Is FUE Hair Transplant Permanent? (And Why It Depends on You)

September 16, 2019 by in Patient Resources

Is FUE Hair Transplant Permanent? (And Why It Depends on You)

FUE Hair Transplant Toronto

If you undergo an FUE hair transplant, will the results be permanent? Perhaps you’ve been scanning follicular unit extraction (FUE) before and after pictures, and this pressing question is top of mind for you. It’s understandable — surgical hair restoration carries a significant cost. You’ll want to ensure a good return on your investment.

Even with a relatively high price tag, men and women are flocking to specialists like those at the Toronto Hair Transplant Clinic to redistribute their hair follicles and rebuild hairlines. If the results didn’t last, it might not seem worth it, but fortunately, FUE hair transplant outcomes are long-lasting and extremely impressive. The factors affecting your success depend on both you and your surgeon. Choosing a reputable hair restoration specialist and following their directions can impact your satisfaction and the permanence of your transplant. We’ll explain what you can do to get the very best results possible and keep them.

FUE Hair Transplant: Which clinic should I choose?

While it might seem appealing and less expensive to travel abroad for a low-cost hair transplant, we recommend shopping locally. That’s a good rule of thumb for most cosmetic surgery procedures. The reliability of safety standards, training, and protocols can be verified in Canada and can provide some assurance of quality work with a qualified surgeon.

The care provided after FUE hair transplants is also a crucial part of the process that’s easy to overlook. Once any treatment is complete, follow-up meetings and communication typically continue in the days and weeks afterwards. You’ll need access to your surgeon to share concerns or questions and so they can keep an eye on your recovery. Without close, consistent assessment, complications can arise. Many people who travel for surgery fly home long before they’re healed.

Patients who’ve decided to schedule an FUE hair transplant in India or Turkey have often returned disappointed. It can end up costing more to repair sub-par work—in money, time, and self-esteem. An excellent way to ensure hair restoration that looks good and lasts is to go local.

Choose a Personalized Approach

In Toronto, FUE hair transplant is not an assembly line process. We take the time to review each patient’s unique situation and medical history. Not all fallout is related to pattern baldness. It can also be attributed to age, hormonal imbalance, medication, or an underlying illness. At the Toronto Hair Transplant Clinic (THTC), one of our secrets to success is that we completely personalize each hair transplant. Your individual needs, the assessment of your scalp and follicles, your health, your goals, and predictions about future hair loss all factor into a comprehensive plan made entirely for you. When your FUE hair transplant is custom, the results can be reliably permanent.

Verify Credentials and Experience

Various techniques and factors for your success will be covered during a comprehensive consultation with a reputable hair transplant surgeon. We recommend that you proceed with scheduling the procedure only once you feel entirely comfortable and well informed about your choices, what to expect, pros, and cons. Researching the clinics available to you and choosing the most experienced practitioner with a dedication to hair restoration is essential. FUE hair transplant at the THTC ensures a safe and efficient plan of care that combines your needs with his skills.

Why is Toronto FUE permanent?

An FUE hair transplant is a process of surgically redistributing live hair follicles to new locations on your scalp. It’s a strategic spreading of your available hair so it will cover more area. A small circular punch device is used to excise follicles in groups of 1 to 4—known as grafts, or units. These are harvested from the back or the sides of the head in most cases. That’s because the genetic, patterned hair loss that many men experience leaves dense, resilient growth in these areas while other zones thin. The location for excising donor follicles also has a lot to do with procedure permanence.

DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is a hormone implicated in androgenic alopecia — hereditary, pattern hair loss. Men and women both experience this condition, but males see the characteristic balding pattern of DHT-related hair thinning in far higher numbers. While follicles at the hairline and crown can be susceptible to DHT, causing them to miniaturize and shut down, the follicles at the back and sides tend to stay put. They are naturally resistant to the effects of hormonal thinning. These same hairs can be moved to new locations and carry that “donor dominance” with them. They have an excellent take rate, thriving in areas where strands previously fell out.

What is the best age for an FUE hair transplantation?

That’s an excellent question, and the answer influences the longevity of FUE results. While there is no perfect age to have an FUE hair transplant, there are ideal conditions. Due to male pattern baldness being progressive in nature, men should ensure that the majority of their fallout has stopped before surgery.

There is a risk of creating an unnatural hairline when performing a transplant prematurely. If hair loss continues after a hair transplant, the patient can be left with a space highlighted by a single strip of transplanted hair across the front. It not only appears unnatural, but it is also aesthetically unappealing. Hair transplants done too soon can also result in the need for secondary surgeries, and you have a limited number of follicles available for transfer on your scalp.

Hair specialists do their best work when they can tailor a plan based on overall hair loss, projected future fallout, and the patient’s expectations. To get the most out of a restoration, strands are placed sparingly to create the illusion of density over as much area as possible, while paying attention to thickness and hairline placement that will still look natural in 5 or 10 years. For instance, a young man in his 30s may wish to replace the dense, low hairline he had at 20, but his surgeon will instead encourage a subtle, mature hair edge that looks great at age 40 and beyond. In this sense, “permanence” can relate to how long you love your results and feel confident in your restoration over time.

What can young hair loss patients do?

Younger patients who are eager to stop hair loss may have success with medications that decrease fallout, like Rogaine and Propecia. These treatments are often used to stabilize a patient’s shedding. While they can rarely be credited with reactivating follicles, they do show efficacy in stimulating active follicles and hair. Some patients choose to continue using these after a hair transplant too.

There are also new and promising treatments to boost hair growth without surgery. PRP (platelet-rich plasma therapy) is extracted from your blood during a quick, in-office procedure. The concentrated platelet serum can be injected superficially at the hair roots to stimulate increased density and growth.

Likewise, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a non-invasive, comfortable procedure that triggers hair growth without the use of surgery or medications. Devices like the Theradome helmet at the THTC are convenient to wear at home just a few days per week and show excellent improvements in hair thickness.

Either of these options can be done in conjunction with an FUE hair transplant to accelerate results.

While FUE is considered a permanent hair loss solution, it’s worth stating that some patients may opt to have additional hair restoration down the road, depending on their preferences or needs.

What else should I know about FUE hair transplants Toronto?

The cost of a hair transplant in Toronto is quite individual as well. The patient can expect to pay between $5 and $6 per graft, and the number of grafts required can range anywhere from 500 to 2,500.

Successful FUE Recovery

Your surgeon will provide you with verbal and written instructions regarding recovery. They’ll outline how to care for your newly transplanted hair and scalp. Most patients find the follicular unit extraction healing period to be straightforward and relatively quick. You’ll have a few restrictions to keep in mind, however. The information provided may include the following:

  • How to position yourself for sleep: a neck pillow that elevates the head will ensure that there is limited pressure on the area and provide a more restful night’s sleep.
  • Recommendations to avoid excessive sweating or blood pressure increases from physically demanding activities: the cleanliness of the area and steady blood pressure help prevent complications.
  • Limiting exposure to weather-related elements: it’s recommended that patients limit the time spent in the sun or extreme cold. A loose-fitting hat may be worn to protect the newly transplanted hair, and sunblock can be applied once healed.
  • To prevent damage of transplanted grafts, washing the hair is best done with gently poured water rather than a shower head in the first week after an FUE hair transplant.
  • You’ll be advised not to touch, rub, or scratch at the incision sites and allow small scabs to fall off on their own.
  • Most patients can resume work and regular activities after the first week.

Schedule Your Consultation to Get Started

A restoration candidate can feel confident about their choices when spending time talking to an expert. Meeting with an experienced hair transplant specialist ensures that you can gather all the answers and feedback you need to make your decision without any pressure. He’ll assess your scalp, listen to your goals, and make recommendations accordingly. Your custom treatment plan will be designed for you to have lasting satisfaction with your FUE hair transplant. Contact our knowledgeable staff to arrange your consultation today.

Dr. Cory Torgerson (MD, PhD, FRCSC)

Dr. Cory Torgerson is a Canadian-trained Head and Neck Surgeon with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. With his focus solely being the Head and Neck, Dr. Torgerson is a leading authority in Canada. With several years of experience, a robust reputation, and a diverse clientele base, Dr. Torgerson is well-versed in what viable options are available to his clients and what strategies could be employed for Hair Transplant and Hair Restoration.

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Dr. Cory Torgerson (MD, PhD, FRCSC)
Dr. Cory Torgerson is a Canadian-trained Head and Neck Surgeon with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. With his focus solely being the Head and Neck, Dr. Torgerson is a leading authority in Canada. With several years of experience, a robust reputation, and a diverse clientele base, Dr. Torgerson is well-versed in what viable options are available to his clients and what strategies could be employed for Hair Transplant and Hair Restoration.
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