DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HAIR TRANSPLANT & SCALP MICROPIGMENTATION
HAIR TRANSPLANT
Involves adding hair onto balding spots of your head via invasive surgery. The operation requires anesthesia, and there are two more common ways to carry out the process:
• Follicular Unit Transplantation
• Follicular unit extraction
Both FUT and FUE require to be carried out professionally by a trained surgeon, and the new hair is meant to be permanent but can look more synthetic. However, The reality is that transplants can also fail with time and a natural look isn’t always achieved. It’s common for people to seek scalp micropigmentation after having a bad transplant treatment.
SCALP MICROPIGMENTATION
SMP is the process where basically a small amount of pigment is added on the thinning/balding area of the head. The result can look much more natural when compared to the transplant. The procedure is like having a tattoo, yet different specialist equipment such as the needles size, organic ink that is used and a retouch every year or so will keep everything in good shape. The results are ready within a few sessions.
HOW LONG IS THE PROCEDURE FOR EACH OPTION
HAIR TRANSPLANT
It usually requires a whole day for the whole process. The transplant operation itself takes about 8 to 10 hours depending on the condition of the scalp for each patient. The anesthesia takes some time to wear off, post-surgery can sometimes include an overnight stay in a hospital plus recovery time at home and time off from work.
The transplant will usually fall within a week or two and new hair will start to grow. Desired end results will usually be seen within 6 to 12 months if the surgery has been a complete success.
SCALP MICROPIGMENTATION
Micropigmentation takes just multiple treatment appointments – from 2 to 3 depending on the size of the balding area. Each appointment can usually take around 3 to 4 hours, and there should be a break period between each appointment, to let the pigment set in the scalp naturally, and to give the scalp some time to recover. The desired end results can be seen after the final session and even more noticeable after 3 to 4 weeks of treatment.
WHICH PROCEDURE IS MORE EFFECTIVE?
HAIR TRANSPLANT
The transplant is clinically invasive, and though it’s a permanent solution, cuts and incisions are made, and scalp scars can be visible afterwards. It is expected that the implanted follicles will keep growing just like your normal hair did before. However, this doesn’t always happen and the new hair can look synthetic and not so natural. Another downside is that the post-surgery treatments are needed, which can prove to be very time consuming. The surgery has also been known to fail where either the hair follicle doesn’t produce regrowth, or growth begins but then stops. The result is not always satisfactory, and the average success rate is low.
SCALP MICROPIGMENTATION – FINISHING TOUCH SMP SUCCESS RATE!
Finishing Touch has a 100% success rate with patients. The final look is natural and it’s a lot easier to maintain.
HOW PAINFUL IS THE PROCEDURE FOR EACH OPTION?
HAIR TRANSPLANT
No Pain is felt during the transplant operation as you are under anesthetic. The patient normally sleeps during the procedure, and I some cases after waking there will be pain in the following days where pain management’s medications will be needed. The pain will last for three to four days or even more, after which time you’ll be able to start resuming your day to day normal life.
SCALP MICROPIGMENTATION
This procedure is different to a hair transplant for a number of different reasons. Though the reaction to pain will vary from patient to patient the majority say it’s virtually pain free so much will depend on the client. The process is not the same as having a tattoo, so it’s definitely not as painful. SMP deposits the pigment in the uppermost layer of the dermis. Minimal recovery time is recommended.
WHAT IS THE COST FOR EACH OPTION?
HAIR TRANSPLANT
The price of a hair transplant will depend largely on the amount of hair you’re moving, however it generally ranges from $ 9,000 to $20,000 for good quality work, as with any kind of surgery transplants have some risks including bleeding and infection.
SCALP MICROPIGMENTATION
Scalp Micropigmentation procedures will always be a cheaper option as the Hairline tattoos will cost you often 50% to 80% less. It’s a simpler and virtually problem free procedure, and does not require many resources. Retouching works out far cheaper and the long periods where no touching up isn’t needed makes this procedure even cheaper than having a hair transplant