When it comes to cosmetic procedures, it’s common to think that they’re mostly done by women. However, about 1.3 million men a year choose to enhance their looks — and thus, their confidence — by getting a tweak here and there. One of the most popular choices is to get hair transplants. What does the process involve? Is it necessary to get the procedure done without having to shave your head? After all, you want to look as natural as possible, without shouting from the rooftops that you had a little help.
What is a hair transplant?
A hair transplant consists of taking hair follicles from a full part of your head, and moving it towards thinning parts of your mane and/or to bald spots. The procedure involves injecting anesthesia to numb the scalp, then harvesting healthy hair follicles to implant into balding spots — usually the top of the head or at the front of a receding hairline.
Although the condition is performed regularly on balding men, it’s also elected by women with thinning hair, or by anyone who has lost hair due to a scalp injury. That being said, hair transplants aren’t a viable option for everyone who desires hair growth. It won’t work for people who don’t have enough healthy hair follicles or those who have scalp scars after surgery.
Can you get a hair transplant without shaving your head?
You won’t have to shave your entire head prior to getting a hair transplant. The medical team at Innovations Medical will only shave a portion of the back of your scalp to make it easier for Dr. Bill Johnson to extract the healthy hair follicles. However, you can cover the shaved portions with your existing hair.
That being said, if the prospect of shaving your head causes you to pump the breaks on your plans, speak with your doctor. In some individuals who are only treating a small area, it may be possible to do a hair transplant without shaving a portion of the head. However, this can make the procedure more challenging and take a longer time to complete.
Hair Loss Treatment Procedures
At Innovation Medical, we provide the following options to treat hair loss. Talk with Dr. Johnson about your medical history and desired results to determine which one would work best for you.
1. Low-Level Laser Therapy
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) restores hair density, and it is proven effective in the majority of patients who’ve undergone the process. It’s also one of the easiest restoration treatments and provides faster results. The process requires two to three sessions a week and requires no downtime afterward. Depending on your desired results, it can take up to 26 weeks.
One of the benefits of LLLT is that, unlike traditional over-the-counter medications for hair growth, it doesn’t have any side effects. And, each session typically takes about 20 minutes, so you can resume your regular life as soon as you finish treatment.
2. FUE Hair Transplant
At Innovations Medical, we use a procedure called a FUE hair transplant. The acronym stands for follicular unit extraction and it involves removing hair follicles from one part of the head, then grafting them onto the balding area.
Prior to getting started, the area with healthy follicles is cleaned in preparation for harvesting. Anesthesia is then applied. Once your scalp is numb, Dr. Johnson extracts healthy hair follicles — which are then inserted into the thinning or balding spots. You won’t need to worry about having thinner hair on the harvested area of your scalp, since new hair will continue to grow there. And, because the transplanted follicles are healthy, you’ll also get new hair growth in the thinning/balding area.
During one treatment session, you can get thousands of hair follicles transplanted. The procedure can take several hours. Depending on your desired result, you may need to undergo additional sessions.
If You’re Thinking About Cosmetic Enhancements, Contact Innovations Medical
If you’re looking to reshape your body and boost your self-confidence, Innovations Medical is here for you. We’ll answer your questions and resolve any concerns you have about cosmetic procedures. We’ve been helping our patients look their best since 2005, and even our most advanced procedures are often minimally invasive.
To explore cosmetic options and learn how Innovations Medical can bounce back your body, call us at (214) 643-8665 or schedule an appointment.