A recent survey has shown that many of the young people of America share one fear. According to a survey of Americans aged between 18 and 24, many respondents reported that they are terrified of going bald. Almost 60 percent of men and over 57 percent of women indicated that they were afraid of losing their hair and they may have good reason to do so.
Experts claim that by the time they turn 35, only one-third of American men will retain their hair. The rest will experience appreciable hair loss. Women aren’t exempted either, with thinning hair and small bald spots being a common concern among women. Hair plugs used to be one of the best hair loss treatments available in the market.
But what are hair plugs? And what happens when you compare hair plugs versus hair transplants.
Learn more about this type of cosmetic surgery to help you make an informed decision.
What are Hair Plugs?
Although still used liberally, in strict medical terms, hair plugs are no longer performed by any licensed physician. The surgery used to be in vogue right up until the early 2000s.
The original procedure involved surgically cutting out round plugs from your nape and suturing them unto your crown or balding areas. These plugs were about 4 millimeters in diameter. The results looked artificial and are associated with the doll-like quality of bad hair plugs.
Hair Plugs vs Hair Transplant: What is the Difference?
You may be wondering if hair plugs are no longer performed, then what is the current procedure offered by dermatologists and other hair care experts?
Modern hair loss treatments use better methods and have more convincing appearances. The new method for covering hair loss is officially known as follicular unit transplantation, or a hair transplant.
This procedure extracts individual follicles from a strip of donor scalp. A surgeon will then transplant these follicles one by one to the problem areas of your scalp, achieving a more natural appearance.
Despite the difference between the two procedures, laymen still sometimes refer to this cosmetic surgery as hair plug treatment.
Why Should You Get Hair Plugs?
There are plenty of reasons you may have considered getting hair plugs or other types of surgery to deal with hair loss.
Below are some of the most common reasons someone may want to cover up their balding scalp.
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Boost Confidence
Your hair and the way you style can be a huge part of your self-image which is why it can have a major effect on your confidence. Hair loss can make you feel less attractive, less assertive and overall despondent about the way you look.
Hair plugs and the follicular transplant procedure that has replaced it can help you regain your lost confidence. It can be the boost you need to improve your social and romantic life. More importantly, new hair can reduce negative self-image and have a positive impact on your mental health.
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Medical Condition
You may be suffering from intense or premature hair loss due to some severe medical condition. One of the most common causes of hair loss among men and women is the dermal condition known as alopecia. This condition causes your immune system to treat your hair follicles as hostile, making them detach from your skin constantly.
Although this rarely causes permanent baldness, alopecia can mean having patchy bald spots. Or you can suffer from chronic stress which can cause accelerated hair loss. Hair plugs and transplants can provide relief from these conditions and ensure you retain a full head of hair.
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Because You Want To
People who want to undergo cosmetic surgery are often bombarded with hundreds of questions from their friends and loved ones. Most people will assume that you are unhappy with yourself, that you’re going through something or similarly disparaging assumptions.
However, you may want hair plugs just because you feel like it. Your reasons for such a surgery can remain entirely your own and you are under no obligation to share them with other people.
How Long Do Hair Plugs Last?
Hair plugs and the follicular transplant procedures aren’t permanent. So how long do hair plugs last? Because they only involve planting existing hair follicles into a new area, these transplants last only as long as regular hair does. This means that any hair pulling, aggressive brushing and similar activities can uproot these follicles. If you want your hair transplants to last for much longer, you will definitely need to improve your hair care routine and reduce your normal hair loss rate.
Hair plugs and follicular unit transplants are helpful for covering up bald spots and thinning areas. However, without proper hair care routines you may start losing your hair again anyway.
For best results, combine the transplant with other types of hair loss treatments.
