Should I shave my head or get another hair transplant? This is the question

I never thought I would be the type of person to get a hair transplant. While I wasn’t vain enough to think I’d fully escape the trappings of a midlife crisis, I thought it would manifest as an obsession with high-tech stereo equipment or Japanese jeans. At worst, I’d buy a synth or start learning jiu-jitsu. The The idea of ​​cosmetic surgery always seemed a little desperate.

Still, looking at the family’s hairline – bald spots for the lucky men, chrome dome for the rest – was like looking at the ghost of Christmas future. I was haunted by the idea that one day my head would be as soft as a newborn, sadly resigned to the reality that north of 30, I would need to go full Bruce Willis. Embracing the idea was harder than I imagined. As a crown of skin appeared in the middle of my head in my 20s, I began experimenting with dyes and rollers. When my temples receded, I started wearing a beanie indoors. Looking in the mirror I was equally ashamed of my thinning hair and how much it bothered me.

When the option for a transplant came up last year – a procedure from an Instagram-famous clinic offered in exchange for press and social media coverage – I decided to pull the trigger, as the threat of being creepy outweighed the threat of a bald 35 .

After a 10-hour flight to Istanbul, I found myself lying face down on a surgical bed, farther from home than I had ever been in my life. A comically sized needle was inserted into the back of my head for numbness, the worst pain I had ever voluntarily endured in my life. And over the course of the next seven hours we tried to turn the clock back in my head.

I’m not the only one who has gone down this route. Celebrities like Elton John got new hair. A-listers such as Harry Styles and David Beckham are also thought to have gone under the knife.

According to a recent American study, the processes are complete 16 percent Recent years. This is partly due to improved techniques. In the 90s, FUT (follicular unit hair transplant) procedures. they cut a large strip from the back or side of the head to collect transplant hair. The science was imprecise, painting with a roller instead of a brush, leaving mixed results and nasty scars.

Newer FUE (follicular unit extraction) transplants take individual hair follicles from the back of the donor area and move them to the front. This creates a more natural look and minimally noticeable scarring. For those who take the leap, the results can be game-changing.

“My confidence went through the roof. It affected my self-esteem enormously,” she said Chukwunonso Ezekweche, Toronto-based pharmacist and influencer. Ezekweeche had a beard transplant late last year, filling in patches of his jawline that he thought were patchy. The boosted confidence led to leaps forward in his social life and even his career.

“It helped lead to brand deals through my Instagram. It helped me make money. Helps with friends. Having a full beard really changed my life.”

But these changes don’t come cheap. Depending on the clinic and doctor, procedures can range between $5,000 and $15,000. Some high-end clinics may cost even more. Those looking for a cheaper alternative may turn to medical tourism. Online you can find reviews of dozens of clinics around the world, with each post finding the sweet spot of quality care and affordability.

A popular destination is Turkey. But according to his Dr. Zafer Cetinkaya EsteNovea clinic in Istanbul, practitioners trying to earn as much money as possible has led to a questionable reputation for the area.

“When someone comes to our clinic, I see them as a patient, not as money. We do not accept anyone who would not be suitable for a hair transplant, people over 65 or with heart problems. People who may not have suitable donor sites. We want to create reasonable expectations, but some clinics are just looking for a payday.”

Some clinics in North America and abroad overpromise. The goal of the procedure is usually to make you look younger, but will the hairline be appropriate for your current age? What happens when you get old? Unlike your regular bricks, transplanted hair will not fall out over time. This means that if you continue to lose your natural hair with age, it could result in a patchy appearance that is less than desirable. The best doctors will help you design a hairline that will look natural and serve you in the long run.

“People see some before-and-afters on TikTok and immediately assume that’s the kind of surgery they want,” he said. Dr. Gary Linkoff, a renowned plastic surgeon in New York specializing in hair restoration. “But patients don’t necessarily know what’s best. It’s important for doctors to be able to set boundaries and help educate clients for the best results.”

On on his social channels Linkov describes what successful and less successful transplants look like, educating viewers on what to look for and even what people can do outside of the operating room.

“Whenever I have a patient come in for a consultation, the conversation is about more than just surgery. You want to look at the bigger picture. Why do people lose hair? Do they do any medical treatment for hair loss? What is the family history? People should not jump straight into surgery without exploring other options.”

I am about a year removed from my own hair transplant. Although I thought the surgery would mean the end of my hair worries, that was not the case. Today, instead of worrying about hair loss, I worry about whether the hairline I draw for myself actually fits my facial frame. I look at my new hair, examining everything carefully in the mirror. Friends assure me it looks great, this one I look years younger.

I’m not so sure. If you’re prone to insecurities about your appearance, one strange thing is that changes don’t always fix those insecurities. The search for a surgical solution can also be slippery.

Lately I’ve been thinking about getting a second transplant to make adjustments to the things I’m still not happy with and cover the areas that are still noticeably thin. But I also thought that maybe a better solution is to finally embrace the fully shaved look more appropriate for my age. Despite efforts to fight it, there is no escaping time.