Will I Ever Be Able to Obtain a Full Head of Hair With a Hair Transplant?

Will I be able to obtain a full head of hair with a Hair Transplant?

Many people ask if they will be able to obtain a full head of hair with hair transplantation. What people typically mean when they ask this question is “Will I be able to restore my hair to look like the good old high school days (or maybe Junior High for some)?” For some, this may be more possible than others, depending on the level of hair loss one is experiencing, however, before we answer this question, let’s take a look at some specifics regarding this topic.

One has a finite supply of donor tissue that can be removed for hair transplantation during Follicular Unit Transplantation (regardless of number of sessions). Additionally, there are only so many hairs that can be extracted using the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) or the Follicular Isolation Technique (FIT) without the donor area looking moth-eaten. Because there is a limitation of how many donor hairs can be taken, clearly these grafts/hairs should be used wisely, taking into consideration factors like hair density verses coverage. Clearly those with lesser amounts of hair loss can use their grafts to dense up existing balding areas (assuming their hair loss is under control), whereas those with greater amounts of hair loss has to sacrifice one or the other, density or coverage. One can choose to add density to the frontal area of their scalp for example and leave the crown bald, or choose to cover the whole area whereas density will be sacrificed.

The phrase “illusion of density” is common when discussing hair transplantation. Because donor supply is limited, there is simply no way to restore a “full head of hair”, BUT, with proper use of the limited donor grafts/hairs, physician and clinics can strategically place the grafts over the balding region to create an “illusion of density”. This means that for the most part one might appear to have a full head of hair, even though it’s much thinner than it used to be in their glory hair days. Typically the “illusion of density” is achieved when 50% of their original thickness has been achieved. In other words, if a patient’s natural hair has the density of 80 follicular unit grafts per square CM, this patient will be able to achieve the “illusion of density” at approximately 40 follicular unit grafts per square CM.

To see a few good animations on the concepts of hair transplantation and recreating the “illusion of density” visit the Multimedia Center on the Hair Transplant Network.

How then is the illusion of density different than having a full head of hair?

I think the best way to answer this question is to discuss lighting. Being a hair transplant patient, I’ve gone from a 6 on the Norwood Scale to having a pretty decent head of hair after 7550 follicular unit grafts. I have also found, that some lighting is much more flattering than others.

I believe the appearance or illusion of density related to lighting depends on several factors:

• Illumination: Brightness will clearly influence how dense our hair looks. The brighter the light, the more detail is exposed. A quality hair transplant will stand up in all lighting conditions – in that it will look natural, however, clearly, the appearance of density will lessen as the light brightens.
• Color: Lighter colored lights such as florescent ones lessen the appearance of density whereas normal or colored lights increase the appearance of density.
• Direction/Angling:I have found specifically that direct sunlight hitting my hairline makes my hair appear super dense, whereas the sun coming from behind makes my hair look much thinner from the front. Straight overhead (around noon), I’d say my hairline looks somewhere in between these two extremes.

Do not be deceived, however. Lighting affects even those with a full head of non-balding native hair (especially when their hair is kept shorter). It just isn’t as obvious. Remember, we ARE dealing with less density than one with a full head of native hair, hence the illusion of density.

One question that tends to come from this discussion is: So which lighting exposes the truth? There are varying answers, but here’s mine: They all do. The only exception to this, I’d suggest are photos taken with flash photography. But that is another topic of discussion.

The bottom line is at varying points of one’s day and/or life, we will be seen in all types of lighting. At the same time, though, one has to consider where they will be seen the most. I admit there have been times where I am talking to someone outside and end up noticing that the sun is behind me. So I’ll strategically angle myself so the sun is more flattering to my hairline. One could compare this to those who are into body building. Certain lights and mirrors are more flattering than others, therefore, they prefer to flex in front of those mirrors, in that lighting.

As a three time hair transplant patient (See my Hair Loss Weblog here), I’d say that my level of satisfaction is very high! I have realized that even in the worst lighting conditions, I still look 1000 times better than I would without hair transplantation. And the truth is…I don’t feel that even in worst lighting that it looks bad. But I advise considering all the facts before making a decision to journeying into hair restoration surgery.

I hope this gives you even more of an understanding of how hair transplantation works and what to expect from your hair transplant.

Bill
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog

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