There are a number of reasons for hair loss in men, including medical conditions like hypothyroidism and anemia. The difference between this and male pattern baldness is that the latter is caused by genetics, and there’s very little one can do to stop it.
Male pattern baldness is a big talking point in the medical field, and much research has gone into the condition in recent years. Scientists now believe that a genetic disposition exists in certain men that causes higher than normal levels of the Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) androgen. Increased exposure to DHT can have the following effect on hair:
- Reduction of hair growth cycle, meaning that hair falls out faster, and takes longer to grow back
- Shrinking of hair follicles, resulting in hair becoming damaged and thin
There are no known cures for male pattern baldness, but the development of new medical techniques is allowing men to turn back the clock. The hair transplant is not a new concept, but the new, intelligent and virtually pain-free methods available are the main reasons for a sharp rise in its popularity.
It’s worth noting that hair loss isn’t specific to men, and female pattern baldness affects 1 in 3 women during their lifetime. Baldness in women is usually treated with medication such as minoxidil, which is designed to stimulate hair growth. Hair transplantation is possible, but the procedure relies on particular balding patterns which are more commonly found in men.
There are two main methods used in hair transplants; FUT (Follicular Unit Transplant) and FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction). Similar in ways, both involve harvesting hair follicles from a donor area and placing them into the recipient site. The key difference between the two is that the FUT technique requires a strip of skin be removed and transplanted, whereas FUE takes the follicles individually.
The technique used by the hair transplant surgeon will depend on the severity of the hair loss, but in the large majority of cases, FUE is preferred. This is because it provides the same result as FUT with a less invasive approach.
As highlighted in this report by Hair Transplant Turkey, over 65% of the world’s hair transplants are carried out in Turkey, approximately 1,600 per day. Affordability is the single biggest driving factor in this, with the procedure costing up to 75% less in Turkey than the USA. Because of this, Americans are now embarking in their thousands on medical tourism trips for the sole purpose of hair restoration.
Hair transplant patient numbers have risen in Turkey and throughout the world year-on-year for over a decade. Hair loss can be detrimental to confidence, and so can ultimately impact mental health. Therefore, candidates are opting to have the procedure for more reasons than just aesthetics, with many citing an overall better quality of life following surgery.
Coronavirus has put a stop to most non-essential travel, and so the medical tourism market in Turkey has really felt the effects of the pandemic. The large majority of patients visiting Turkey for transplants come from the USA and The UK, both of which face lengthy travel restrictions. Because of this, tourist numbers have dropped significantly in 2020 when compared to 2019, and clinics are finding it harder to survive without the majority of their market able to travel.
These specialist hair clinics in Turkey have made many adaptations to their services during the pandemic, including rigorous sanitization processes and online consultations. As someone looking to stay safe at specialist hair clinics, it’s important to take tests prior to appointments like the COVID 19 POCT test from SureScreen. The good news is that the Hairline Transplant Turkey report predicts that the market will make a full recovery. This is because it is very likely that those that wanted the procedure before Coronavirus hit, will still want it when it is all over.
