A common question patients often have is whether hair restoration is permanent, or whether it has to be continually redone in order for the look to be maintained.
Patients who come in for hair restoration look for effective and safe procedures to restore their hair. Fortunately, hair restoration is not only effective and safe, but it can also be permanent.
There are certain hair restoration procedures that result in permanent hair restoration. While there are many hair loss treatments, not all of them have permanent results.
Before recommending hair restoration treatments, take some time to understand the patient’s needs and desires, and explain the advantages and disadvantages of possible hair restoration treatments – including whether it will result in permanent results.
Common Hair Transplant Procedures
Let’s take a look at some of the most common hair restoration procedures that result in permanent results.
Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT)
The FUT hair transplant procedure involves removing hair from donor areas of the patient’s head (typically the back or sides of the head) and transplanting them to the thinning or balding areas of the head.
First, the surgeon removes a strip of hair-populated skin from the back of the patient’s head, and then divides the strip into individual grafts (also called follicular units). The surgeon then places the donor hair into the desired area by making tiny incisions where the grafts will be implanted.
The FUT hair transplant procedure results in natural-looking, dense hair in areas that were thinning or balding before.
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
The FUE hair transplant procedure involves removing tiny individual follicular units from the donor areas (typically the back or sides of the head) and transplanting them to the thinning or balding areas of the head. FUE hair transplant is a “no-stitch” technique because the cuts are so small.
Unlike in FUT procedures, FUE does not remove a strip of skin from the donor site – which means there is no need for stitches and results in virtually no scarring. FUE procedures generally result in more natural-looking results than FUT, but the FUE procedure can take up to eight hours. This is because the surgeon places every follicular unit individually into the desired area instead of larger grafts like in a FUT procedure.
Depending on the patient’s desired results, multiple FUE procedures may be necessary.
Are FUT and FUE Hair Transplant Procedures Permanent?
Both of these procedures involve taking live and healthy follicular units from one part of the head and putting them into a different area that needs hair. When you do this, the hair that is transplanted is permanent. It can grow for the rest of your life unless you develop a health condition which causes hair loss.
Business Partner for Your Medical Practice
To discuss a project or business idea relating to hair restoration or cosmetic medicine, call Cosmetic Medical Partners at (718) 268-6060. We welcome U.S. and international inquiries from doctors, potential joint venture partners, strategic alliances, potential clinic managers, and nurses.
You can also fill out our online form to request a consultation. We look forward to partnering with you in your quest for success in the cosmetic medical industry.
