done, don’t make your final decisions based on price. Be sure to talk to your doctor about financing options, as most clinics offer these.

3. Do Your Research on Doctors & Their Clinics
There are a number of different doctors doing hair transplants. Be sure to do your homework and read into the surgeons you are considering having your procedure done with. With so many media outlets and word of mouth, it will be very easy to attain information regarding a practice and their doctor. Many offices, like here at Charles Medical Group, offer complimentary consultations to meet the doctor and ask any questions you may have!

4. Complications and Risks
When you decide that you are going to undergo any kind of surgery, including a hair transplant, you have put yourself in a situation where there is the risk of certain risks & complications. As stated above, first make sure you’ve looked into your doctor. Many people go straight to the internet to get their information, where anyone can post their advice but, we suggest if you have questions or concerns you address your doctor directly to get the most medically direct answer.

5. Needed Preparations and Medical Care
Like any medical procedure there are things you should or shouldn’t do a day (or up to a week) before. A couple common things that are discouraged before your procedure include drinking alcohol, excessive sweating, smoking etc… These will be discussed with your surgeon or client coordinator well before your scheduled procedure.