Hair can be a part of your personality. It symbolizes your individuality, a part of you that you can tame, alter, and perfect to your desired liking. It’s a public display that can be how many people recognize you. That’s why hair loss can be a deeply emotional experience.
Thankfully, you don’t need to sit on the sidelines when you start losing your hair. There are quick, short-term fixes as well as longer-term solutions. Wearing a ballcap, for instance, will cover up your hair woes, while a new hairstyle can lessen the appearance of your balding pattern. Alternatively, topical solutions and remedies can help diminish the starkness of hair loss. Whether you’ve tried these quick fixes, you may be interested in a more permanent cure like a hair transplant.
What is a Hair Transplant, and How Does It Work?
Before recognizing if a hair transplant is for you, here’s some background on what it is. As the name suggests, a hair transplant moves hair from one part of your body to another. This doesn’t mean your chest hair will be transfixed to your scalp. Rather, the hair follicle will be moved to generate hair regrowth.
Follicular unit extraction, often shortened to FUE, extracts hair follicles from one area of your body and transplants them to another site. This process moves stronger, more resilient hair follicles to thinning areas. After the scalp has healed, the transplanted follicles will grow new hair.
FUE was developed to largely replace an older transplant methodology called FUT, or follicular unit transplant. FUE transplants are more natural-looking with better results. Additionally, downtime is minimal, although some may experience soreness on the first day. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories such as Advil or Motrin can help with any pain. It’s generally advised to avoid strenuous activity for the first five days.
Now that you know how a transplant works and what it entails, here are three indicators that you may be a good candidate for an FUE transplant.
1. Thinning at the Crown
One of the most noticeable signs is hair thinning. You may first see this on the crown of your head when you look in the mirror. It can be alarming to notice less hair on your head, but know it’s not necessarily your fault. Thinning is often caused by genetic factors or hormonal changes.
Androgen hormones, including testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), can influence hair thinning. DHT, in particular, is known to shrink hair follicles, leading to finer and thinner hair. Some men’s hair follicles are more sensitive to this hormone. If this is the case, you will experience thinning and eventual balding.
Luckily, there is medication to combat this hair loss. Finasteride works by stopping the conversion of testosterone to DHT. RReducing DHT levels slow down follicle miniaturization and hair thinning, promoting regrowth and thickening. It is commonly prescribed to individuals experiencing male pattern baldness. Due to potential side effects and considerations, its use should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
In some instances, finasteride can’t reverse hair loss, typically when it’s progressed too far. At that point, a transplant may be your best option for restoring your hair.
2. Receding Hairline
The term “receding hairline” may give you the creeps, but it’s something that many men experience as they age. A receding hairline is categorized by thinning around the scalp above the temples. A more visible forehead and an M balding pattern around the Hairline are other tell-all signs.
While many causes could cause a receding hairline, men often experience this as they age. Again, this is based on genetics and how your male hormones fluctuate. Stress can also be a cause, as can using too many chemical-filled products on your hair. If you have any underlying conditions, those could also contribute. For example, those with psoriasis who experience plaques around the scalp may also have more noticeable hair loss.
Catching a receding hairline early can help delay its progression. Once the Hairline recovers, talk to a medical professional about hair loss prevention. They may suggest certain supplements and vitamins to spur growth. Of course, these supplements won’t negate any genetic factors or hair follicle damage. A transplant will be needed to truly — permanently — fix the issue.
3. Difference in Hair Density
Another sign that you may be a good candidate for a hair transplant is a noticeable difference in hair density. You may also consider this a change in your hair’s overall thickness. However, it doesn’t refer to thickness per strand. Studies have found that the average head of hair ranges from 80,000 to 120,000 inches. If you have less than 80,000 hairs, your hair may be considered less dense.
Because you won’t individually count the strands of hair on a given day, there are other ways to measure hair density. You can examine your follicles under a microscope if you want to take a scientific approach. A specialist can count how many hair strands each follicle is producing. At home, you can pull a portion of your hair to the side and see how much of your scalp is visible. The more visible your scalp, the less dense your hair.
If you see more scalp than you’d like, it’s likely time to talk to a hair transplant specialist about your options. They can walk you through the procedure best for you and answer any questions.
Takeaways
Feeling ashamed about your thinning, receding hair can affect your confidence. You may try to hide or cover up your new hair pattern. However, to truly fix the problem, a hair transplant may be needed. This procedure will provide long-term results that can improve your appearance. And as soon as your hair regrows, you’ll feel like your former, confident self again.
