Hair loss has become more and more common in recent years, especially among men and women in their 20s. Hair loss can be caused by a variety of factors, such as genetics, damage from chemicals or heat, autoimmune diseases and infection from lice or scalp disease, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Whatever the cause of your hair loss, there are many different options available to you that can help slow down or even stop your hair loss so that your hair doesn’t continue to thin out.
What causes hair loss?
A common cause of hair loss, Male Pattern Baldness can be caused by genetics, hormones, and other factors. In many cases of hair loss, there are few symptoms besides gradually thinning hair. If you experience excessive shedding and/or very fine hairs breaking off at the scalp, this may indicate an underlying health condition and you should consult your doctor.
Understanding Scalp Micro-Injections
Scalp micro-injections are treatments that rely on the technique of dermal injections to diffuse hair growth hormones across the scalp. This helps improve both the quality and quantity of hair on your head. Scalp micro-injection treatments are especially helpful in patients with active hair loss due to alopecia, male pattern baldness, and hormonal imbalance.
Should you consider surgery as an option?
After weighing your options, if you still think that surgery would be right for your situation, ask yourself one more question. Are you ready to commit to having this procedure done more than once in order to maintain the results that you want? If so, it might be time to book an appointment with a hair replacement specialist and start preparing for surgery.
Hair Implants
Both hair implants and hair transplants are effective treatments for thinning hair, but they have very different processes. A hair transplant involves removing donor tissue from the scalp and grafting it into the bald areas where hair is thinning. The downside to this procedure is that a significant amount of the donor area may end up being shaved off. On the other hand, implants involve placing follicular units (a group of three hairs) in bald areas, much like eyebrow plugs.
What Can I Expect in Recovery after a Scalp Micro-Injection Procedure?
Depending on the procedure you have, whether it’s hair replacement surgery or a hair transplant, post-surgery there may be slight pain at the injection sites which will go away after a day. Scalp micro-injections are designed to cause little to no downtime, so you’ll be able to resume your normal life.
Costs of Scalp Micro-Injections
Many people are becoming aware of scalp micro-injections as a less invasive form of hair replacement surgery, which might suit their needs. Scalp micro-injections work by injecting a small amount of the patient’s own hair into the balding area and can be repeated as needed. On average, each injection costs around $2,000 and will last about six months. That makes it about four times more expensive than hair transplantation.
Potential Side Effects After a Scalp Micro-Injection Procedure
Before you make a decision on a hair transplant, there are a few things you should know. Scalp micro-injection procedures can cause burning and itching, but the side effects go away once your scalp heals. Some patients have experienced sudden shedding after their procedure due to their scalp being traumatized. This will happen in about 20% of cases and usually lasts 2-3 weeks. It may take up to 3 months before hair regrowth can be seen, so don’t think that you’ll see results immediately!