Have you thought about getting one of those FUE hair transplants but want to know a bit more about the procedure such as how safe it is and what the side effects are? Any Follicular Unit Extraction transplant is a complex procedure and in this article I'll cover common questions you may have about the process.
What is a FUE hair transplant?
Basically, in a process called “blunt dissection”, 1-4 round punches of hair and tissue are collected. Using forceps, a follicular unit is extracted which can then be transferred and implanted into the balding area using a stereo microscope.
The aim of such a procedure is to fill in the missing hair on a bald spot for a more natural, dense appearance that blends in with the rest of your hair.
How is FUE different from a standard hair transplant?
In a standard hair transplant, scars are created as strips of scalp are removed from the donor area. FUE in contrast does not cause scarring.
The individual hair follicles need to be dissected and individually implanted into your scalp which is extremely time consuming for a surgeon. About 500-600 individual follicles are placed in a day.
This is partly why FUE hair transplants are considered better, because they can be carried out in half the time. The downside to this is that it is about double as expensive than a traditional hair transplant.
Side Effects of Hair Transplants
Both methods require some recovery time, with bleeding being a primary side effect at first. It soon subsides and other side effects become apparent:
- Pain at the transplant site which is often treated with medication
- Swelling and crusting of the scalp
- Infection of the hair follicles that can lead to rejection of implanted hairs
FUE hair transplants have been shown to have a faster healing time and a lower rejection rate, but standard hair transplants prevail because they are so much cheaper than FUE but have almost comparable results.
What Do I Need to Know Before Getting a Hair Transplant?
The first thing you need to look for is a reputable surgeon that you can trust. Look for positive testimonials, and read the negative reviews too.
Use your best judgment too, for example are the negative reviews from people who seem to have too high expectations? Are the positive ones from people who only just had the procedure done and haven't seen results yet?
If you want to get a hair transplant, make sure it is within your budget. Do not get into debt to get a hair transplant
Another thing to think about is effectively communicating with your surgeon, once chosen. Find out how soon you should see results. Tell them your worst area of balding so they can cover as much of that as they can in the first session so you can see results there first.
Is There a Hair Transplant Alternative?
There are simple and natural things you can do to try to cure your balding without resorting to the pain, inconvenience and cost of a hair transplant. These include:
- Reducing stress
- Addressing Nutrient Deficiencies
- Eat a healthy diet
These all depend on what is causing your balding. For example, a Vitamin D deficiency is a common cause of hair loss and can be remedied by getting enough sunshine every day or taking a supplement.
The best alternative to hair transplants is using Har Vokse. This is a dual action hair regrowth system that has thousands of happy customers from all over the world who have successfully regrown previously bald areas on their scalp.
Dual action means that it comes in tablet form and a scalp spray. You can treat common deficiencies that cause hair loss whilst encouraging growth from the inside and out.