Though hair thinning and loss is not unusual and can be successfully treated, not everyone is a good candidate for hair treatment. As a hair restoration specialist from an office like Unger Medical can explain, hair treatment is a surgical procedure which naturally excludes certain persons from being suitable for the procedure. When a hair treatment doctor performs an exam on a prospective patient, the patient’s current health, health history, and other factors will be taken into consideration.
Is hair restoration for everyone?
For those who are good candidates, hair restoration can greatly improve their appearance and boost their self-confidence. Because not everyone is suitable for undergoing the procedure, not everyone will receive a hair treatment physician’s approval for surgery. One of the reasons for this is that everybody has a limited volume of hair that can be used as “donor” hairs for transplanting to the areas of the scalp that have no hair or only very thin hair. If there is not a sufficient amount of donor hair, then the procedure will not be successful.
Another issue is that the surgical procedure involved in hair treatments can be traumatic for the patient’s existing hair follicles. Your physician will determine the likelihood that more hair might be lost because of the trauma than might be gained from the procedure.
If your hair loss is caused by one or more environmental factors such as diet, stress, medication side effect, or a current health condition, you may not need to undergo surgical hair treatment. After an examination by a hair treatment physician, you may learn that your hair loss condition is only temporary if you make certain changes in your lifestyle.
Who are the best candidates for hair restoration surgery?
In general, some of the best candidates for hair restoration surgery are those individuals who fall into at least one of these categories:
- Males who have experienced hair loss, and have used prescription medication to prevent additional hair loss, and understand that hair restoration surgery might not preclude their need to continue taking hair loss medication.
- Males who have lost their hair because of male pattern baldness for at least five years or rate at least a Class Three on the Norwood Scale.
- Males and females who have experienced hair loss because of physical trauma they have experienced, including severe burns.
- Males and females who have experienced hair loss because they have undergone a facelift or other type of cosmetic procedure.
- Males who have been bald for a number of years but are now experiencing a leveled off rate of hair loss and wish to supplement their hair fullness.
How do I learn if I’m a good candidate to undergo hair restoration surgery?
The best way to learn if you are suitable for hair restoration surgery is to contact a hair restoration specialist’s office and schedule an examination with a physician. After a comprehensive exam and patient history, your physician can determine if surgery is right for you, or if changes to your lifestyle such as stress reduction and dietary changes can reverse your hair loss. Reach out to a hair restoration specialist today to schedule a meeting.