The Big Lies about Hair Loss Continue

The author is himself a hair transplant patient has authored a complete “Tell All” about the hair restoration industry.

John Vincent

The following is meant, not to dissuade individuals from choosing hair surgery, rather to educate them to the realities of this option.

Truth VS. The Big Lie About Surgical Hair Restoration

Truth #1- It’s Not One and Done

No one in the history of hair transplant surgery has ever returned to the doctor after his or her procedure and complained he/she received too much hair!

In my many years counseling men about hair loss, I’m amused when someone says: “When it (baldness) gets too bad, I’ll just get a hair transplant!”

Just as a person who doesn’t know what financial and emotional costs are involved in long term health care, this faulty plan could lead to great disappointment.

Why? Because hair loss is a dynamic change that typically continues through life. Planning a hair surgery should always involve a strategy to hold on to all the hair you have at the moment.

Transplanted Hair Does Not Spread Like Crab-grass!

Hair that is transplanted is somewhat permanent, and natural, if the surgeon is competent. (How this is accomplished is another discussion for another day.)

But, if the hairs that are moved in such a procedure contain the genetic code of andro-genetic alopecia, or AGA, those hairs will stop growing no matter where they are relocated. Only with a Hair Preservation strategy, fully explained in my book, will the odds be in favor of a successful long- term result.

For example, think of former Vice President, Joe Biden. (Just google his pictures of him during his career over time). Conspicuously bald on top while in Congress, Joe had hair transplants performed, which moved hair on the sides to the top of his head to balance with the sides. Unfortunately, and perhaps a surprise for him, was that he continued to lose hair. Thus, his once “adequate” coverage on the top is quite thin today, as well as the sides where the “donor” hair area for the transplant was taken.

My point is: if Joe had taken steps to preserve the hair he had at the time of the surgery, chances are his overall hair would be stronger and thicker today.

The “Big Lie” conveyed in hair transplant marketing today is based on this common misconception that a single surgical procedure can restore a full head of hair. This is NOT the case.

Grafts, the individual or small groups of hair transplanted in hair restoration surgery, are placed in the thinning or bald area. To restore a population of hair needed to recreate the appearance of what has been lost, it typically takes two or more procedures. (I had 12.) Any claims that one procedure can replace the normal density of an area of bald scalp is an example of The Big Lie!

The moral of this story is: Careful consideration of your choice of a hair surgeon and the implementation of a Hair Preservation plan, is the key to a great result. Full disclosure from the doctor (not just a layperson) is essential to knowing what the long-term plan is. If you need more help in this regard, please reach out to me for a referral at [email protected].

Truth #2- Hair Transplants Do Not Stop Hair Loss

Permanent methods, such as hair transplant surgery, require consideration of how to assure an optimal long-term outcome. Some hair surgeons and/or sales consultants neglect to focus on what I call, the “long game,” i.e., having a clear plan for Hair Preservation.

In the hundreds of consultations, we performed at the company I was affiliated with in the 1990’s, an emphasis was placed on the permanence of surgery and the relatively quick recovery from what was an outpatient procedure. We supported our successful outcomes with “before and after” testimonials and photos.

However, I learned as a patient myself we lacked focus (and, experience) on the fact that hair loss is ongoing, over a lifetime!

The opportunity for less-than-honest surgeons/practices then and today is not to fully disclose, as I address more fully in my book, is: a satisfactory hair restoration outcome typically involves multiple surgeries.

Not taking this need into account could be devastating to a man or woman who invested every spare dollar he or she had for a single surgery, only to discover more would be necessary.

While it is accurate to say that most people have ample hair in one area that can successfully be moved to help fill in a balding section, full disclosure requires a simple truth:

Transplanting hair into a thinning area can result in a “net loss” of hair over time in that area if sufficient hair is ultimately lost in the area from normal androgenetic alopecia (AGA).

For complete information about the pros and cons of these procedures, read the chapters in my book concerning by decades of involvement with hair surgeons, on most eBook formats or in print from Amazon.

John Vincent

International Authority. Author. Speaker. Coach. With 35 years of experience, John, is one of the most knowledgeable and respected experts in hair restoration.

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