Hair loss can be a distressing experience for many people. Reports suggest that one in four men start to bald before the age of 21 and 29% of women who suffer from hair loss show symptoms of depression. It can be inferred from these reports that hair loss can impact one’s self-confidence and overall well-being.
Fortunately, advancements in aesthetic medicine have led to solutions that can help aid in hair loss. In this article we will explore some of these solutions to hair loss including surgical transplants and non-surgical alternatives.
Surgical treatments involve invasive procedures which require incisions on the body to access tissues or organs. These procedures typically require a controlled environment such as an operating room and may involve the use of scalpels, sutures, anaesthesia and other specialised equipment. Surgical treatments also typically have longer recovery times and often need some amount of extensive after care.
Non-surgical treatments on the other hand do not involve invasive surgical incisions. They are often minimally or non-invasive and can be performed outside of the operating room. Non-surgical treatments may utilise specialised medical devices but they remain non-invasive in nature. Non-surgical treatments also tend to have shorter recovery times and need less extensive aftercare.
Now that we understand how surgical and non-surgical treatments differ, we can explore the possible surgical (hair graft) and non-surgical solutions that can treat hair loss.
Surgical Solutions for Hair Loss
1. Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)
Follicular Unit Transplantation or FUT for short is a surgical hair transplant technique which involves the removal of a narrow strip of hair-bearing scalp from the selected donor area. This donor area is usually the hair-bearing scalp from the sides or back of the head. This strip of hair-bearing scalp is then carefully dissected into groups of one to four hair follicles known as individual follicular units. These individual follicular units that have been carefully prepared are then transplanted into the recipient area where hair loss or hair thinning is observed. This process is also why FUT is known as ‘strip harvesting’. FUT provides a natural-looking hair loss solution as the transplanted follicular units retain their original characteristics and growth patterns. However, because this method involves ‘strip harvesting’ hair-bearing scalp, it does leave a linear scar that can be covered with careful hair styling.
2. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is a surgical hair transplant treatment that involves the extraction of individual hair follicles from a selected donor area and their transplantation to the recipient area. An FUE transplant is similar to FUT in that both treatments use follicles from a selected donor area to be transplanted to the recipient area where hair loss is observed. But unlike FUT, FUE uses individual hair follicles. This allows for a more precise extraction that can be used for both small and large recipient areas. Also, unlike FUT, FUE does not leave a linear scar at the donor site and is minimally invasive, so has a comparatively faster recovery time.
3. NeoGraft Transplant
A Neograft Transplant is a hair transplant that uses an automated device to perform Follicular Unit Extractions. This device makes the FUE method of hair transplantation more precise and efficient. The NeoGraft automated device uses pneumatic pressure to precisely extract individual hair follicles from the donor area. The device also uses a small hand-held tool with a rotating punch that gently separates the follicular units from the surrounding tissue during extraction. These follicular units are then strategically transplanted into the recipient area to achieve a natural-looking hair growth appearance. Similar to an FUE treatment, NeoGraft treatments are minimally invasive and have a short recovery time.
Non-Surgical Solutions for Hair Loss
1. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)
Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is a treatment that involves the injection of a concentrated solution of platelets taken from a patient’s blood. This process involves taking a small amount of the patient’s blood akin to a blood sample size to be used for the treatment. This blood is then placed in a centrifuge, which uses a high-speed spinning motion to separate the blood into three different components: red blood cells, white blood cells and plasma. The isolated platelet-rich plasma is what is used for the treatment. PRP works because the concentrated platelet solution contains proteins and growth factors. These proteins and growth factors work together to stimulate hair growth and improve the thickness, density and quality of existing hair. PRP treatments generally involve several sessions and are minimally invasive.
2. Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF)
Similar to PRP, platelet-rich fibrin treatments use platelets taken from the patient’s blood. The process for PRF treatments is also similar to PRP in that a small amount of blood is taken from the patient and the platelets are separated from the blood in a centrifuge. Where PRF differs is that once the platelet-rich plasma has been collected, it is converted into a gel-like substance which is then injected into the scalp. This gel-like substance is a processed version of the platelet-rich plasma that enhances the regenerative properties of the proteins and growth factors it contains. PRF is also considered to be minimally invasive and has a short recovery time.
3. External Growth Factors
External growth factors, or EGFs, work by boosting the body’s natural production of growth factors. EGFs contain a high concentration of conditioned media that retains specific growth factors, cytokines and interleukins. These work together to promote hair growth, stimulate hair follicle regeneration and improve scalp health.
All of these treatments, surgical and non-surgical, offer hair loss sufferers a viable solution to restore their hair and improve their self-esteem. With so many options available, a patient can choose the treatment that is best for them and the severity of their hair loss. When looking for hair loss transplant Melbourne or hair transplants in Sydney, Hair and Skin Science clinics are viable options. All their clinics offer the non-surgical treatments listed above and their Sydney clinic is currently the only one of their clinics to offer the NeoGraft hair transplant treatment. However, it is always best to do your own research when looking for a treatment and clinic that suits your needs.
Hair and Skin Science has 28 clinics Australia wide
Ph: 1300 602 380
Email: admin@hairandskinscience.com.au
https://www.hairandskinscience.com.au
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