Losing hair is never a comfortable prospect, and while losing a little hair is normal – studies show that losing up to 100 hair strands a day is completely normal – excessive hair loss can be troublesome. In most cases, extreme hair loss presents itself in the form of receding hairline and bald spots and when the bald spots become prominent, the thoughts of hair restoration treatment start to seep into the mind.
The history of hair transplants goes back several decades, but over the years, there has been a lot of development in the field since then. The manners in which the transplants are conducted have become a lot more modern and sophisticated. As a matter of fact, these days, you can get your procedure done via robotic machines, that ensure high levels of precision and perfection too.
However, even today, despite all the advances in modern medicine and the science of transplants, there are some myths that surround the procedure. Let’s take a look at some of the most common myths and the actual facts around them:
Myth 1 – A hair transplant can cause a range of medical problems, including brain issues, eye problems, and even cancer!
Fact – Even though the procedure is being done on the head and scalp, a hair transplant is actually a minimally invasive procedure, which means that the chances of your brain, eyes, or any other part of the body being affected are highly improbable. Moreover, the entire procedure is actually done on the dermis, and even the epidermis is not touched, which means that there is absolutely nothing happening to your brain. So, this is an absolute myth that you could have brain problems, eye problems, or cancer because when a hair restoration treatment is done properly, there are no side effects or medical issues that will crop up.
Myth 2 – This is an extremely painful and long-drawn procedure, which has a long recovery time too.
Fact – No, no, and no! The entire hair transplant procedure, no matter which method is being used, is done under local anesthesia, which means that there is literally no scope for pain. In case, the person has a really low level of pain tolerance, the procedure can even be done under complete sedation. Depending on how many grafts your need, your sitting could take anywhere between 1 to 3 hours, and in most cases, you will be able to go home within hours of the procedure getting over. In case you are having hair restoration treatment giga sessions, then you might have to sit for a slightly longer time.
If you have undergone a strip surgery, there will be a long incision and the stitches might need a little time to heal, however with a procedure like FUE, where micro-punches are used, there is absolutely no problem. Your healing and downtime will be incredibly less. While you might be asked to take things a little easy, in terms of exercise or any heavy-duty activities, you should be able to return to most of your normal routines, within a few days’ time.
Myth 3 – Hair transplant works only for men and that too young men.
Fact – Yes, there is a certain age criterion that needs to be met when you are considering a hair restoration treatment, but that is more about you reaching an age where your hair loss has stabilized completely. If a transplant is done before your hair loss has stabilized, the chances of the transplanted hair falling out are also high. This is why you are asked to wait for a certain period of time (normally till your late 20s or early 30s) before you are considered eligible for a transplant. And once your hair loss has stabilized, you can get a transplant at almost any age.
And in case you too were of the opinion that a transplant is meant only for men, you would be sadly mistaken, because this is not a gender-specific procedure. a transplant can be done for both men as well as women – you might have to look for a transplant surgeon who specializes in women’s hair transplants.
Myth 4 – You will be able to see the results of a hair transplant almost immediately.
Fact – Unfortunately no. No matter how talented and experienced a surgeon is, they will not be able to assure you immediate results. As a matter of fact, in the days that follow the transplant, you will actually see more hair loss and even the grafts that have been implanted might fall off. However, in time, new hair will start to grow and over the course of the next few months, you will be able to see a full head of hair! The effects of a transplant take a minimum of a few months and you should be able to see the initial results then. And in case any transplant surgeon or clinic promises you immediate results, you might want to steer clear of them, because they are surely leading you down the wrong path.
Myth 5 – The results will not last a long time.
Fact – If the hair restoration treatment has been done by a professional with the right amount of expertise and experience, then you will have nothing to worry about because the results will last you a lifetime. Short-term results or unnatural results or even uneven results arise when the procedure has not been done properly. This could be due to a lack of experience or expertise, because of the unavailability of proper equipment, carelessness or inexperience of the support staff, etc. Problems can also arise if the hair grafts have not been extracted from the proper donor site or if the grafts were not taken care of in the time that lies between extraction and implant.
As is the case with many situations, the myths associated with hair restoration treatment also arise due to a lack of proper information and education. Many people choose to build their opinions based on what they might have heard or some passing information that they might have received. In the case of medical procedures like a hair transplant, it is imperative that you go by the facts that you acquire from a medical professional and preferably an expert.
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