Hair Replacement vs. Restoration: Which is Better?

Hair loss is a condition that affects both men and women of any age. In fact, 40% of women have visible hair loss by the time they’re 40 years old. This issue can impact your scalp or the entire body and can be temporary or permanent. Additionally, it can be caused by hormonal changes, family history, medications, or hairstyles and treatments. 

The good news is that you can address hair loss with the proper treatment. That said, here’s all you need to know about hair replacement vs hair restoration:

Hair replacement

Hair replacement is a non-surgical hair loss solution that covers your head with new hair. For instance, you can get an implant of human hair that corresponds to the characteristics of your natural hair. 

Advantages

1. It has no risks of infection 

The primary advantage of hair replacement is that it’s non-invasive. You don’t need to go through surgical procedures. This means you won’t have to deal with surgical complications like infections.

2. It is cost effective

With hair replacement, you don’t need the help of a specialist or sophisticated instruments to restore your lost hair. You can do the procedure at a salon or a spa, which makes it affordable. 

3. It boasts immediate results 

Another significant advantage of hair replacement is that you get instant results. Usually, the process is fast and straightforward. 

4. It can be reversible

Unlike hair restoration, that’s permanent, hair replacement is temporary. So it allows you to have complete control of your hair. If you aren’t satisfied with the outcome of a replacement system you choose, you can always change it. 

5. It does not rely on donor’s hair

Generally, in hair restoration, you need donor hair. This involves moving hair follicles from other body parts to the bald area. If there aren’t sufficient donor hairs, the procedure may be impossible. 

On the other hand, hair replacement is independent of donor’s hair. Thus, you won’t need to worry about having enough donor hair follicles. 

Disadvantages

1. It requires regular maintenance and cleaning

You’ll need to have your hair replacement product sitting on your scalp often. For this reason, you must regularly clean and maintain it just as you’d do your natural hair to uphold its natural appearance and prolong its lifespan.

2. It calls for frequent haircuts

As time passes, hair in the unaffected parts of your head grows. You may need to cut it frequently to conform to your hair replacement system. 

3. Hair Restoration

Hair restoration or hair transplantation involves a variety of procedures that can lead to permanent hair growth. As mentioned earlier, it may include surgical approaches like moving hair from one part of the body to the bald area.  

Advantages

1. It gives you a natural look

Unlike hair replacement, where you use unnatural hair like wigs and weaving, this procedure uses your hair follicles to stimulate growth in the receding or balding areas. As a result, it offers a more natural look. 

2. It addresses the underlying source of the problem

One of the most fundamental advantages of hair restoration is that it addresses the root cause of hair loss. It stimulates long-term hair growth, giving you the reassurance that your hair will soon grow back.  

3. It provides a permanent solution

The outcome of hair restoration is long-lasting and permanent since it involves taking healthy hair from other body parts and transplanting it on the bald side. 

4. It can be personalized

Your doctor assesses the problem and comes up with a customized treatment that meets your needs. 

5. It requires little to no maintenance

While hair replacement entails frequent maintenance, hair restoration requires little to no maintenance. Since the solution is more natural, you won’t need special shampoos and chemicals to maintain your hair. 

Disadvantages

1. It can be costly

Hair restoration is quite expensive, costing between USD$4,000 and USD$15,000. The price may depend on various factors, like your surgeon’s experience, location, and the procedure you select. Sometimes, you may need to undergo more than one session, which leads to additional costs.  

2. It may cause infections 

The procedure may cause infections, but this problem rarely happens. Some factors that contribute to infections are improper hygiene, excessive crust formation, or underlying medical conditions.   

3. It involves long recovery periods

Since hair restoration is a surgical procedure, you may need time to heal before resuming your normal activities. It might take days or even weeks before you can return to work, and it’ll be months before new growth is visible. After six to nine months, people will usually notice 60% of new hair growth. 

Conclusion

Choosing the right treatment option is the first step to effective recovery. Depending on your needs and budget, you can go for either treatment. 

However, since both hair replacement and restoration have their own set of benefits and drawbacks, you need to weigh your options. Consult a doctor, so you can make the right decision for yourself.