Frequently Asked Questions about Hair Loss

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to search for answers to dozens of hair loss questions.

What causes baldness?

The cause of male pattern baldness is no longer a mystery. Research has shown that when the male hormone - testosterone is exposed to 5-alpha-reductase, an enzyme in the hair follicle, it produces another hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which causes permanent hair loss.

This hormone (DHT) causes the hair follicle to shrink and grow a finer hair that is lighter in color, shorter and less deeply rooted than its predecessor. Most often, the hair in the balding region will continue to grow at an increasingly slower rate until hair growth ceases completely.

The pattern of progression, and the extent and speed of male pattern baldness, is largely dictated by genetics, hormones and age.

To learn more, click to visit our section about the causes of hair loss.

To view animations about why people go bald, click below.
Baldness – What causes it?
DHT is the main culprit

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What about treatments like Propecia or Rogaine?

Most hair loss sufferers should consider using a proven hair loss drug like Propecia or Avodart, whether they do hair transplantation or not. These drugs can often stop or even reverse hair loss in most people. Studies have shown that 80% of men using Propecia stopped or even reversed their hair loss to some degree. Preliminary clinical trials for Avodart appear even more effective than Propecia.

However, neither Propecia nor Avodart has been proven to restore hair in the frontal areas. For reasons yet unknown these drugs, along with Rogaine, only work generally in regrowing hair in back crown area of the scalp. Only hair transplant surgery has been successful in restoring hair in the frontal hairline area once it has been lost.

To learn more, visit our section about hair loss drug treatments.

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How does hair transplantation work?

Hair transplant surgery involves relocating (transplanting) the bald resistant hair follicles from the back of the head to the balding areas on the top and front of the head.

This process is effective and will last a lifetime because the hair follicles taken from the back of the head are genetically resistant to baldness, no matter where they are transplanted. These transplanted hair follicles will continue to grow hair for a life time.

To learn more, visit our section about hair transplantation.

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Will the results look completely natural?

Done right, hair transplantation is so natural that even a hair stylist cannot detect that a person has done hair transplantation.

The days of the “corn row” or “Barbie doll” hair transplants are long gone.

To achieve such truly natural results requires a dedicated and highly skilled staff doing a state of the art hair transplant procedure. The state of the art micro hair transplant procedure that our member physicians perform is called “follicular unit hair transplantation”.

To learn more about this very refined hair transplant procedure.

To see dozens of photos of actual hair transplant patient results visit our results photo gallery.

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How long does the procedure last?

A typical session of between 1,500 to 3,000 grafts normally involves a full day of surgery on an out patient basis. Most patients will arrive in the morning and will have their procedure completed by late afternoon.

To learn more, visit an overview of a typical hair transplant procedure.

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Does the hair transplant procedure hurt?

Patients are given local anesthesia in the donor and recipient areas. Most patients find that once the anesthesia is given that they feel no pain or discomfort during the surgery. Following surgery patients will typically feel some amount of soreness and numbness, with some mild discomfort. Most patients are pleasantly surprised by how minimal the discomfort from the surgical procedure is.

What is the cost of hair transplantation?

Today hair restoration clinics typically provide free no obligation consultations, with surgical sessions priced either per graft or by the session. Prices typically average around $5 to $6 per graft.

It is normal for the price per graft to drop as the size of the surgical session increases. Many clinics will offer a reduced rate per graft once a certain surgical session size (i.e. 1,000 or 2,000 grafts) is exceeded.

To compare the long term costs of hair transplantation to other hair loss treatments.

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How many grafts/hairs will I need?

The amount of grafts you will need ultimately depends on your degree of hair loss, now and in the future, and on how full you desire your hair to be.

Estimate the amount of grafts/hairs you may need.
Use our interactive graft calculator.

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What is the recovery/healing time?

With today’s very refined micro hair transplantation procedure the incisions are very small and less invasive than past procedures. This results in more rapid healing. Most patients feel fine within a day or two following surgery, although some numbness and mild soreness can be expected for several days following surgery.

View a patient’s experience of recovery and new hair growth following surgery.

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Will people know I had a hair transplant?

Immediately following surgery a patient’s recipient area is typically pink with scabs forming around the micro incisions. These hundreds of tiny incisions will heal rapidly within a week to ten days.

During the first few days after the surgery a person’s hair transplants will be noticeable if there is no previous hair to mask these temporary scabs. However, most patients feel comfortable being in public without wearing a hat within 5 to 7 days following surgery.

Once the transplanted hair grows out the results should look entirely natural, even under close examination.

View a patient’s experience of recovery and new hair growth following surgery.

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When will my newly transplanted hair start to grow?

\ Normally it takes between three to five months following surgery before the transplanted hair follicles begin to grow new hair. The transplanted hair grows in very thin initially and gradually grows thicker and fuller over time. After one year a patient’s transplanted hair will be fully mature and will continue to grow for a life time.

TView a patient’s experience of recovery and new hair growth following surgery.

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Are the results permanent?

Since the hair follicles that are transplanted to the balding areas are genetically resistant to going bald, they will continue to grow for a life time – just as if they had been left in the bald resistant donor area.

Why some hair follicles are genetically resistant to going bald, while other are not.

View an animation about How Hair Transplants work and why they are permanent.

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How do I find an excellent hair restoration surgeon?

The most important decision in restoring your hair is the physician you choose. The skill, talent, and experience of hair restoration physicians vary widely, as do the end results. Who you choose will determine how natural and full your new hair will be for the rest of your life.

Tips on evaluating and selecting a hair restoration clinic.

To find an excellent hair restoration physician in your area, visit our find a physician section.

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