Life throws many unexpected factors and events at us; for this reason many of us should be thankful for those things we most take for granted. Food, shelter, and family are among the list of things that most people do not consider until they are left without them. The same goes for a full and healthy head of hair. Hair loss is one of the most common conditions affecting Americans with many overlooking the detrimental effects hair loss can have on one’s self-esteem, mental health, and social interactivity.

American Hair Loss

Common male pattern baldness or Androgenetic Alopecia is responsible for over 95% of hair loss cases among males. Statistically speaking, male pattern baldness is so prolific that two out of every three American men will experience some degree of noticeable hair loss by the age of 35; by the age of 50 around 85% of men will have significantly thinning hair. While there are a number of causes for male pattern baldness, the most significant factors are genetically based and concern male hormones. Unfortunately, by the time a man first notices the cosmetic impact of their hair loss they will have lost as much as half of the hair on their head — thankfully new innovations from hair transplant clinics are helping Americans get a full head of hair again and with it an improved confidence.

Typical Hair Transplant Surgery

For those seeking a surgical answer to hair loss, many people turn to Follicular Unit Strip Surgery (FUSS). FUSS is where a strip of scalp from a non-balding area is removed surgically and placed via an incision in the balding area. While FUSS will help a patient with baldness, it does come with a number of side-effects and complications that my turn would-be patients off. First, many who have undergone FUSS report pain and swelling from the donor area. The invasive procedure has a high complication rate and leaves a noticeable scar in the back of the head. Furthermore, patients are limited to how much of a graft can be harvested due to limitations with the pulling of one’s scalp, making future procedures unlikely. Thankfully, hair clinics offer a newer, more preferred treatment option for hair loss.

Finding a Better Hair Transplant Clinic

In contrast to FUSS, Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) harvests individual follicular units of one to eight hairs without the need to remove a strip of tissue. A major benefit of FUE is that the hair follicles do not need to be taken solely from the scalp, but rather can be harvested from anywhere there is hair. Unlike FUSS, FUE does not result in irritation or scarring and patients typically make a full recovery in a matter of days. Hair transplant clinics are able to perform a FUE procedure in around eight hours with lasting results as patients are again able to regrow their hair naturally — this means the patient is free to cut, style, and alter their hair with confidence knowing that it will regrow. Although FUE is typically more expensive than FUSS, patients agree that the final result is well worth the price. For a natural hair replacement method, consider contacting hair clinics in your area to see if a FUE procedure is right for you.