Before considering having a hair transplant you might want
to realize that there are a lot of drawbacks to hair
replacement procedures. These include scarring, a
disfigurement called cobbling and the reluctance of the new
hair to take to the scalp. Although there are almost
200,000 physicians performing hair-restoration procedures
in the United States, only a handful have success rates
with their clients. Perhaps the most common thing to watch
out for is the doctor who uses plugs to refurbish the hair
on scalp. This is considered to be an outdate procedure
that leaves the client with a scalp that sprouts the same
kind of hair that you see on a plastic dolls head.
The most common form of hair loss replacement involves the
grafting of hairs from the back and sides of the head.
These hairs are then individually transplanted to bald
spots on the cranium. A mild anesthetic is used to prevent
the patient from experiencing pain during the surgery. If
there is post-surgical pain it is commonly treated with an
average adult dose of Tylenol.
You might also want to realize that hair transplant
surgery is not a magic solution to baldness. The results
really do depend on the individual. Once the transplants
"take" you can still expect to look bald for many months
until the hair gains some length. You can expect
transplanted hairs to grow at the normal human rate of
about 1/4 " to 1/2" a month. If not all of the growth "takes"
in the first session then you can end up with a patchy
appearance on the balding spots that some may consider
being even more unattractive than the original bald spot.
Also keep in mind that every time you have to redo a
transplant that it can take the hair twice as long to grow
back. This means that transplants that are replaced may
grow as little a 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch a month.
Unless hair loss was the result of an accident or a
disease, health plans do not pay for hair replacement
surgery. However, if you are employed as an actor or model
you could possibly claim the hair replacement as an income
tax deduction.
If keeping up a certain image is important to you
personally or to your career also keep in mind that you
will not be able to wear a hairpiece over your transplants
for at least three days after each transplanting session.
This is because wigs and toupees delay the healing of the
scabbing around the implants and the regrowth of the new
hair.
To avoid the disappointment that is associated with many
hair transplant surgeries, make sure that you check out the
doctors qualifications and accomplishments before you sign
on the dotted line. An excellent surgeon will be able to
provide at least a dozen of "before" and "after" case
photos for you to review so that you feel confident in his
or her abilities.
(c) 2005 Kelly Altodona - All Rights Reserved
Kelly Altodona is a cosmetic surgery freelance author.
http://www.CosmeticSurgeryLinks.com