Micrograft Stem Cell Hair Transplants vs. Surgical Hair Transplants – which is best for you?

According to dermatologists in the UK and US, there has been an upsurge in patients reporting excessive hair shedding since the pandemic hit its peak.

There are several different types of hair loss, most commonly androgenic alopecia, better known as male pattern baldness and female pattern baldness. For men, this is usually caused by genetics and is linked to the production of DHT and testosterone. It’s typically characterised by recession at the temples (widow’s peak) and thinning at the crown. The fact is you’re far from alone, 6.5 million men and just as many women experience some form of hair loss so it is fortunate that there are things that can be done to halt and even reverse the process.

One of the biggest conundrums faced by people with hair loss are the number of potions and treatments on the market – or in development – all promising a miracle cure. Meanwhile the surgical hair transplant industry has exploded over the last 10 – 15 years, with techniques greatly improved since the 1980s and 1990s, and many celebrities, from Robbie Williams to Wayne Rooney, confessing to having procedures done. They have become a popular and effective solution, however, despite some great results, transplants don’t yield the same hair density that you may once had, and don't account for future hair loss, meaning that the surgical procedure may need to be undertaken multiple times.

Micro-grafting is a revolutionary new treatment for hereditary hair loss. It is actually quite different from a surgical hair transplant and is, in fact, a non-surgical procedure. It uses the body’s own tissue to improve hair density and trigger new growth. It has already been successful in countries such as Singapore, and Vie Aesthetics is the first clinic in the UK to introduce this treatment, which is recommended if you’re suffering from early, mild and moderate forms of hair loss.

In the first part of the procedure a doctor takes a small piece of tissue from an area on your scalp where the hair is still dense and not affected by baldness. A local anaesthetic is injected prior to the procedure and the process is quick and relatively pain-free. From this tissue sample, the doctor harvests regenerative stem cells from your own hair, which are then mixed in a solution and skilfully injected into your scalp where the thinning is occurring. This activates follicles which are nearing the end-phase of their life to become healthy, and over time, capable of producing denser, thicker and stronger hair. Studies have shown improvements in hair count and scalp coverage can begin to take place after just one month.

Unlike hair transplants, VieStem Hair Micro-Transplants with micro-grafting has zero downtime and you can return to your daily activities straight away. The technique is a one-off-session, and is safe and completely natural and takes 30 minutes. Results are long-lasting and the procedure can be repeated around every two years (or longer) depending on your own needs.

So, what are the benefits of Micrograft Stem Cell Hair-Transplants compared with Surgical Hair Transplants – and which is best for you?

Advantages of a surgical hair transplant:

• Guaranteed permanent results
• Excellent results can be achieved, both in terms of density and coverage
• The only realistic solution for restoring progressed hair loss
• Work for everyone with natural results

Drawbacks of surgical hair transplants

• A life-time commitment - you may need further surgeries
• Expensive
• Painful and tough, and lots of downtime needed
• Can cause scarring

Advantages of VieStem Hair with Micro-Grafting

• Ideal for patients in the early stages of hair loss and can help grow new hair

• 100% natural -uses cells or tissue from the individual’s own body
• No downtime involved, and treatments take less than 30 minutes
• Patients don’t need to shave down their recipient areas
• Can be used in conjunction with surgical hair transplant procedures
• Results are permanent
• Minimal scarring from the area in which the tissue sample is taken. This is unlike a surgical hair transplant

Drawbacks of VieStem Hair with Micro-Grafting

• Unsuitable for patients with advanced hair loss
• As with all hair loss treatments, results can vary between individuals
• Repeat procedures will likely be required every 18 months to six years

Generally speaking, if you are in the early to middle stages of Male or Female Pattern Baldness, and your hair loss is mild to moderate, then micro-grafting is an exciting option for not only maintaining what hair you already have, but for also potentially thickening existing hair and even growing some new hair. In these instances, it may prevent you ever needing to consider a hair transplant in the future. Micro-grafting is also an alternative to taking approved hair loss medications such as Minoxidil and Finasteride (known by its brand name Propecia). There is also virtually no risk of side-effects with Stem Cell Micro-Transplants.