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Setting
your Expectations
Considering a hair transplant?
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Men under the age of 25 with hair loss are having hair restoration
procedures more frequently today. These young men are confronted by
both their entry into manhood and the perception that their balding
is aging them at an accelerated rate. These patients often feel deprived
of an essential element of their youth. This feeling is created and
affirmed, seemingly by everything our western culture promotes.
Hair is indicative of a healthy, youthful appearance. Images on television
and in the movies reinforce the association between a youthful appearance
and a full head of hair. It is difficult for a young man who is balding
to sort out his identity when surrounded by a world of hairy, virile,
healthy, "normal" appearing young men. For these young hair
transplant candidates, objectivity does not always prevail. Panic sometimes
generates the decision to get their hair back. The premature loss of
hair becomes equated, in their minds, with the premature loss of their
youth; therefore, medical education, ethics, and honest rules of engagement
(informed consent) must be high on the physician's priorities when discussing
the hair restoration procedure with this youthful subset of the balding
population.
Men in their 30's and early 40's are more deliberate about the decision
to undergo hair transplant surgery. Many have considered the procedure
for some time, but faced with the difficulty of getting accurate information
and finding a doctor they trust, they may wisely delay the decision.
Some outside factor may finally push them to become serious in pursuing
hair restoration surgery. This factor may be a business decision, (a
younger looking person may have more earning potential), a divorce,
or the availability of financial resources. Alternatively, it may reflect
the self-indulgence of a confident, successful person doing something
for himself.
Having hair restoration surgery is moderately expensive. The cost depends
upon several factors: the amount of work that must be done based upon
the level of hair loss, the expectations of the patient, the proposed
method, and who will perform the work. It may cost more than a mid-size
car, a cruise, or a safari, so it deserves serious consideration. A
vacation or a safari lasts but a few weeks; a mid-sized car will last
a few years; but a hair restoration will last a lot longer. The cost
of the restoration is a factor, but should not be the overwhelming determinant.
Going to an expensive surgeon does not guarantee good results. If the
cost of the work exceeds the patient's ability to pay for what he actually
needs, the patient may not be able to finish the work he started. A
poorly planned procedure, or failure to complete what was started, can
produce a medical oddity. A properly staged procedure over long periods
is as good a choice as a Fast Track¨ approach. The key to a successful
hair restoration is the creation of a customized plan that reflects
the goals of each patient. An attempt to cut costs can lead to a lifetime
of regret every time you look in the mirror. One should ask: "How
much hair will I actually get for the dollars I am planning to spend?"
As men grow older, they become more discriminating. They have life experience,
and know what they want because they have the maturity to make balanced,
non-emotional judgments. They are thoughtful about the decision process
and they usually take the time to research their choices reasonably
well. For those who can afford it, there is no substitute for the best
money can buy. Men under 30 may be more motivated by the emotional aspect
of looking older too soon. They are vulnerable to high-pressure sales
tactics by unscrupulous salesmen. Men over 30 often feel they have worked
hard, achieved a great deal and therefore decide to reward themselves.
More often, they may want to look as young as they feel, and having
hair is important to their sense of well being.
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Recommended
Resources |
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- Ask questions and get information on Hair Transplants
in our Men's
Forums and Women's
Forums!
- Information provided courtesy of the New
Hair Institute, taken from "The Patient's Guide to
Hair Transplantation" William R. Rassman, MD and Robert
M. Bernstein, MD
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