Experiencing hair loss is not the end of the world.
This is a disorder that 50 percent of women and 80 percent of men experience, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Causes can vary from stress to inheriting hair loss from family and, according to a Mayo Clinic article, the symptoms vary from gradual thinning on top of the head to full body hair loss.
Furthermore, people who smoke, people who are going through chemotherapy and people who use harsh hair treatments and are not gentle when combing are at larger risk of hair loss.
Whatever the case may be, there is a possible solution to restore your hair, having your crown looking lovelier then ever.
“The reality is that the moment you begin noticing hair loss and it worries you, that’s exactly when you should speak to a professional,” says Dr Kashmal Kalan, medical director of the Alvi Armani clinic in Sandton as he explains how hair transplants restore hair and how the procedure works.
What is a hair transplant and how does it work?
Explaining what a hair transplant entails, Dr Kashmal says, “Hair transplantation procedures involve extracting hair from one part of the scalp to implant into the affected or balding area.”
One of the hair transplant processes is called follicular unit extraction (FUE) and according to a YOU Magazine article, this is where surgeons implant individual hair follicles that have been harvested on the bald spots using a dentist’s drill.
The hair follicles are strategically placed in the direction which the hair would naturally grow.
The hair follicles will then grow, covering the bald spots completely and revitalizing your hair.
It takes approximately seven to nine hours for the transplant to be complete and patients are wide awake throughout the entire process but are given anaesthetic so that they cannot feel as much pain.
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Do not wait to go completely bald before seeking for help
Dr Kashmal says that the more you go bold or the less hair you have left on your head, the more work that will need to be done when reviving your hair.
“The amount of hair left or the size of the balding area, directly impacts how effective a hair restoration procedure will be in providing an aesthetically pleasing outcome. The more we have to work with, the more we can ultimately do,” says the medical director.
Dr Kashmal does state that they do cut a portion of hair when working on the transplant but they do not cut all of your hair.
Hair transplants are not scary and do not require hospitalisation
As complicated as it sounds, Dr Kashmal says you do not need to be hospitalised as he explains how a hair transplant is an “outpatient” procedure and therefore does not require intense medical attention.
The procedure is also not as painful as many might assume. Dr Kashmal says after having your head transplant done, you can simply grab over the counter painkillers to soothe the headaches that you might experience.
Hair transplants are affordable and of better results than shelf medications
Dr Kashmal believes that hair transplants have been made to seem as if they are extremely expensive, yet he affirms that they are much more affordable than what people assume.
He does, however, warn against ridiculously cheap hair transplants and medications.
Selecting a doctor and clinic with years of experience and expertise, and access to high-end equipment really does make a difference. If you insist on looking for the cheapest option for the sake of saving a few pennies, you should expect the cheapest look afterwards as well,” he states emphasising that people should opt for hair restoration treatments that are of high quality in order to receive satisfactory results.
But be prepared to spend a couple of thousands. Ranging from R38 – R40 per follicle, the entire hair transplant could cost approximately R40 000 to R120 000, as stated by Dr Boudine Lohlun in the YOU magazine article. It all depends on the size of the area that needs to be covered.
Dr Kashmal then mentions that shampoos, conditioners, lotions, or ‘potions’ do not necessarily deal with hair loss and you might find yourself spending thousands on different hair products and causing more damage to your hair.
