There are roughly 35 million men in the United States that are experiencing hair loss and/or baldness. When men begin to notice their hair is thinning, or that they are going bald, many explore different procedures in order to restore their hair. In addition to Follicular Unit Strip Surgery and Follicular Unit Extraction, scalp micropigmentation is also a possible option.
Hair Loss in Men
Before it becomes noticeable, half of a man’s hair will have been lost. When men with hair loss issues reach the age of 35, it will be noticeable in approximately 66% of these men. Once they are 50, however, roughly 85% will have significantly thinned hair.
Over 95% of hair loss in men is caused by Androgenetic Alopecia. This means that there is a genetic tendency toward hair loss as opposed to other contributing factors.
The Hair Loss Process
Before a man begins to experience hair loss or balding, hair strands will usually grow for 2 to 6 years. After this, they will go into a resting phase for several months before falling out.
Follicular Unit Strip Surgery
During this procedure, a strip of scalp with healthy hair follicles is surgically removed. It is then placed within the incisions made in the balding area of the scalp.
It’s important to note that Follicular Unit Strip Surgery is an invasive procedure that will leave scars and may cause other issues, such as scalp tightening. Furthermore, other complications may arise and there is usually a long recovery period. After having this procedure performed, future procedures may be limited due to the scars as well as the scalp’s tightening.
Follicular Unit Extraction
This procedure is also referred to as Follicular Transfer. When undergoing a Follicular Unit Extraction procedure, individual hair groupings, or follicular unit grafts, are harvested 1 at a time. These usually consist of groupings of 1 to 4 hairs. In some cases, there may be as many as 7 or 8 hairs that occur in a natural grouping. In order to harvest the hairs, a tiny punch is general used, and the entire procedure will be completed within about 8 hours.
Since this is a minimally invasive procedure, there are fewer complications. Follicular Unit Extraction doesn’t leave a scar, and the recovery time is brief. While it does depend on several factors, including skin type, it usually takes the grafts a few days to take hold. Any redness that occurs will usually disappear within 4 to 5 days.
Other Types of Hair Loss Treatments
In addition to FUE, some men are opting for scalp micropigmentation, or a medical hairline tattoo. It is a non-invasive treatment where natural pigments are deposited on the scalp to give the appearance of hair follicles. As a result, when someone has scalp micropigmentation, it looks like a clean-shaven head.
Schedule an Appointment at a Hair Clinic
If you’re interested in learning more about your hair replacement options, schedule an appointment at a local hair clinic for a consultation. Scar revision is also available for individuals that have had Follicular Unit Strip Surgery. During your appointment, you can discuss treatment options as well as the costs associated with each.