When you start
losing your hair, one of the first signs is often a receding hairline. It's
like the sea on its way to low tide, gradually backing further away from the
shoreline.
To others, this
may seem unnoticeable at first. But to those affected by it, the initial signs
of shedding can be very alarming. This becomes worse when people eventually
notice it. Take the great Lebron James for instance, who have become the
subject of unforgiving Internet memes for his receding hairline, which he
attempts to conceal with a head band. This is why surgical hair restoration to
correct a hairline is becoming a popular option today.
Before we go on
further about regaining a dwindling hairline, let's understand first the characteristic
of hair loss.
When a person
loses hair in excessive amounts and taking on a certain pattern as it sheds,
this is referred to as male pattern baldness or female pattern baldness.
Another term for this is androgenetic alopecia. It is a hormonal reaction that
only occurs in those who are predisposed to it. The enzyme 5-alpha reductase
turns testosterone, which is actually present in males and females to varying
degrees, into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). When there are increased levels of DHT
in the blood, it affects certain body parts, and one of the most obvious is the
effects it has on the hair. It causes the hair to thin out, shrink and
eventually die out or shed.
This change is
more pronounced in males, whereas, females tend to experience hair loss in a
more diffused pattern and is sometimes caused by severe traction from very
tight hairstyles.
A receding
hairline eventually grows larger and distorts the proportions of the face. The
Norwood Scale for hair loss even described the first sign of baldness as
hairline loss
Weak androgen receptors inherited from either parents cause the scalp hair to be sensitive to DHT, which usually results in the recession of the hairline or thinning of the crown area.
Sometimes, a
very clever comb over can temporarily conceals the problem. Others may not
succeed with that approach so they go to other convenient options, which are
toupees. But for those who want to put their money on a treatment that will
give radical results, they go the extra mile for a hair transplant.
Hair Transplant
Hair transplant
is a procedure where donor hairs, which are often the patient's own, are
extracted carefully from a donor site, then transferred to the balding areas to
restore density. This is done by a trained and certified hair transplant
surgeon. These practitioners are not only skilled to perform the procedure, but
a good one should also have the aesthetic eye to ensure that a patient gets the
results that would suit his profile.
Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)
This is a type
of hair transplant approach, which is also referred to as the “strip method”,
because the surgeon removes a piece of the scalp that contains donor
grafts.This is taken at the back of the head since this area is usually spared
from the damaging effects of DHT. When transferred to the recipient area, the
hairs removed their will become more permanent.
FUT is
considered as the traditional approach in surgical hair restoration. However,
as much as it was able to create successful results, many find the scarring a big problem. But, FUT is able to provide better yield because it protects the
hair grafts from transection or damage.
FUT for Receding Hairline
In hair
transplant, creating a natural-looking hairline is very critical. It is an essential
factor for a visually pleasing balance for the patient's facial features. FUT
for hairline recession can guarantee better number of grafts implanted at a
much faster span of time.
FUE or
follicular unit extraction is another method for correcting a receded hairline,
but it does take more time to complete and it has a higher transection rate
even though it spares you from the scarring. Since a typical hairline
restoration already requires thousands of hair, the maximizing capacity of an
FUT procedure can be a more pragmatic option.
A hairline seems
to be a small area to be corrected, but these can take up to 20,000 single
follicular units or even more. The donor grafts at the back of the head can do
more than enough to cover up the recession.
And what makes FUT more promising is that you can lessen the chances of
getting that ugly scarring hidden better at the back of the head with a
trichophytic closure.
In terms of
price, FUT is cheaper than FUE because it takes less time to finish and
involves lesser risks during the process. Surgeons charge by the graft and
usually these can be around $6-$12 a piece. This varies for each doctor and
region where you have your procedure done.
If the immediate
price intimidates you, there are patient financing options that a lot of
clinics offer today. Not to say that other methods are poor choices for
hairline restoration, but choosing FUT allows you to maximize your limited
resources – your hair – for the price you are paying.
Dr Andrew Kim of Australian Institute of Hair Restoration offers you a personal consultation free of charge where you will receive information on your options.
You are welcome to book a free consultation. Just call us on 1300 733 092 or e-mail frontdesk@aihr.com.au
