If you have been thinking about a hair transplant to restore your hairline and boost your own self-confidence, there are a couple of options you should know about. Hair transplants are a great option to permanently add back hair density and thickness. It also does wonders for many in turning back the clock giving them a younger appearance. The two most popular hair restoration techniques are traditional strip hair transplant and the NeoGraft Hair Transplant.
Traditional Hair Restoration (FUT)
Hair restoration done with the traditional way also known as the strip method harvests follicular units as a group. Each follicular unit transplant (FUT) contains between 1 to 4 hairs. This donor’s hair is often harvested from the back of the head when hair growth is often thicker, and less hair loss takes place there. FUT is considered a surgical hair transplant surgery because a strip of skin containing hair follicles is cut from the back of the head. Once the hair follicles are prepared and transplanted to the areas with less hair, the strip of scalp removed during the extraction is closed up with stitches that leave a linear scar when healed.
The linear strip method takes about five hours, and the outpatient procedure involves scalpels and sutures. The healing process takes the donor area about 14 days and sometimes longer to heal. If your hair is long, the linear scar will be covered up once your hair grows out but if you like your hair shorter, the strip scar may be visible.
While the results can be very good, some patients experience some post-operative tight scalp sensation and the healing process can be a little uncomfortable.
Modern Approach to Hair Restoration (FUE)
NeoGraft is a minimally invasive hair replacement solution that can restore your hairline and thicken hair on your scalp. Thanks to the advanced methods of automated follicular unit extraction (FUE) hair transplantation extracts individual hair follicles from the back and sometimes the side of your head and grafts them into the areas on your scalp lacking hair.
When the hair follicles are extracted, they are placed into the scalp in a matter that gives a natural-looking pattern. The NeoGraft hair transplant procedure takes around four to six hours. It depends on the number of hair follicles that need to be extracted then placed elsewhere on the scalp. One benefit of NeoGraft is the follicles are extracted in small batches so there is no need for stitches or staples.
The healing process will take about seven to 14 days. There is no linear scaring and there is far less chance of nerve damage as there is no cutting on the skin. Sometimes the patient may experience some swelling, bruising, or itchy scalp but that should disappear within a week.
Both hair restoration procedures can achieve wonderful results for the patients. To learn if one method is better for you, then talking with a hair restoration expert can help you determine the best direction to go for your type and severity of hair loss.
