Concerns about Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP): Bill, Managing Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network Provides His Input
Of all the various topics discussed daily on our hair loss forum, Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP) is highly popular. Below, Bill Seemiller, managing publisher of the Hair Transplant Network shares his opinion and concerns about scalp micropigmentation.
Since I am very interested in SMP, for the last couple of weeks I’ve been looking at different hair restoration forums and realized some practitioners are now offering temporary SMP. Honestly, I am trying to convince myself that this is the best SMP option, but I simply cannot.
The results appear very “yellow” and the dots are relatively smaller than the real follicles. Also I really don’t get how SMP can achieve a three dimensional appearance. I know several experts have reviewed SMP results from different clinics and they say that the temporary SMP looks most realistic. Also, the good part is that it is non-permanent so this means it’s not there forever.
So Bill, what do you personally think about temporary SMP compared to others, and what are the best SMP results you have seen? Just curious
Bill Seemiller, Managing Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network provides his input below.
Admittedly, I haven’t seen any scalp micropigmentation (SMP) results from any clinic in person at this stage. In photos, “temporary” SMP looks quite good although an in-person inspection would be highly more accurate in asessing this kind of result, especially given its 2 dimensional (2D) characteristics.
My concern however, is what permanent SMP will look like in 1,2,3 and even 5 or more years down the road. Will touch-ups be necessary and if so, how often? Will the ink fade or change colors like a typical body tattoo? Will it be virtually impossible to undergo another SMP procedure for a touch up without having to travel hundreds or even thousands of miles for a quality SMP clinic or will quality clinics offering SMP be easily accessible?
SMP sort of strikes me as today’s tattoo version of Hair Club for Men. I’m not saying that this is a bad thing. But like a hair replacement system, tattooing will never be real hair; it can only provide an illusion of hair (stubble) and will most likely require ongoing maintenance to stay natural looking. Thus, like today’s quality hair replacement systems, I believe SMP will be a viable option for a small niche of men and women looking for a particular type of solution to their hair loss issue.
It’s a little too early to tell whether SMP will stand the test of time, but it’ll be interesting to see how things evolve. I also suspect that the interest in SMP may be temporary and may phase out in the years to come, especially as true hair restoration related therapies (including hair transplantation, hair multiplication, etc.) continue to evolve.
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Blake – aka Future_HT_Doc
Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum
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