Hair loss can affect your entire body and can be caused by heredity, hormones or medications. People with thyroid disorders, alopecia, undergoing chemotherapy, or who suffer from conditions such as psoriasis and diabetes may find themselves losing their hair in patches or chunks.
Most people who experience hair loss face two options, to either medicate or to treat it with surgery. Here are some things to think about if you’re considering surgery.
Fewer Side Effects
Hair loss medications come with significant consequences on the body. For men, one particularly troublesome side effect is erectile dysfunction. However, the surgery is minimally invasive and generally are easy to recover from. Patients usually experience soreness and may be required to wear a bandage over their head and apply a cold compress occasionally for inflammation, but these typically last only for a few days after the surgery.
Timing
Hair transplant surgery is very effective but it does take time to see results. After the procedure, 60 percent of patients report having noticed most of their hair growth within the first 6 to 9 months. With that in mind, you can plan to have the surgery before a major life event that you will want to experience having your own real hair. Weddings, graduations, starting college or a graduate program and other major life events are usually planned months in advance. You can include getting a transplant in your plans so you’re confident on your big day.
As far as how long to expect the procedure to last, expect to be under anesthesia almost all day. There are two types of extraction procedures to collect the donor graft: follicular unit extraction (FUE) and follicular unit transplantation (FUT). FUE takes a few hours while FUT can take up to half an hour to perform. Afterward, the donation is inserted in the scalp. Patients can spend up to 8 hours in surgery, but during that time they are able to do things to keep themselves preoccupied, such as watch television.
Cost of Treatment
The cost of treatment will depend on how long you need to receive treatment and how many grafts you will need. Your doctor should discuss with you what option is best for your needs, which will help you determine all expenses associated with the procedure. Most insurance companies do not cover hair transplants because they are considered cosmetic concerns. Typically hair restoration surgeries can cost as low as $4,000 and as much as $15,000.
Your Own Truth
One of the easiest ways to answer whether or not a hair transplant is right for you is if you feel particularly strong about it one way or another. Everyone responds to hair loss in different ways, but many people feel insecure or even angry about it. You’re the one who has to be comfortable in your own skin, and if you’re not then it’s time to consider how a hair transplant can make you feel more like yourself again. If you’ve been thinking about it then it’s time to finally give yourself what you’ve been wanting deep down. If you’re ready to see yourself with your own real hair and want expert treatment with the patient care you deserve then contact Samson Hair Restoration Los Angeles[1] to schedule your consultation.
Image credit: Hair Transplant via Africa Studio/Shutterstock