Like good health and young age, hair is one of the things many people take for granted until it’s no more. Over the years, experts have figured out ways to curb the problem of hair loss. A hair transplant is one of them. Since the early 1950s, doctors have been doing hair transplant procedures, and scientific research has allowed new techniques to be introduced. The first hair transplant was done in 1952 by a skin doctor to treat male pattern baldness. This was done by taking out huge hair tufts from either the side or the back of the hair to the front. However, this technique got a lot of criticism and was not accepted by many people. This was because it gave an appearance that was not naturally looking. They called this technique the plug technique and were not liked since, unlike the natural human hairline, it created a buildup of hair at the front of the head in a circle-like manner.

 Researchers found better ways to do hair transplant procedures with the modern research introduced in the 1990s, The Follicular Unit Extraction. In the males, one or two strands are created from a single hair follicle. Thus unlike the previous technique, this one gives a more natural finish.

Does a men’s transplant work?

A hair transplant is a procedure to add more hair to an area on the head that may suffer from thinning or balding. This is normally done when hair is taken from thicker parts of the scalp or other body parts and added to the parts of the scalp that may be losing hair. All around the world, sixty percent of all men and fifty percent of all women go through various forms of hair loss at certain life stages. Hair transplants have proven more effective than over-the-counter medicines for hair restoration, such as Minoxidil (Rogaine).

It is not a guarantee that everyone benefits from a hair transplant. A hair transplant may not be effective if a person does not have enough strands of hair at the donor site. In addition, the patient must fulfill several medical requirements and expectations before surgery. So the doctor may not allow the patient to undergo it. However, compared to other cosmetic medications and hair treatments, the success rate in hair transplants seems to be higher. It must be noted, however, that different people react differently to the surgery

According to scientific research, these transplants are very successful for people with hair loss due to circumstantial injury or male baldness. The procedure may not be the best choice if the hair loss is caused by a medical condition that attacks hair follicles. Also, the hair implanted may not be the normal thickness after the procedure, and the surgeon cannot predict how rough or smooth the hair is before the surgery. After a while, the hair that has been transplanted is bound to go through hair thinning, thus impacting how effective the procedure is. Thus the surgeons usually suggest some hair medicines for use as supportive therapy. Men undergoing progressive hair loss and receiving a hair transplant will not have positive effects. This is because one of the requirements for the procedure is the need for good and healthy-looking hair from the donor site, which may not be available in this case. The use of steroids is also one factor to consider in this case. Men with steroids in their system may not benefit from this procedure. Studies reveal that steroid consumption increases dihydrotestosterone amounts, which accelerates hair loss.

How much does a hair transplant cost?

The cost of hair replacement depends on the type of procedure a person is going to undergo. Non-surgical procedures are less expensive than surgical ones. A hair transplant, to be exact, could cost somewhere between five thousand to fifteen thousand dollars. Other costs may include

· Transport costs.

This cost factor, also referred to as commuters, needs to be considered very much. One has to choose between doing the surgery at their own home or traveling to a health facility for surgery

· The surgeon’s fees

Roughly, a hair transplant may require three sessions, depending on the extent of hair loss. Surgeon fees are constantly added to the total costs, including pre-and post-assessment fees. Medications may be taken after the surgery, which is also costly.

· Men’s hair replacement alternatives

Sometimes, hair transplant surgery may not be suitable for all, and the doctor may recommend other hair replacement methods. They include

· PRP injection surgery

Platelet-rich plasma is a procedure that involves the health practitioner taking a sample of one’s blood and putting it on a spinning machine to take out the platelets, which are thereafter injected into the scalp of that person through an injection. This process sounds very complicated but is simple and takes only fifteen minutes or even less.

· Wigs

If the person is suffering from complete baldness and efforts to undergo a hair transplant may be futile, it is always best to use wigs. They offer complete head coverage for male pattern baldness throughout the head. There are various wigs to choose from depending on color, size, and texture, depending on the person’s taste and preference. Most wigs tend to show a hairline that looks so natural, making it very undetectable. It is also quite affordable and cost-effective compared to hair transplant surgery, mostly made of high-quality material.

· Male toupees

The main difference between a wig and a toupee is that a wig covers the whole head while a toupee only covers the area affected by male pattern baldness.

Conclusion

A hair transplant is one of the best options in the quest for treatment for male pattern baldness. Different techniques have been introduced over the years, but many factors must be considered before getting one.