18 Feb What if Hair Transplants Were an Easy Treatment? Spoiler: They Are!
A lot of people think of hair transplants as the infomercials from years past. Today, hair transplantation is no longer the major surgery it used to be and you don’t have to shave your entire head. RefinedMD offers SmartGraft and NeoGraft, two revolutionary procedures to help you achieve a fuller-looking head of hair and a defined hairline. These procedures don’t take the patchwork approach, which means you won’t need general anesthesia. It’s actually a minimally invasive procedure where you are alert the entire time without feeling any discomfort. Being awake is an important part of hair transplantation because you can talk with your doctor and provide insight into exactly where you want thicker hair or the exact shape of your desired hairline.
Hair transplantation used to be a big deal and a major surgery—especially for women who didn’t want to shave their head. Nobody wants scarring, either, which was a must with old-fashioned hair transplants. Years ago, hair transplants worked by taking a patch of skin that had a lot of hair (typically at the back of the head) and transplanting it to the desired location. Today, we use a follicular unit extraction (FUE) approach where each individual hair follicle is removed and transplanted one at a time.
Don’t Hair Transplants Take a Long Time?
Not necessarily. As you can imagine, transplanting one follicle at a time certainly could take hours, but that’s why there’s both SmartGraft and NeoGraft. NeoGraft is performed manually, so it’s a slower procedure. That’s why it’s preferred by those who are transplanting a relatively smaller area. For those who are working with very small yet intricate areas, the NeoGraft may be preferred.
The SmartGraft is completely automated. A machine is used to quickly and flawlessly transport follicle after follicle in quick succession. Both approaches allow for customization so that you get the exact results you want. You are also guaranteed 100 percent comfort during the process with very minimal if any spot bleeding.
What to Expect with Hair Transplants
No matter what type of hair transplant you opt for (even the old school ones!), you do need enough hair at the donor site to be an ideal candidate. For most people, men and women alike, the donor site can often be found at the back of the head and close to the neck—that’s where a lot of people have thicker hair for much longer. However, in the instances when this isn’t possible, you may be able to use a different donor site on the body. For example, some men can use chest hair or limb hair. Just keep in mind that this hair will have the same texture and maximum growth length as it did at the donor site. You can’t expect chest hair to grow into long, luscious locks.
Many people also think hair transplantation is just for the scalp, but this isn’t the case. Some people transplant hair to their brows or face (such as men who want a fuller beard). Although scalp transplantation is definitely the most common, it’s not the only area that is treated.
Is SmartGraft or NeoGraft for You?
Not everyone is a good candidate for hair transplantation, but many are! Your journey begins with a consultation to determine if you’re a good fit and if you have enough hair in a donor site for a successful transplantation. If this procedure is right for you, it’s important to keep in mind that the results aren’t immediate.
When the hair is transplanted, you will very briefly have an idea of the final result. However, the transplanted hair will soon fall out, but don’t panic. This is part of the natural process. The transplanted hairs need to fall off before they can grow back in their new location. Given the natural cycles of hair growth, it can take a few months for you to see results. Those who prefer shorter hair will, of course, get to see the final results sooner than those who like to keep their hair longer.
Interested in learning more about SmartGraft or NeoGraft? If you get started now, you’ll see much of your final results by the summer months! Get in touch with RefinedMD today by booking a consultation using our online system.