9 Hair Transplant Myths Debunked in 2022

Have you considered getting a hair transplant, only to talk yourself out of it? Are you worried that you’ll end up with hair from some unknown stranger growing from your head? Do you think you’re too old to be a candidate? At MAXIM Hair Restoration, we hear all the concerns of our patients, and there are some doozies out there. Let’s put some of those scary hair restoration myths to bed and ease your fears, whether founded in reality or not. Today, we debunk the most common hair restoration myths. 

Hair Restoration Results Look Unnatural

Thanks to enhanced and advanced technologies and techniques, hair transplants look as close to natural as possible. Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) transplants deliver some of the best results since it’s a minimally invasive procedure that takes follicular units from one area to the thinning and balding areas affected by hair loss. The procedure only requires small incisions and leaves barely noticeable micro scars. Another option is to undergo the follicular unit transplantation (FUT) procedure which involves taking a strip of hair from the back of the scalp and transplanting it to the balding areas. 

Ultimately, though, the success of hair restoration or hair transplant depends upon the knowledge and experience of the physician, clinician, and team performing the procedure. Since it’s such a highly specialized process, it’s important to work with a surgeon and Techs who know how to harvest, extract and place each hair graft and customize it based upon your hairline. At MAXIM Hair Restoration, you should know that we take immense care when it comes to performing each procedure with precision and integrity. Once your new hair grows in, it should blend seamlessly into your existing hair. Take a look through our gallery for before and after pictures to see the results. 

Only Men Can Undergo Hair Restoration

Although it’s true that men typically experience hair loss more often than women, it doesn’t mean that women cannot undergo hair transplants or restoration procedures. This myth has caused women to accept their hair loss simply because they fear there’s no alternative. The reality is that these procedures work for both men and women. It’s important to note that women tend to lose their hair in different patterns compared to men and possess a thinner donor area. MAXIM also offers non-surgical hair restoration options for both men and women including PDO Threads, Collagen Induced Therapy (CIT) as well as laser hair therapy, products, vitamins, supplements, and topical compounds including shampoos and conditioners. 

Older Patients Cannot Undergo Hair Restoration

Technically, anyone over the age of 18 can get a hair transplant, but it’s best suited for those who are between 25 to 65 years of age. Those under the age of 25 should probably wait longer as well since hair-loss patterns are unpredictable and can continue after the transplant. It’s best to wait until hair loss stabilizes, generally after the age of 25. 

Also, even though it’s recommended for ages up to 65, that number doesn’t mean that people who are older cannot undergo the procedure. The reason for the recommendation is that those who are older than 65 might have health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid disease or maybe on medications, especially since a hair transplant is still a surgical procedure. Another factor is that older people may not have as many hair grafts in the donor area as those who are younger do. 

It’s a Painful Procedure

Hair transplant procedures are performed in an office setting and under local anesthesia. That means you won’t experience excruciating pain during the actual operation. However, once the effects of anesthesia wear off, you might experience mild pain and be prescribed pain-relieving medications to mitigate the discomfort. Expect to take these medications for up to three days. You should also be able to resume your daily activities within three days.  

You Should Expect Immediate Results

As much as you want to see instantaneous results from your hair restoration or transplant, you won’t have them. Hair growth doesn’t happen overnight. You should also note that some of your hair might fall out during what’s known as the “sleeping” or “shock phase.” Don’t worry because soon enough the well-anchored roots will gradually grow hair and give you natural results. 

According to WebMD, most people should see 60% of new growth after six to nine months, but you should expect significant results in about eight to nine months. The new hair should take a little over one year to thicken. 

Hair Transplants or Restorations Cause Brain Damage

Since hair transplant and restoration procedures are performed on the top layer of the scalp, the brain isn’t affected whatsoever. The incisions never go below that top layer of the skin, so there is no contact with the brain.

Surgeons Use Someone Else’s Hair

Unlike other types of transplants in which there is a donor and a recipient, a hair transplant only involves hair from your own body. That’s because if you ended up with hair follicles from someone else, your body would reject the foreign hair follicles and/or cause infection as has occurred with biofiber implants that are made from artificial fiber.

That doesn’t mean, however, that the transplanted hair follicles won’t come from other areas of your body. Body hair might uncommonly be used to augment the scalp hair, but this is rare especially since body hair doesn’t match the same coarseness found in head hair. That belief is bolstered by information provided by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery that states 92.5% of hair from FUE transplants performed in 2019 came from the scalp. 

Laser Hair Therapy Is the Most Effective

If you’re thinking about how popular laser hair treatments were in the early 2000s, this statement might be true. However, over the years, technology has evolved and laser hair therapy is used as an ancillary treatment to hair transplants since laser treatments can strengthen hair follicles but rarely grow them. Studies found that lasers can damage surrounding tissues. 

Hair Restoration Is Unaffordable

When it comes to the cost of hair restoration or transplants, you might be concerned about the cost. The price largely depends on the amount of hair you will be moving. At MAXIM Hair Restoration, we can work with you to make the procedure more affordable by offering several financing options. We accept credit cards, wire transfers, certified checks, and cash that we can apply toward payment. Also, depending on the location you use, you might be able to take advantage of various financing plans that allow you to pay for the procedure over time at zero interest (if you qualify). 

Conclusion

Well, there you have it! Hopefully, this helped ease your mind when it comes to the myths of hair restoration. In our modern era full of amazing technology and scientific achievement, it’s always interesting to see these outdated and inaccurate assumptions about hair restoration procedures. Now that we put those to rest, we hope you’ll give MAXIM Hair Restoration a shot, and schedule a consultation with our team. If you have any further questions or are ready to make the jump with hair restoration or transplant procedures, reach out to Maxim Hair Restoration. We offer a quick online assessment, or you can reach out to our trusted staff to schedule a consultation.