When you read articles about hair transplant for female celebrities, you might consider it something only the rich and famous indulges in. You would think that it is a procedure that celebrities undergo so that their hair can look gorgeous for the public.
Then there are those women who would think that a hair transplant is meant only for men because that is what is publicised more. However, the fact of the matter is that a hair transplant can be done on women too, although the approach is often a little bit different.
Studies have shown that hair transplant is a great option for close to 90% of the men with balding problems. Unfortunately, the percentage of women who make ideal candidates for a hair transplant is much smaller. This is because, with women, the hair thinning is more diffused, whereas, in men, it is often localized – this means that with men, there are obvious bald spots, but with women, the hair loss is more spread out. So, for men, the donor and recipient areas are far easier to demarcate than in women.
In men, the donor sites are often known as stable sites, because the hair, as well as the follicles in those particular areas, are often not affected by DHT or dihydrotestosterone. With women, there are no clear donor areas, because there is a greater amount of instability in the hair loss. Chances are that when the hair is being removed for a transplant, it will not take root and will fall out again. As a matter of fact, a good transplant surgeon will not even consider such donor areas for a transplant.
Before you can consider a hair transplant for thinning hair, there are certain things you need to understand. For starters, you need to figure out whether you will make an ideal candidate for a hair transplant first:
- If your hair loss has been due to a non-hormonal reason – such as traction or mechanical alopecia
- If you have had a cosmetic or plastic surgery and are concerned about hair loss around the incision sites
- If there is pattern baldness – thinning vertex, recession on the hairline and a proper donor area
- If you have lost hair due to trauma, such as accidents or burns
- If you have alopecia marginal is (a condition that is similar to traction alopecia)
If you are considering a hair transplant for yourself, then your very first step should be to find a really good and experienced hair transplant surgeon, who will not only answer all the questions that you might have but also help you decide whether a transplant is a good idea for you. They will help identify whether you have a stable donor site or not, because, without one, there is no chance of you getting a successful transplant.
But the most imposing question here is that how do you actually choose a good doctor or clinic for your transplant. Here are the things that you need to consider:
- Look for a doctor who has a great reputation and has plenty of experience as well as expertise.
- The doctor should have all the necessary licenses and certifications.
- Naturally, the clinic with which this particular doctor is affiliated should be up to the standards too.
- The clinic that you are considering should have a well-trained staff
- The clinic should be fitted with all modern equipment
- Whenever you take your first appointment, you should not be forced into signing for any procedure – the doctor should be willing to talk to you and clarify all your doubts and queries.
- If from the beginning, the staff or even the doctor is talking only about the cost factor, you might want to get away as soon as possible.
- There should be videos or photographs of previously conducted procedures, giving you an idea of what to expect.
- The clinic should be willing to provide with testimonials from other clients.
When you meet a good transplant surgeon, you can get information beyond just women’s hair transplant cost [link]. At the clinic of any good hair transplant surgeon, the first step will be to understand the pattern of hair loss, before suggesting any plan of action. There will be a thorough examination of the hair and scalp, which will allow the doctor to gain a better understanding. It is important to understand that hair loss in women is different to how it is in men, which is why the examination will also vary. For women, hair loss is generally of a more diffused type and the typical treatment that might work really well for men, might not for women. The doctor will subject you to several tests and even a disease-specific workup before deciding on the best route for your hair restoration. After all these tests and examinations, your doctor will be able to decide whether you need a surgical, non-surgical or a combination procedure.
Here are the main steps before a hair transplant:
- After an intensive personal consultation session, which will include a physical exam, you will be informed about whether you are a good candidate or not.
- There will be further examination about how many follicular units can be harvested from the donor area.
- An exam will be conducted to determine how many grafts will be needed for the recipient area.
- Your hairline will be designed and finalized.
- The final discussion will be about the cost.
Once all this has been done, the final decision will be made and this will include:
- You will be given a proper explanation about which procedure will be ideal for you and how it will be done.
- Your entire medical history will be taken into consideration.
- Female hair transplant before and after photos are taken because these are evidence for not only the clinic but also the patient themselves.
- And of course, the final step is the actual booking of the procedure date.
As is the case with men, the main two types of hair transplant procedures for women also happen to be, FUT or FUE.
- FUT – Also known as strip surgery, this is the procedure of choice when a large recipient area needs to be covered. A linear strip of the scalp will be removed and the hair grafts will be removed. The area from where the strip has been removed will be sutured back and this will lead to a linear scar. The scar will, however, remain hidden once the hair grows back in. The harvested grafts will be implanted into the recipient area.
- FUE – This is the more popular choice, mainly because there are no scars involved with this procedure. Through micro-punches, hair grafts are removed and implanted instantly. This procedure not only ensures that the hair grafts spend minimal time outside the body, it also ensures a shorter healing period.
Any good women’s hair transplant blog will tell you that FUE is a better choice for women, for a range of reasons, mainly:
- Perhaps the biggest concern for women is losing their existing hair – with FUE for women, there is a minimal amount of shaving required. If your hair is on the longer side, the shaved area can be easily hidden underneath it.
- You will not have to get admitted or stay at the hospital for an FUE procedure – you can come in the morning and leave once the procedure is over.
- You will be able to return to work the very next day, and as long as you are not doing anything physically strenuous, you can do pretty much whatever you want.
- Anywhere from 1500 to 2000 grafts can be completed in a single session.
- Within 6 to 9 months, you should be able to see the results of the transplant, which means that you will have a full head of hair.
- The procedure is done under local anesthesia, which means that there is minimal discomfort and the recovery happens very quickly.
- In the hands of an experienced hair transplant surgeon, you can get a hairline that is completely natural and when the hair grows back in, you will be able to style it in whichever manner you want.
- With FUE, you can have thicker hair, without removing or even touching the existing hair.
- When your permanent hair restoration is being handled by an expert, you can enjoy high density in the areas that have undergone the transplant.
Even after all this, chances are that you might have some questions in your mind and while your doctor will answer all of them, here are some of the most frequently asked ones:
- Is the procedure the same as it is with men?
It is important to understand hair loss patterns are different in men and women, which means that the manner of transplant will also be different. When the doctor examines your hair and scalp, their primary concern will be to ascertain whether you have patterned hair loss. This means that you should have thinning or hair loss that is limited to a particular part of your head and that there should be a well-defined donor area.
- Will the entire head have to be shaved for FUE?
While in the case of men, normally the entire head is shaved, even if it is an FUE procedure, but for women, things work a little differently. In women, shaving or trimming is not required in the recipient area and even in the donor area, only a minimum amount of shaving will be needed. Normally, this shaving is done in such a way that the existing hair will be able to provide a perfect cover.
- How much time is required for recovery?
In most cases, there is no recovery time as such – you should be able to return to your normal routine the very next day. However, you might be asked to avoid strenuous activities or exercise for a few days. Apart from that, you might not need to take any time off of work.
- Are there are any side effects?
If you have gotten your hair transplant done through a reputed and experienced hair transplant surgeon, then you have nothing to worry about. As such, there are no permanent risks associated with a hair transplant. You might notice a little swelling or redness, but this is common and should disappear within a day or two.
Finally, the most important question for most is what the female hairline transplant cost will work out to. There is no blanket rate for a hair transplant, and if someone does tell you that there is, they are probably trying to fleece you. There are several factors that will decide how much your hair transplant will cost you, and some of them include:
- How extensive is your hair loss – the more the bald spots, the more hair grafts you will need
- The actual number of hair grafts that are required should be a determining factor for the final bill
- Many clinics will charge a blanket rate for a fixed number of grafts – the good places will charge you for the actual number of grafts used
- Several clinics will charge for all the grafts that have been extracted – a good clinic will charge you only for the viable grafts
- The location of the clinic that you have chosen will also have a role to play in the final costing – bigger cities will generally prove to be slightly more expensive
- The expertise of the doctor will also have to be factored in, because the more experienced the doctor, the more the charges might be
- There are also factors such as how modern the clinic is, whether they are using any modern equipment and so on
A hair transplant is never an easy decision and you need to make sure that you are not undergoing one, based only on peer pressure. Because this is a decision that will affect your life, looks, and your finances, you need to make sure that you make a truly informed decision. Do all your research and with the help of a responsible doctor, you should be able to take the right step. Click here for more information on hair loss.
