There is no longer a need to be skeptical about the validity of hair transplant surgery. Quite a few celebrities have been open about having the surgery, and it is proven to be highly successful among good candidates for getting a hair transplant. The previous stigma attached to pursuing a transplant is also being dispelled, since the surgery is increasingly socially acceptable.

There are many different types of hair transplant surgery. A Follicular Unit Transplant, the traditional procedure, is achieved by removing narrow hair strips from other areas of the head and transplanting them where the hair is thinning. The transplanted follicles continue to grow naturally except that they are resistant to the hormone that causes progressive hair loss, dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

When to Get a Hair Transplant

The very first hair transplant surgery was performed in New York in 1952. There have been great strides through the years. Anyone with hair loss who is a good candidate for a hair transplant and can afford the surgery can have a more youthful head of hair. According to experts, however, surgery should be performed as a last resort. There are many other strategies available to slow or stop the progression of hair loss, and they should all be exhausted before surgery is considered.

Traits of a Good Candidate for Hair Transplant Surgery

Technically speaking, a hair transplant can be done on patients of any age. It is considered impractical, however, to perform hair transplants on children. A patient should be fully mature, so that surgery can be performed with an established pattern of hair growth and hair loss as a guide. The following provides more guidelines for determining whether a person is a good candidate for hair transplant surgery:

• A patient should have a healthy immune system, to undergo hair transplant surgery. Any type of surgery can suppress the immune system, making recovery take longer. Following surgery, patients are more prone to infections, which the immune system is supposed to prevent. To reduce the risk of these types of complications, any existing serious health conditions should be resolved prior to having hair transplant surgery.
• There are different hair loss classifications. A good candidate for hair transplant surgery needs to have a sufficient amount of donor hair to be transplanted to a thinning area. Those with severe hair loss may not be a good candidate, but it’s always best to consult a hair restoration specialist about the possibilities.
• A patient should have realistic expectations regarding the potential outcome of hair transplant surgery. For example, whether or not the hair color and scalp blend together makes a big difference in how many transplants are needed to achieve sufficient coverage. A person with light skin and blond hair will need fewer transplants than someone with dark hair and a light scalp.
• The best candidates for hair transplant surgery have had hair loss for at least five years and have a stabilized pattern of baldness.

For a consultation with a hair restoration specialist who can discuss options for hair loss, including hair transplant surgery, contact Loria Medical today at 866-MD-HAIRS (866-634-2477) for an appointment.