Is It Time for a Second Hair Transplant?
Perhaps the single biggest fear hair transplant patients have is continued hair thinning five, ten or twenty years down the line. We deal closely with hair loss patients in Orange County, Las Vegas and Beverly Hills to tackle this exact problem.
The art and science of hair transplantation has reached such aesthetic and technical success over the last few years, that many may have forgotten to take precautions concerning future follicle miniaturization and loss.
While hair transplants can and do provide excellent restorative results by adding incredible thickness and volume to the scalp, it must be understood that it does not treat the causes of hair loss. Hair loss is not the result of hair disappearing suddenly, rather, it occurs slowly and develops progressively in stages. Hair grows thinner each time a hair sheds and enters the growing phase and with every cycle the hair continues to miniaturize, until finally disappearing.
Most people are unaware that up to 30% of male hair transplant patients end up having a second procedure done. This is because while the transplanted hair from the first procedure remains permanent, men can carry on losing their natural hair, resulting in gaps and prominently thinning areas.
As such, there are situations where a second hair transplant session is both important and necessary.
For many men and women who enjoy the great aesthetic highs of a successful hair transplant, they can be caught off guard by what to do with future hair thinning. Being in close contact with a great hair restoration specialist is very important here. Your doctor will assess the balding parts on the scalp and begin to plan just how to restore your natural hairline and combat those receding areas with skill and far sight.
Others may consider a second hair transplant not because of any great bout of thinning or loss, but because of a desire to add more grafts (density) and cover the thinning areas better. Since there is a logistical limit to just how many donor follicles one may successfully transplant during a first operation, it may be wise to return 10 months later for a follow up procedure.
Finally, hair transplant patients will do well to mind other very strong non-surgical options which can keep their hair strong, retentive and thick. There is medical management of hair loss that may include stimulants to encourage hair growth and topical solutions which can thicken your hair. Hair restoration shampoos like GroMD can help reduce shedding and protect and nourish the scalp. Other options include platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, a breakthrough non-surgical hair restoration treatment that has been known to stimulate cell regrowth and significantly reduce hair loss patterns.
Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.