Spring is typically the time for new beginnings. However, spring 2020 was anything but typical. Many plans had to be put on hold, or canceled entirely due to the spread of COVID-19. If you were considering a hair transplant earlier this year, the suspension of elective surgical procedures necessitated a delay in taking action. If you had not fully committed to scheduling a consultation with a hair restoration surgeon to learn your options, you’ve had a longer opportunity to think about it. Now that our Port Orange surgical center has reopened, the wait is over! Should you still be hesitant, here are some questions to ask yourself about how hair loss is affecting your self-esteem and other areas of your life.

 

How do you feel about yourself when you look in the mirror?

Do you feel older and less self-confident? The desire to regain a fuller head of hair and a more youthful hairline should not be considered vanity. You don’t want to look like a movie star – you just want to be able to recognize yourself as you see yourself. While well-meaning family members and friends may tell you that your self-esteem shouldn’t depend upon your physical appearance, it is human nature to feel better about yourself when you’re satisfied with the way you present yourself to the world. And that feeling can have a truly powerful effect.

As a great example that we like to share, Dr. Marco Barusco – Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Tempus Hair Restoration – was honored to receive a testimonial from a patient who described himself as plunging into a deep depression after his divorce. Deciding to have a hair transplant turned out to be the first step in his journey to improving his physical and psychological health. Inspired by the results of his transplant, the patient soon after joined a gym and lost a significant amount of weight. His success in this area then led him to undergo some cosmetic surgical procedures. Through these positive changes, he transformed himself into a healthy, fit, confident man who today is living his best life!

 

Do you feel that your hair loss is preventing you from getting a job or promotion – or getting back in the dating scene?

It may not be your imagination. Our blog post – “Does Hair Loss Hurt Your Career?” – referenced surveys and studies concluding that balding men are at a disadvantage during a job search or climbing the corporate ladder. According to Hiscock’s 2019 Ageism in the Workplace Study, more men than women feel that their advancing age has adversely impacted their careers – with 43% of men surveyed believing their age has prevented them from finding a new job.

The blog post was published before the pandemic. Because of the resulting societal changes, many job interviews are now conducted virtually, which can create an even more adverse situation for men experiencing hair loss.

While our blog post emphasized the effect of hair loss on men in professional-level jobs, the effect on those who make their living in the public eye can have especially devastating effects. English actor Jack P. Shepherd – star of the long-running daytime drama Coronation Street – recently discussed his two hair transplant surgeries, admitting that his hair loss had taken a toll on his mental health to the point that he almost quit the show. Now sporting a full head of hair again, the 32-year-old actor plans to enjoy many more years in front of the camera.

As for dating, the scene had been rapidly changing pre-pandemic. Dating apps have largely replaced in-person opportunities for meeting people, which means that a profile photo or video is all a prospective romantic prospect has to go by. Again, like it or not, appearances count, and you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression before someone scrolling through a dating app swipes left.

However, “appearances” can consist of a combination of positive traits that can shine through a photo: warm, twinkling eyes, self-confidence (that word again), inner-strength and kindness are all attractive qualities. If you’re apprehensive about being passed up because of a sparse head of hair, you’re not likely to project a high level of confidence in a photograph – or on an actual date.

 

Won’t people know I’ve had a hair transplant? Will it look odd right after surgery?

This is the time to weigh long-term benefits over short-term self-consciousness and inconvenience. However, some advanced procedures offer immediate concealment of donor areas of the scalp, as well as maximum coverage of large bald areas in one surgery.

For those who are good candidates, the advanced No-Shave FUE procedure pioneered by Dr. Barusco allows hair to be harvested from the donor site without having to shave your existing hair. The typical FUE (Follicular Unit Excision) procedure requires you to have your donor hair shaved, so everyone knows you had treatment unless you take off an extended period of time to let the shaved patches regrow.

Dr. Barusco developed the groundbreaking No-Shave FUE to eliminate this problem. It has become so popular that patients fly in from all over the world for this innovative procedure.

Dr. Barusco is also known for the combined FUE and FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) technique, which is designed to treat advanced hair loss during a single surgery as opposed to several with a one-year waiting period between – as is typical. This procedure allows patients to achieve their ultimate goal in less time, with one procedure versus many.

Even the traditional FUT – otherwise known as the “strip” method – has undergone advances to the closure methods and the healing of the donor incision. In most cases, the resulting linear scar from a strip hair transplant surgery is small and thin, with the patient being able to cover it well without having to grow their hair very long. A haircut with # 3 or # 4 clippers on the back and sides of the head usually completely conceals the donor scar.

In the popular FUE procedure, hair follicles are individually extracted from the back and side of the patient’s head and individually transplanted to the recipient area. Although some hair restoration practices emphasize the FUE and try to steer patients away from the FUT, the FUE technique is not appropriate for everyone.

However, because each person experiencing hair loss has numerous factors that need to be considered – such as the cause of hair loss (genetic, scarring, medication, etc.), extent and area of hair loss, and medical history, among others – getting a hair transplant isn’t the same as ordering a meal from a menu. A consultation with a surgeon specializing in hair restoration will give the surgeon the information that he or she needs to make a diagnosis and determine the best procedure for your individual hair loss.

This is also the time to discuss with the surgeon how much (if any) downtime post-surgery recovery will require, how much (if any) areas of your scalp will show visible evidence of the procedure and when you can expect new growth.

Again, depending upon the procedure, others may be able to tell that you’ve undergone hair restoration surgery. But this should not be reason for embarrassment. Cosmetic procedures – both surgical and minimally invasive – are widely accepted in today’s society. In fact, you may be surprised by the support you’ll receive from those who admire you for taking this important step! You could even inspire your family and friends who have been considering a hair transplant to follow your lead.

 

Isn’t a hair transplant expensive?

Our blog post – “Busting Common Hair Transplant Myths” – covers this question in detail. We highly recommend you read the entire article, as there is a good deal of misinformation and deceptive marketing claims by some practices.

Unlike many other hair restoration practices and clinics, Tempus Hair Restoration does not have set-fee procedures or pricing per number of hair grafts. Our approach is to treat each client as an individual, taking into account such factors as the following:

• Your specific type of hair loss
• Amount of current and projected hair loss
• Complexity of procedure
• Ethnic background (which affects hair texture and growth patterns)
• Medical history/pre-existing conditions
• Desired aesthetic result
• Additional relevant circumstances, depending upon your individual situation

Once Dr. Barusco has made a diagnosis and treatment plan, our patient educator will discuss next steps, including pricing and financing options. We offer qualified clients third-party 12-month interest-free financing — as well as low-interest 60-month financing. A hair restoration procedure by world-renowned surgeon Dr. Barusco can be within reach.

 

It isn’t too late to make the most of 2020!

Let’s face it – 2020 isn’t likely to be remembered as anyone’s favorite year. But if a hair transplant has been on your mind, you can greet 2021 with a new growth of hair on your head! If you remember the optimism you rang in this year with, it is still possible to make a positive change that will give you the sense of achievement you anticipated.

So what are you waiting for? Spring into action now! Contact us to schedule your free virtual consultation. Dr. Barusco conducts every consultation himself, giving you the opportunity to learn your options in the comfort of your home – or any location, on any internet-enabled device. 

Dr. Barusco conducts consultations in English, Spanish and Portuguese. For your greater convenience, Tempus Hair Restoration offers a two-night complimentary hotel stay to out-of-town clients who travel 100 miles or more. No matter how far the distance, we welcome the opportunity to help you on your hair restoration journey!