January 1, 2018
If you're a man with thinning hair, you have plenty of options to treat the problem. From over-the-counter remedies to toupees and wigs to hair transplants, it can be difficult to know which one will work the best for you. Hair plugs once were the gold standard to replace thinning hair for men. Hair plugs have been around since the 1950s, but hair transplants have become the better technology.
What are hair plugs?
From a medical point-of-view, hair plugs are a type of hair transplant. Although the term is widely used, it's outdated. The surgeon removes 20 or more hairs in small plugs from the back of your scalp or the "donor area." Those hairs are then transplanted to the balding areas by making small slits or circles into the scalp. Some wounds might have to be stitched up; smaller slits might heal on their own but leave small scars. The biggest problem with hair plugs is the circular scars left on the back of the head, giving it a polka-dot appearance.
What are hair transplants?
Today, the hair plug technique is obsolete due to medical advancements in hair transplantation. The new procedure, called NeoGraft, is less invasive, requiring no stitches or staples. The doctor removes individual follicles of hair from the donor area, usually the back of the head, then implants them into the recipient area, the balding spot. By following the facial structure and current hairline, the hair transplant looks more natural. Because there are no stitches or staples, the results are more discreet than hair plugs.
Benefits of NeoGraft procedure
- Quick recovery time
- Minimally invasive procedure
- Little-to-no discomfort
- Natural looking hairline
- Financing programs available
Find out for yourself
It's estimated that around 35 million men in the United States have some form of thinning hair or baldness. By the time most men notice their hair is thinning, they've lost about half of their hair. Although hair follicles cannot generate new hair, the follicles can continue to grow when replanted, which makes hair transplants a better option than hair plugs.
Hair transplants have come a long way since the early days of hair plugs. A hair transplantation looks more natural than hair plugs, with almost undetectable scarring.
Contact The Hair Center at Helendale for a free consultation to see if hair transplants will meet your needs and goals. We have options to help you look and feel your best while fighting hair loss, no matter how old or young you are.