Thinning hair, premature balding and hair loss can give anyone serious nightmares, especially young adults. When we look we feel good, and this feel-good emotion often controls our sense of self-confidence. While some individuals manage to feel confident even when they are bald, some of us are quite self-conscious about the way any of these issues – premature baldness or hair thinning – make us look.
The easiest solutions are usually to try out hair fall or regeneration products. But do they actually work? Let us know how many of you these products worked.
If it didn’t, thankfully, in today’s era there are other solutions – which can be a bit expensive, but they’re definitely worth it – they’re:
- Hair Transplantation, and
- Scalp Micropigmentation.
In this blog post, we are going to discuss in detail each of these restoration techniques. So, let’s dig right in and find out which one is the best one for you!
The Hair Transplantation Process
Google describes the word “transplantation” as taking an organ or living tissue and implanting them in another part of the body or in another body. So, hair transplantation refers to a surgical process of replacing your natural hair with donor hair, aka the donor area of your scalp, as its follicle units are transferred to bald areas by hair transplantation experts. This process is believed to be a permanent solution to balding or a receding hairline.
You’ll come across two most common terminologies in the world of hair transplantation, one is known as “follicular unit transplantation” or FUT, and the other is known as “follicular unit extraction”, or FUE.
These two methods differ primarily in how donor hair is harvested and transplanted to balding areas. For FUT, a thin strip of hair is taken from the donor site. FUE, on the other hand, uses a tool called a punch tool to remove and transplant one hair graft at a time from the donor site. Originally founded during the 1950s, this procedure is a popular choice for people who are experiencing only minor hair loss but still have a healthy donor area.
What is meant by the term “scalp micropigmentation”?
Scalp micropigmentation is yet another treatment option that can be considered in place of hair transplant surgery as the latter is often considered as being both an expensive and invasive procedure.
Scalp micropigmentation, also known as SMP, is a non-invasive and cost-effective alternative to hair transplant surgery. SMP treatment involves the use of microneedles and pigment to simulate the appearance of individual hair follicles across the balding area.
If you’re familiar with tattoos, SMP is similar to a hairline tattoo, though the needle, shape, and pigment used are all different from those used for full-body tattoos. In order to create the appearance of natural hair follicles, the size and shape of the needle have to be smaller and more pointy. Furthermore, the pigment used has to complement the recipient’s natural hair colour to the T and therefore it’s customised for each individual.
You will get the appearance of a short buzz cut or add fullness to your hairline using scalp micropigmentation. You can also use this technique to hide scars and birthmarks or to make hair transplants look more natural.
What exactly happens during each treatment?
The standard process
Hair transplant
In this technique, a local anaesthetic will be required to numb the affected areas before the invasive procedure. Additionally, the patient will also be given a sedative so as to maintain their stillness throughout the procedure.
The hair transplantation process involves extracting healthy hair follicles from the donor site, which is mostly the back of the head, and later implanting them into the thinning or balding areas of the scalp through a series of tiny incisions.
If you choose FUT, a strip of your hair will be cut out all at once, whereas if you choose FUE, individual follicles will be cut out and reinserted at various points throughout the process.
A hair transplant must be performed by a qualified surgeon, and the aftercare regimen must include the application of saline sprays and the use of medical shampoos on the scalp.
Scalp micropigmentation
Scalp micropigmentation is a cosmetic procedure that involves the duplication of hair follicles on the scalp through the use of pigments and microneedles. This procedure, which is also known as a hair tattoo, does not need the administration of any form of anaesthesia.
The entire procedure is usually segregated into two to four treatments, during which the SMP expert will apply a different shade of pigment to the tattoo in order to make it resemble your real hair.
By the way, the ink used for SMP does not contain any metals, and while it does last for a few years, it isn’t a permanent solution. Normally, we recommend that you get a touch-up every three to five years.
Duration of the treatments
Hair transplant
The surgery can take anywhere from eight to ten hours to complete, depending on the size of the graft being performed. Since the effects of anaesthesia can take up to 24 hours to wear off from your system, you’ll either need someone to drive you home or you can stay in the hospital.
Once the process is complete, you might need to take a week off from work. In about two weeks, the transplanted hair will fall out, and in about six to nine months, new hair will begin to grow in its place. After about a year and a half to two years, one may start to see visible results.
Scalp micropigmentation
SMP is typically more convenient and requires an average of three appointments, with each one lasting for about three hours and requiring two to three sessions to achieve the desired results. In this therapy, the results are noticeable right away, and you’ll be able to get a good look at your new hairline after each session.
In order to give the ink time to settle into the bald spots naturally, the intervals between appointments are anywhere from one to four weeks long. This allows the artist to make changes and determine the most effective way to apply the pigments so that the final result appears to be more natural.
What’s the pain like post-op?
Hair transplant
Given the use of anaesthetics during hair transplant procedures, you won’t experience any pain during the surgical process. However, doctors allow patients to have painkillers if they experience pain and discomfort post-operation.
However, after three to five days the pain will significantly subside and soon you should be able to resume your normal activities, provided that you continue to take the necessary post-procedure care.
Scalp micropigmentation
In the case of SMP, your pain tolerance level is the most important piece of the puzzle in understanding how uncomfortable the process is going to get for you. Usually, most customers rate it a 6 to 7 out of 10 but rest assured SMP is far less painful than a conventional tattoo process. This is because cosmetic tattoos only involve implanting the pigments into the skin’s upper dermis. There’s also no downtime. After each session, you can go back to your normal daily activities. Most experts avoid administering local anaesthesia as it deters the successful absorption of the pigment.
The negative side effects
Hair transplant
Post-surgery, itching is a common side effect, but you should absolutely avoid scratching the treated area because doing so could cause further complications, such as follicle infection or inflammation. The infection can take place in both the donor area and the area with the new hair. However, doctor-prescribed antibiotics can surely come to your rescue!
Scalp micropigmentation
Since the ink used in this cosmetic procedure is always hypoallergenic, one of the benefits of having this procedure done is that it has very few negative side effects. Before proceeding with the treatment, the SMP expert will first perform a patch test on your skin to see whether or not your body will have any adverse or allergic reactions to the procedure.
The cost of each treatment
Hair transplant
Hair transplants in Boston can typically range between $4,000 and $15,000, which is determined by the amount of hair that needs to be transplanted. The final cost may end up being significantly higher, even as high as $50,000 or more. This depends on things like the experience of the surgeon, the location of the clinic, and the kind of procedure followed.
Additionally, since insurance providers view this as a cosmetic procedure, it is not covered by insurance. You should also have an idea as to how much it’ll cost you if you need additional post-surgery care or medication.
Scalp micropigmentation
Scalp micropigmentation in Boston can typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to complete. The aftercare is also very affordable; typically, all that you need to do is apply cocoa butter or any good quality moisturiser on your scalp.
After every three to five years, you can go for a minor touch-up, which costs much lower than the actual treatment.
Which of these is more efficient?
Hair transplant
Hair transplants in Boston are a potentially permanent solution that can give you a full head of natural hair; however, the result may not always be satisfactory. In rare cases, even after a period of new follicle development, normal hair regrowth either does not occur or stops abruptly. Even if you go through the recommended post-surgery treatments, the newly grown hair may have a more artificial look rather than a natural one.
Scalp micropigmentation
Scalp micropigmentation in Boston is typically performed on patients who prefer to avoid undergoing surgical procedures. This method not only has a high rate of success but also provides outcomes that someone can rely upon.
Postop this procedure can give you a clean-shaven look, or simply change the way your hairline looks. But, at the end of the day, you’ll always have a more natural appearance, which is equally easier to care for.
Scalp micropigmentation vs hair transplantation: which is the better option for you?
Both hair transplants and scalp micropigmentation in Boston come with their own set of advantages, but there is bound to be one that is better suited to your requirements.
If you are still unsure, we recommend that you look at the facts; after doing so, you will realise that scalp micropigmentation in Boston is almost always the best solution! You will save both time and money, thanks to the reduced need for a medical procedure and the overall cost. Also, you wouldn’t have to deal with the hassle of any side effects either.
Scalp micropigmentation not only provides you with a natural finish, but it also spares you the trouble of having to redo the hair loss treatment you were previously receiving.
Looking for SMP in Boston?
If you’re in Boston and looking for more info on Scalp Micropigmentation treatment, then feel free to reach out to Scalp Designs experts today!
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