Some people with hair loss problems can be unstable between hair transplantation and prosthetic hair options. In this article, we will examine the differences between hair transplantation and prosthetic hair, and we will give you detailed information about the one you should prefer.
Prosthetic hair is a wig that looks very much like real hair and it is produced from real human hair. It is attached to your hair with an apparatus similar to human skin. This apparatus does not prevent your own skin from breathing.
The best prosthetic hair is made of a material that is very similar to human hair or directly of human hair itself. A workplace that is professional in this business first analyses your hair and skin and then prepares the prosthetic hair to suit you. Provided that you do not stay in for too long, you can use your prosthetic hair as if it were your own natural hair in the sea and in the pool. But of course, you have to be careful about how long you use it for. Prosthesis hair can be used for a period of approximately 4 to 5 months and up to 1 year. This may vary depending on the quality of the hair produced and how you take care of it, but it is not possible to use it for more than a year. Although it can produce a very similar look to the real human hair, it is actually a very short-term solution.
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What Kind Of A Procedure is Hair Transplantation?
Hair transplantation is a medical procedure. During hair transplantation, hair follicles and grafts are collected from the back of your skull. These grafts are then planted by opening channels where the hair loss is intense. Channel opening, graft collection and all other details of this procedure should be carried out by experts and/or under their supervision. Hair follicle numbness, oedema or hair loss may occur. However, if you undergo this procedure in an institution that has fulfilled the necessary conditions, you will not experience such problems. The first hair that comes out will fall out intensively. After that, your hair will grow and appear bushier. It will look normal in time.
The procedure must be carried out in a certified, fully-equipped health centre or clinic with professional and specialised personnel. In order to avoid any problems and not take any risks, the first thing you need to do is to find a clinic that meets the hygiene requirements and obeys the rules of service in the field of healthcare.
What Are the Differences Between Hair Transplantation and Prosthetic Hair Treatment?
First, although the procedure itself is shorter and does not contain any risks, hair prosthesis is a very short-term solution. Prosthetic hair is specially produced from hair that is similar to natural human hair. However, it is for short-term use and it is not your own hair.
The first thing you should know about hair transplantation is that, if the procedure is performed successfully, your hair will grow very naturally, and it will look better in time. In other words, once this procedure is performed, you can pretty much welcome back your old bushy and natural hair. Depending on how many hair follicles can be collected and how many channels can be opened, it is determined how bushy your new hair will be. Although the procedure itself is generally completed in 1 day, it may take up to 6 months for your hair to recover itself due to reasons like the things to do post-procedure, loss of hair that comes out first, etc. So even if the hair transplantation is completed in a single day, it is a much longer process when you think overall.
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How Long Does It Take To Prepare The Prosthetic Hair?
For prosthetic hair treatment, you first go to a professional hair centre handling this procedure. The first stage is a short hair and skin analysis. Then, the length, colour, and intensity of your prosthesis are decided together with you. It is best when and if your prosthetic hair is custom-made. Thus, the result may be healthier and more natural-looking.
The preparation of your hair can be completed in approximately 1 week or 10 days. You can then use it the way you want. Although the preparation time is short and it seems more practical than hair transplantation, as you well know, it is more of a short-term solution in terms of usage.
Which One Is Better for A Natural Look?
In fact, if the prosthesis is prepared by an expert, considering the structure of your hair and skull, the result you get may be quite close to the look of your natural hair. However, it should be noted that the hair that will grow after the hair transplantation will all be yours. Your dead hair follicles will be revitalized, and your hair will grow just like your own hair. So, your lost hair will come out again. In this respect, hair transplantation is more advantageous in terms of a natural look.
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Which One Is Riskier?
If you’re getting a prosthetic hair treatment in an authorized centre, you should know that a special mixture that does not cause any harm to human health is used when sticking the hair onto your scalp. Prosthetic hair is a cosmetic solution compared to hair transplantation and it is temporary. If all materials used are selected from products that are not harmful to the skin, your skin may not be damaged for a long time. If it is custom-made for you, it looks very similar to natural human hair. You won’t have problems with taking a shower, going into the pool or going in the sauna.
However, if the materials used are not selected carefully, your skin does not breathe, and this can cause some skin problems. You may experience problems such as excessive sweating and feeling uncomfortable. Because hair transplantation is a procedure that takes longer and that is applied in deeper layers, it may sound a bit riskier. However, if the procedure is performed in a centre that is competent, fully equipped and fulfilling the necessary requirements, then the risks are very low. Moreover, the latest techniques developed have reduced these risks even further.
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Hair Transplantation or Prosthetic Hair?
As a result, the question you need to answer is “To what extent do I seek a long-term solution?”. Because there is a serious difference between prosthetic hair and hair transplantation. Hair transplantation, compared to prosthetic hair, is definitely a real solution. Prosthetic hair is, in brief, temporary. You should regularly take care of your prosthetic hair or you should get this care done in a professional centre. You should be very careful with the cosmetic products that you will use during these haircare sessions. Depending on the quality of your hair and how regular and good the care is given, the usage time may be longer. Only this way, you can use it for a long time. But whatever you do, your usage will not exceed 1 year.
On the other hand, you will definitely get real hair after hair transplantation and you will have the opportunity to use this hair for life. It becomes your real hair and looks much more natural. This is already a procedure for your hair to naturally regrow and for your hair follicles to get revitalized.
Finally, if we compare the costs, of course, the prosthetic hair is less costly. But it also has a certain cost depending on the quality of the hair to be prepared and the materials to be used, and the care to be given afterwards. The cost of prosthetic hair ranges between €500 – €1.000 and the cost of hair transplantation varies between €2.000 – €3.000.
When all features of hair transplantation and prosthetic hair are compared, hair transplantation appears as a more accurate solution in every sense since it is a more natural procedure and it has the advantage of a lifetime usage.