SMP vs. Hair Transplant

If you are struggling with visible hair loss and have been seeking treatments to restore your look, you have probably come across hair transplantation, too.

You might wonder what the main differences between scalp micropigmentation and hair transplantation are. Well, these procedures are poles apart, as they have nothing in common.

A hair transplant is a complex surgical procedure that implies a series of risks, whereas scalp micropigmentation is a minimally invasive technique entailing depositing a special pigment underneath the skin on your head to mimic the appearance of hair follicles.

This article will explore the numerous differences between hair transplantation and scalp micropigmentation.

The Complexity and the Risks of Hair Transplantation

During hair transplantation, the surgeon removes hair follicles from one part of the body, known as the donor site, to the hairless area of the scalp, known as the recipient site. There are two techniques hair follicles can be obtained with for the person that is going to undergo hair transplantation: follicular unit transplantation and follicular unit extraction. In follicular unit transplantation, the surgeon cuts out a portion of skin from the back of your scalp, which will leave behind several inches long incision that is subsequently closed with stitches. Then, the surgeon begins separating the removed area of the scalp into tiny sections using a magnifying lens and scalpel. When implanted, these sections will help the person achieve natural-looking hair growth.

In follicular unit extraction, the hair follicles are cut out straight from the back of the head through hundreds to thousands of small punch incisions. During this procedure, the surgeon makes tiny holes with a blade or needle in the region of your scalp that is going to receive the hair transplant. Afterward, they carefully place hairs in the holes. Over the course of one treatment session, the surgeon can transplant hundreds or even thousands of hairs. When the procedure is completed, a graft, gauze, or bandages will cover your scalp for several days. Therefore, you can see how complex hair transplantation is and why it is a surgical procedure. During your recovery, you will have to take anti-inflammatory medication, painkillers, and antibiotics, just like after any other surgery.

The following are the risks of hair transplantation, none of which usually occur with scalp micropigmentation, as the procedure is nowhere near as invasive:

• bleeding
• bruising around the eyes
• a crust on the scalp areas where hair was removed or implanted
• numbness on the treated area of the scalp
• inflammation or infection of the hair follicles
• shock loss, or sudden loss of the transplanted hair
• unnatural-looking tufts of hair
• new hair appearing more or less dense than your natural hair
• scars that may be severe, reddened, raised, and itchy
• death of the skin grafts

To make matters even more complicated, after you undergo hair transplantation, if you do not take drugs such as minoxidil or finasteride or undergo laser therapy, you may continue to experience hair loss in areas of your scalp that were not treated. Furthermore, the recovery period for hair transplantation is 6 to 12 months, which is a long time to wait and act with the utmost care when it comes to your scalp and new hair. Lastly, the first weeks of recovery are going to be quite challenging to navigate, as you will have a lot of restrictions and things to be mindful about, such as sleeping with your head elevated for the first week after the treatment, not being able to die your hair within the four weeks of the hair transplant, and making sure not to rub your new hairline against your pillow.

The Simplicity and Safe Nature of Scalp Micropigmentation

In contrast to hair transplantation, scalp micropigmentation yields significantly more benefits and considerably fewer risks. This relatively novel hair loss treatment is very effective and involves a licensed practitioner depositing a pigment under the skin on your head where you have baldness, a scar that you want to cover, or hair that is not dense enough. They achieve this with the help of a small needle similar to those used by tattoo artists. Nevertheless, the ink will not reach as deep into your skin as it would if you were to get a tattoo.

While the procedure is a bit on the expensive side, as it implies a lot of hard and meticulous work, it is definitely worth investing in if your hair loss is causing you trouble in your daily life. In general, men with male pattern baldness, women who want denser hair, cancer survivors, and people with big scars on their heads are the perfect candidates for scalp micropigmentation. You will have to undergo 2 or 3 sessions, each lasting between 2 and 4 hours, based on the severity of your hair loss. The pigment your practitioner will use will match the natural color of your hair almost perfectly so that no one will notice that your false hair follicles are not yours.

The following are only some of the benefits of undergoing scalp micropigmentation, regardless of your hair loss situation:

• the results will last for at least 5 years, and the pigment will not fade during this time
• once your scalp has healed completely, it requires little maintenance
• the touch-ups you will have to undergo are far less expensive than the whole procedure
• the procedure is economical, as you only pay for it once, then only for the touch-ups
• it is minimally invasive, and you will not have to take time off work or have a recovery period
• it will provide you with a realistic, natural, impressive hair appearance

Ultimately, it is your decision what choice of treatment you think is best for your hair loss problem. Nonetheless, now you know the facts about hair transplantation and scalp micropigmentation, as well as the differences between these two hair loss treatments, which might help you make a more informed decision.

Our SMP Practitioners Will Offer You Effective Treatment for Your Hair Loss

With several years of professional experience, our licensed practitioners, Rob and Macy, will provide you with effective, cutting-edge scalp micropigmentation treatment, regardless of how severe your hair loss is. The procedure is suitable for a wide range of people, from men with male pattern baldness to cancer survivors whose hair has fallen off or thinned because of aggressive treatment. Coast SMP is completely transparent, and once our artists have evaluated your hair loss situation, they will tell you how much you will have to pay for scalp micropigmentation right away.

Our salon is permanently kept squeaky clean and hygienic, adhering to the safety norms, so there will be no cause for concern regarding insalubrity. If your hair loss is causing you self-confidence issues in your everyday life, we encourage you to undergo scalp micropigmentation. We guarantee that it will change the way you and others see yourself and that it will restore your self-esteem immediately, as you can see the results after the first session. For additional questions, feel free to contact us, and we will gladly help you.