Are you experiencing significant hair loss? If you’re not interested in surgical procedures, there are many ways to restore your hair or look. Many of these solutions will help halt further hair loss and even regrow the lost hair. That’s why it’s better late than never to start getting the right treatment.

Topical Treatments Work

The most common hair loss solution is Minoxidil, which is commonly known as Rogaine. While Minoxidil is useful, it may not work as well for many patients. As a result, different types of topical treatments such as DHT blockers and shampoos that add nutrients to your hair can enhance your results.

Oral Medication

Oral medication is another non-surgical hair restoration solution that works. Finasteride blocks DHT, which is the main cause of hair loss. It works well with topical solutions like Minoxidil. The purpose of oral medication is to prevent further hair loss. If you simply want to take control of your hair loss situation, it’s a very convenient solution.

Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP

PRP is a new non-surgical hair restoration solution that can help stimulate hair growth. What happens is that your own concentrated blood is injected into your scalp. The platelet-rich portion of your blood is isolated and injected into areas where you are dealing with hair loss. This therapy has been also used in accelerating the healing of injuries.

Laser Therapy

Laser therapy has been shown to be effective in stimulating hair growth. With this treatment, low-level lasers are used to thicken hair and even induce new growth. This is a simple treatment that doesn’t cause any kind of pain. You do need to go in for multiple sessions to get the best results.

Cosmetic Procedures Are Also an Option

Cosmetic procedures can also be an option. Scalp micro pigmentation is a common procedure that creates great-looking results. A special tool will insert pigment into your scalp to make it look like a hair follicle. This is a great alternative if you prefer to keep a short buzzed look. Micropigmentation can also cover trouble areas, scars, and help add a denser look.

These are some of the non-surgical solutions that are available. What’s important to understand is that they work best when used together. You want to combine different treatments if you want to maximize hair regrowth and maintain your hair. So consult with a hair loss specialist that can recommend an effective regimen.

Prime Hair Clinic offers services to help you get back on track. Our world-class surgical techniques set us apart and our honest, caring, and experienced staff can help you look and feel your best. For all hair restoration services including PRP therapy, scalp micropigmentation, surgical hair transplants, trust Prime Hair Clinic. Contact us by phone at (403) 259-6798 or by email at info@primehair.ca.

Follicular Unit Extraction is one of the most popular hair transplant treatments in Calgary. But a lot of people still don’t know enough about the process, the recovery and the results of the process. This guide will give you everything you need.

The Guide To Follicular Unit Extraction

The Process:

While the process for getting Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) might seem complicated, it is actually easier than most people know. To explain it properly, here is a step-by-step breakdown:

Local anesthetic is administered so you don’t feel anything.
The donor area (where your hair follicles will be extracted for the implant) is shaved down to a 2mm length.
Your hair clinic professional will slowly remove the hair grafts from the donor area. This is also known as being “punched out”. They will be removed one by one. Depending on the size of the transplant, and the quality, some of the grafts might be taken from outside the donor area.
Once the hair grafts are extracted from the donor area, they will be harvested before the implementation begins.
The implementation site will get a shot of local anesthetic so you feel nothing.
A small incision will be made about 1mm deep, or roughly the length of your grafts for each one.
The grafts will be then implanted one by one in the area, depending on the direction, angle and density of the rest of your hair. If you’re bald, then the grafts will be inserted to mimic your remaining hair pattern.
The entire process takes between 4 and 8 hours, depending on the transplant size.

The Recovery:

The recovery period after surgical hair restoration essential for the building of your new hair. Your scalp will be very sensitive following the treatment. For a few days, you will be required to wear bandages and take antibiotics to prevent any infections. You will have to alter your showering patterns and sleeping style according to your doctor’s instructions.

After about five to seven weeks, you will notice that some of your hair is falling out. Don’t panic! This is a normal part of the procedure and shows that the grafts are slowly taking root while your old hair is being pushed out.

The Results: After around four to five months, you will start to notice your hair developing, but it could be as long as 18 months for the full effects to come through. Once that happens, you can relax and know that the FUE treatment has worked – and you’ll have hair for a lifetime!

When it comes to hair restoration in Calgary, a lot of people always ask: how young is too young for hair treatment? Are the treatments safe for young people? Does it even matter? And should you go ahead with it?

How Young Is Too Young For Hair Restoration?

Some people lose their hair at 18 years old. Some people lose it at 30, while others lose it at 60. Everyone is different, and everyone that goes through balding does it differently. Some people lose their head over a few years, others go on for decades, while some stop losing at a certain point. There is no recommended age to get hair treatment, as it all depends on how far you’re balding and what the Calgary hair clinic professional suggests.

Are Hair Restoration Treatments Safe?

There are two ways to manage hair loss: hair transplantation and non-surgical hair restoration.

Hair transplantation treatments include Surgical, FUT and FUE hair transplants. While they are all different in the way they implement new hair follicles into the head, they offer a permanent solution. However, even though the procedures are safe, due to the high chances of scars, it is not recommended for young men.

Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP) and Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) in Calgary are two new non-surgical hair restoration procedures that many young men undergo. SMP is a specialized form of tattooing the scalp that replicates the same follicles of the scalp while PRP is an injection process in which your blood is used to stimulate hair growth. Both are considered less invasive than surgeries and might be better for those who are just starting to lose their hair.

Should You Go Ahead With Hair Restoration Treatment?

Having a full head of hair can boost your confidence, make you feel and look like a million dollars. But it is a big choice to go ahead with hair restoration treatments, especially if you are too young. Speak to your local Calgary hair clinic specialist if you think you are too young or are worried you missed the chance.

Do you suffer from male pattern baldness? Is the top of your head starting to thin? You don’t have to embrace the baldness or settle for solutions that don’t really work. FUT or follicular unit transplantation is one of the most effective hair restoration techniques available today. Here are 5 reasons you should consider a hair transplant!

Why You Should You Consider Follicular Unit Transplantation

Lasting Results

Unlike some shampoos, serums, and other non-surgical solutions, surgical hair restoration works and the results last! Hair is harvested from the ‘safe donor area’, or the region of the head where hair usually grows forever, and once transplanted, will continue to grow for a lifetime.

Natural Look

Hair restoration has come a long way. Gone are the days of botched surgeries with obvious scars and uneven grafting of hair. In a Calgary hair clinic, great care is taken to ensure the angle and direction of the transplanted hair, the shape of the hairline, and the overall density comes together to create a natural aesthetic.

No Side Effects

Unlike taking medications for hair loss, surgical hair restoration comes with zero side effects. During the procedure, a local anesthetic is administered to the recipient area. Following the surgery, there is practically no indication of a hair restoration treatment; only a small scar, covered by the hair in the back of the head will remain following recovery.

Affordable

Follicular unit transplantation is more affordable than many people think. While the cost differs on a per-case basis, most middle-class men will be able to afford the treatment. Of course, you don’t want to go with the cheapest option for safety reasons, so you should shop around before selecting a hair clinic in Calgary.

Confidence Boost

What would you give to feel 25 again? A new head of hair and the confidence that comes with it is truly priceless. There’s nothing wrong with embracing the bald life, but if you aren’t ready to start that journey, follicular unit transplantation could be the answer.

The Science Behind Hair Transplants

Rest assured that the science behind follicular unit transplantation has been around for a long time and is tried, tested, and true. The process involves taking a strip of hair from the back of the head and transplanting individual units in the affected area.

PRP stands for Platelet Rich Plasma. This exciting new field is an addition to the existing therapies we have available for hair restoration. PRP involves drawing your own blood into special vials and spinning them in a centrifuge, separating the blood into layers. By this method, it’s possible to isolate a layer rich in platelets and growth factors, the PRP. This concentrated plasma is then injected into the scalp targeting your areas of concern.

What You Need to Know About PRP

The beauty of PRP in Calgary is that it is entirely natural and safe to use on patients of all ages, both men and women. It harnesses the bodies innate ability to heal and regenerate itself. The theory is that by getting platelets and growth factors injected directly to the hair follicles, we are able to jump-start the hair growth process. The treatment takes under an hour to perform. Topical anesthetic preparations can be applied to the scalp to make it more comfortable; however, many patients don’t require any numbing. For those who are more sensitive, there is always the option of injecting a local anesthetic to numb the entire scalp. With the smallest needles available, up to several hundred superficial injections take place depositing the PRP just under the skin. This treatment is repeated every month for three months and then yearly, according to one popular protocol.

The Science of PRP

As the science behind PRP is still emerging, there is a lot of discussion around the optimal timing of injections, specific techniques employed, the use of additives, and what is the magnitude of its benefit in terms of hair restoration. In time, many of these questions will be answered, but for now, PRP remains a safe and promising answer to many patient’s hair loss needs.

Short answer, yes. Long answer, even more yes! Let’s be clear, aside from surgery, of all the different non-surgical hair restoration methods out there; the supplements, the potions, the treatments and the technology, NOTHING compares to the effectiveness of prescription medication. Sorry, but any claim to the contrary is at best incomplete and at worst deliberately dishonest. Let’s look at the most important medications.

Pills For Hair Restoration

Finasteride (Propecia) has been on the market for over 20 years and has very robust evidence for its safety and efficacy. In essence, it stops the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which is the hormone responsible for hair miniaturization which leads to baldness. By significantly reducing DHT levels, the balding process is slowed down, and in many cases, even reversed. About two-thirds of men actually regrow hair thanks to this medication.

Dutasteride (Avodart) is another 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, similar to Finasteride, that acts on multiple enzymes, and is effective for hair loss. One key difference is that Finasteride was specifically studied and marketed for the hair under the trade name Propecia.

Minoxidil is another medication well studied for hair loss. Though mainly used topically (Rogaine), it was originally an oral medication and can be used as such for several types of hair loss.

There are other prescription pills that can be employed on a case by case basis which may help as well. Though there are compelling reasons for some populations not to be on these therapies, it is strongly advised that everyone, if possible, should be on at least one of the above medications. The combination of treatments can yield even more impressive results.

Success is measured in different ways. For someone who is losing hair fast, just stabilizing the hair loss and maintaining what you have would be a win. Others can experience a range of modest to dramatic regrowth. Satisfaction depends a lot on one’s expectations! In conclusion, pills really do work and are powerful tools in the arsenal of anyone worried about hair loss.

When it comes to any sort of beauty or aesthetic treatment, it can be tempting to try and save a few extra dollars. You may be concerned whether the cost of seeing a professional is truly worth it. Well, Sam Blanchard, a health reporter for MailOnline has revealed the truth. The answer to the question is, YES! You should always to choose to see a professional, certified doctor for any surgical hair restoration. Here’s why.

On March 20, 2019, the website DailyMail.com published an article about the dangers of cutting corners when it comes to hair transplants. You can read the full article here, but we’ve outlined some of the highlights below.

The article begins with a warning from The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, stating,

“People are being left with irreparable damage, scars and empty wallets
Transplants cost around £7,000 in the UK but as little as £620 in Turkey
But regulation is poor abroad and patients risk treatment by unqualified people”

The article goes on to say that, “People travelling abroad for hair transplants may end up having the procedures done by ‘taxi drivers and Syrian refugees with no training’.

The lure of lower prices is leading people to pay for poor quality, botched transplants which leave them scarred and bloody.”

The original article includes more images and videos, but as you can see, the results of such poor quality transplants are quite gruesome.

The article continues, “’The marketing tactics are deceptive as it appears like a team of professional doctors with excellent testimonials,’ said Dr. Ricardo Meija, chair of the ISHRS’s unlicensed practice of medicine committee.

‘However, the reality is your surgery may be done by someone with no medical training.

‘The demand for hair transplants is so high, reports are that taxi cab drivers and Syrian refugees do the surgery in some overseas countries.’

The ISHRS said there are growing numbers of people being left scarred by transplants gone wrong.”

Blanchard shares some statistics, indicating that hair transplants are on the rise with 635,000 operations performed worldwide in 2017. Many celebrities have even been known to have operations including Wayne Rooney, X Factor judge Louis Walsh, chef Gordon Ramsay, and actor James Nesbitt.

The article identifies Mexico, Turkey, India and Sweden as some of the most popular destinations for transplant travellers.

“While regulation is strict in the UK and clinics must register with the NHS and care home watchdog, the Care Quality Commission, it may be more lax overseas.

Last week it was reported a man at a private clinic in Mumbai, India had died after a 12-hour hair transplant operation.

The 43-year-old had paid 500,000 rupees (£5,400) for the hair transplant and is believed to have died of an allergic reaction, though this hasn’t been confirmed.

Speaking of less serious but still concerning complications, Dr. Meija added: ‘Patients are the ones that suffer when they realize too late who carried out their surgery.

‘[They] end up with botched complications and scars, and hairlines that are not normal and are disfiguring.’

The US-based ISHRS has launched a ‘Black Market Awareness’ campaign to try and stop these rogue operators, many of whom are in Turkey.”

In short, botched hair transplant procedures are both dangerous and damaging. It’s recommended that individuals who are considering surgical hair restoration only visit certified and licensed establishments.

Prime Hair Clinic is home to two experienced doctors, capable of performing skilled and successful transplant surgeries. Book an appointment with Prime today. Call us at (403) 259-6798.

If you are like most men who are ready for a hair transplant, then inevitably the question comes up: Which type of surgery is better for me? This dilemma is not a decision to be glossed over as there are essential individual factors which can make a substantial difference in tipping the scales towards one versus the other. You must educate yourself on both the pros and cons of each procedure and talk to a skilled hair transplant surgeon with experience in both techniques in order to make an informed decision on which is best for you to have the best outcome.

What is FUT?

FUT stands for Follicular Unit Transplantation and involves surgically removing a strip of skin from the back of the scalp. The skin edges are closed with sutures or staples leaving a thin horizontal scar which can be concealed by wearing the hair at a reasonable length in the back. Pre-operatively hair is typically left long in the back so that the sutures or staples won’t be visible after surgery. The current gold standard of FUT surgery would then involve cutting up the strip of skin under microscopes into individual follicular units of between 1-3 hairs each. These grafts would then be placed one by one into small incisions made in the recipient area.

What is FUE?

FUE stands for Follicular Unit Excision (formerly extraction) and involves harvesting individual follicular units/grafts from the scalp using punches. Punches come in many shapes and sizes. Some are handheld and manual, others are handheld and motorized, and others are robotic. It is important to note that they all involve cutting the skin and will all leave scars, despite some misleading advertising claims. The scar formed by FUE is different than that of FUT. FUE will leave numerous small circular scars instead of a linear scar. Traditionally the preparation of the scalp for FUE involves shaving the hair very short though certain physicians are utilizing long hair FUE. Once the grafts are excised from the skin, they are then placed one by one into small incisions made in the recipient area.

Additional Factors to Consider

How old are you? Remember that balding is progressive! If you are in your 20’s and have a hair transplant, then you can almost guarantee the need for another surgery in the future. Preserving the donor area is very important in a young man’s case. Overharvesting of the donor area with FUE can be an issue. If you take too much, the back of the scalp may thin out considerably leaving a moth-eaten look. Donor management with FUT is a different calculation. Often FUT as an initial surgery may be advisable if total lifetime graft needs will be significant and multiple surgeries will be needed. As individuals age, it’s easier to predict the extent of balding that you will have which makes for a more precise calculation of the number of donor grafts needed long term. With this knowledge, it’s easier to decide between FUE and FUT, or in some cases how to time the combination of both methods.

How bald are you? This question is essential. A man who is low on the Norwood scale, i.e. not too bald, and not likely to until considerably into the future, has many good options. A man with advanced baldness, i.e. Norwood class v-vii will require a lot of hair. There is only so much donor hair from the back of the scalp to go around! Let’s talk for a moment about the Safe Donor Area. For reasons not fully understood, there is hair on virtually everyone’s scalp that is resistant to the balding process and is likely to grow for the rest of your life. These hairs generally reside in a narrow segment around the sides and back of the head. Harvesting from this safe donor region means the transplanted hairs will likely grow forever. Large FUE sessions invariably involve harvesting hair from outside of that safe donor area. Again, for advanced baldness, to maximize the number of grafts available you may need a combination of FUT and FUE spaced out over the years and may even need to consider donor body hair.

What is your future hairstyle going to be? With a hair transplant, sometimes compromises have to be made. Are you ok with having the hair a little longer in the back? Then you could be a candidate for FUT. Are you going to wear your hair very short? Then you could be a candidate for FUE.

The Pros and Cons

FUE has its advantages for those who want a very short hairstyle in the back; this is because the small circular scars produced by FUE (if not overharvested) will be less noticeable to the eye than a linear scar produced by FUT when the hair is very short. FUE also does not involve any sutures or staples that must be removed in the days following surgery. Though it is in many ways just as invasive as the FUT procedure, because the skin is not tightened, some report less discomfort the night after the surgery.

FUE disadvantages include a higher transection rate meaning hair is damaged and must be discarded, wasting those potential donor grafts. FUE necessitates smaller session sizes and overall less capacity for harvesting safe donor hair from the scalp. Hair is likely to be taken from higher risk areas of the scalp, so your transplant may not be permanent. Costs may be higher. Most likely you will need to shave the entire scalp for FUE.

FUT has advantages in that we can harvest more safe donor hair. The grafts are better quality with less risk of damage when manipulating them. The transection rate is very low, so very few grafts will be discarded. The hair can be kept long in the back concealing the suture line leaving no noticeable evidence of the hair restoration surgery.

FUT disadvantages are that the hair has to be worn at least a centimetre or two in length in the back to cover up the linear scar formed after surgery. FUT also involves stitches or staples that will need to be removed. Sometimes patients report some discomfort initially due to increased tightness in the back of the scalp.

It’s likely that you’ve heard of PRP, or platelet rich plasma, as a medical aesthetic treatment, but did you know it’s also effective for hair restoration? If surgical hair restoration intimidates you or doesn’t seem like a viable option, you may want to consider PRP from a Calgary hair clinic.

How Does PRP Work?

Platelet-rich plasma involves the injection of your own concentrated blood to stimulate hair growth. During the procedure, your blood is collected and then spun in a centrifuge to separate the red blood cells from the platelet rich plasma and the low platelet plasma. The platelet rich plasma is injected back into the scalp at the areas where hair loss has begun to occur. The growth factors in the blood have been proven to assist in the generation of new hair growth. PRP treatments in Calgary may also be used to improve the thickness, strength, and density of your existing hair.

What Are the Benefits of PRP?

One of the benefits of PRP is that there is virtually no downtime between the treatment and the return to your normal activities; you can resume showering, shampooing, and regular exercise the same day. The non-surgical hair restoration treatment is also rather quick; PRP generally takes only an hour from start to finish. In terms of hair growth, PRP treatments are quite useful, and significant hair growth is visible starting six months after the procedure.

What are the Alternatives to PRP?

PRP is a non-surgical hair restoration treatment, but it is not the only alternative to procedures like follicular unit extraction and follicular unit transplantation. Most people are aware of topical medications like Rogaine, but there are also other treatments that can make a significant difference during the early signs of hair loss. Finasteride, or Propecia, is an oral drug that some experts consider to be the best-kept secret of hair restoration. There are few side effects to the medication, and the results tend to be outstanding.

If you’re interested in non-surgical hair restoration, talk a medical doctor at a Calgary hair clinic about PRP and other non-invasive treatments.

Prime Hair Clinic offers services to help you get back on track. Our world-class surgical techniques set us apart and our honest, caring, and experienced staff can help you look and feel your best. For all hair restoration services including PRP therapy, scalp micropigmentation, surgical hair transplants , trust Prime Hair Clinic. Contact us by phone at (403) 259-6798 or by email at info@primehair.ca.

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