Previously, I discussed my experience using Propecia and I explained why Rogaine is a waste of time. Today, let’s talk about hair transplants.
Hair transplants may be the most publicized form of “hair loss treatment” because the results are dramatic and it’s often celebrities who have them performed. What is a hair transplant, you ask?
A hair transplant involves removing pieces of the scalp (typically from the back of the head, see above picture), hair follicles included, and grafting them onto a part of the scalp where the hair has thinned or disappeared entirely. The idea here is that the new hair will take hold and because the scalp was transferred along with it, there won’t be the same damaging effects from DHT (read my post Why am I Losing my Hair? for more information on the cause of hair loss).
This is the selling point of hair transplants: you get hair where you didn’t have any and it stays there.
The reality is not necessarily so rosy.
First consider the cost of a hair transplant. Costs are based on the number of follicles transferred. At a minimum, you’re looking at $5,000. More likely, however, is $10,000 and up. For doctors that have a good track record, you’re looking at prices of possibly $20,000 and higher.
But for some people, money is no object. Let’s look at hair transplants irrespective of cost.
There may indeed be plenty of success stories, but understand you are taking a significant risk when you undergo a hair transplant. First, you are giving yourself a scar around the back of your head. See the above photo. This is where the hair follicles are taken from. Second, there is a chance that the transplant might not work out. For example, have a look at this case:
I am 29 and started to loose my hair since I was 23. I was pretty confident with a shaved head for a while, but I made the mistake to go to MHR after watching one of their infomercials. They sold me on the process. I put 5,500 bucks for 1100 grafts. They promised great results…
Now, after 2 months of kicking myself for doing this I have a donor scar on the back of my head, and redness on my crown, but no visible hair growth (I believe that I’ve lost more hair since the operation). If you are thinking about a transplant, please just forget about it!!!!! I hate not being able to shave my head anymore!!!!
I am now trying to find a reputable plastic surgeon to get rid of the donor suture line that they left on me….If you know about someone please let me know!!
All of this pain just for some more hair… IT IS NOT WORTHY. All the best.
This is an excerpt from http://home1.gte.net/dschrode/newtransplant-tales.htm. It’s not the only tale of hair transplant disaster. Click on over and have a look.
The bottom line is this: a hair transplant could work out for you. But it could also be a disaster, and an expensive one at that. Remember, you are dealing with a cosmetic issue that is really a confidence issue more than anything. There are plenty of women who like bald men. There are plenty of women and people in general who like confident men regardless of how much hair they have.
This is another excerpt from the same site. It’s worth reading.
For all of you guys out there that think you will never get over losing your hair I can tell you that you will. I had a very thick head of hair until I started losing it at age 19, and the next ten years were the most awful you can imagine. I spent those years in front of the mirror and with my back to the mirror holding another mirror so I could see the crown of my head. If that makes you laugh a little than there is a good chance you will get through this, believe me. It looks worse to you than it does to anyone else. I still have hair on the sides and back that I cut very short. The little hair that I have left in the front and on top I shave every few days. The top of my head is naturally shiny so there is an occasional joke but compared to the number of women who want to touch it (and do other things to it) I can put up with a joke now and than. Get over this guys. The frown lines and wrinkles that you will get from being insecure about this will make you look older than your hair loss. Even if you don’t believe it at first, tell yourself it’s no big deal and eventually it won’t be. Not to you or anyone else.
If you enjoyed this post, check out my How to Deal with Hair Loss ebook. It details my personal story of beating male pattern baldness, explains all the options for dealing with hair loss, and offers concrete tips and strategies for getting over it and building confidence.
Hi, I'm Phil. I started losing my hair when I was 19. After years of anxiety and stress caused by losing my hair, I realized how to get over it. Now I'm helping others do the same.
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Tons of bullshit.
care to elaborate?
Very well written article..
I’m a doctor myself and I started losing my hair when I was 19 years old in my first year ! I was low in confidence and even contemplated transplant surgeries and spoke to a couple of surgeons ! I always asked then whether it will look like before and scar free and always got the reply in negative.. So I never went for it.. It took me about 3-4 years to accept this fact but once I did i gradually became confident and I wasn’t insecure anymore ! Friends earlier used to mention that I’m an attractive guy but then I never believed them as I always thought they’re saying so as they don’t want to hurt me ! But once you’re confident and take pride in being bald you’d see the results !
The most important thing is acceptance ! Once you accept yourself and be comfortable with your baldness it doesn’t matter ! I started sharing Bald jokes myself so people and was very comfortable with them when it used to be cracked by others !
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