Going bald may be inevitable, staying bald doesn't have to be!

Going bald may be inevitable, staying bald doesn't have to be!

Most men will have some degree of hair recession during their lifetime. There is a wide spectrum of severity, from small areas of loss in the temple region, to almost total baldness. The age at which it starts varies greatly , but the onset and severity often has a hereditary component. Usually, the hair at the sides and the lower part of the back of the head are spared. This is because these areas are not subject to the influence of the male hormone, testosteron, that acts on the hairs on the front and top of the scalp. These hairs are genetically programmed to eventually fall out and little can be done to prevent this from happening. It is the areas where hair growth is likely to be permanent, particularly the lower part of the back of the head, which can be used to provide hairs to resurface bald scalps or increase density in thinning regions.

Historically, hair restoration procedures gained bad reputations because the techniques available left an unnatural, 'pluggy' appearance. This meant that it was often immediately obvious that the individual had undergone a surgical procedure. Current methods, however, give a natural hairline and pattern of hair growth, which is unnoticeable to all except the most informed observer. This involves the transplantation of individual hair follicles or groups of hairs known as follicular units.

If one is planning to have a hair transplantation procedure, however, it is important to be realistic. Balding is a progressive phenomenon. If treatment is started early, before the genetically determined extent of balding is reached, then further procedures are likely to be needed and should be planned for. Likewise, if severe balding is present, there may not be enough donor hair to be transplanted to recreate adequate density over a large area and compromises may be necessary. It is these factors, amongst others, which make it important for anyone considering hair transplant surgery to meet with the surgeon who will be performing the operation and following up the patient for many years after.

When well planned and skillfully executed, hair transplantation can yield remarkable results, transforming not only how a man looks but also how he feels about himself and interacts with society.