Men with hair loss are often unsure about the advantages of hair transplants, and with good reason. This article offers a high level comparison of SMP vs hair plugs with some factors you may want to consider before making a decision on your hair loss treatment.
Hair transplants are expensive
Firstly there is the cost of hair transplants to consider - for a full head of hair plugs you could spend over $50,000 and still not achieve a completely natural look. Even smaller areas of hair transplant work normally cost $10,000 - $15,000 as many clinics have a 1000-plug minimum.Â
The SMP option: Your two sessions are likely to cost between $2,000 - $3,000 depending on how much hair loss you have, and what effect you want to achieve with SMP. You can book a free consult and quote now!
Hair loss doesn't stop after a hair transplant
Secondly, the hair loss doesn't just stop when you get hair plugs so even if you love the look of the hair transplant, the area behind or around it can continue thinning naturally, leading to an uneven look.
The SMP option: You can easily touch up new areas of hair loss at any stage.
Hair transplant medication (and possible side effects)
After a hair transplant men need to take an oral prescription medication to block their dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This is because although DHT is a powerful sex hormone (made from testosterone) that helps to build male body traits, and plays a role in supporting sex drive and sexual function - but DHT can also shrink hair follicles and lead to hair loss.
Normally men who have hair transplants are recommended to take Finasteride long-term to protect their remaining natural hair from ongoing thinning, and to maintain overall hair density. However, due to the lower hormone levels, Finasteride can sometimes cause sexual, psychological, and physical side effects. We've talked to clients who came to get SMP after hair transplant surgery, who say they lost their sex drive, muscle tone, or even became seriously depressed while taking Finasteride.
The SMP option: No medication.
Surgical vs non surgical hair loss treatment
Infection risk with hair transplants is very low in New Zealand (around 1%) but a hair transplant is still a surgical procedure and more invasive than scalp micropigmentation.
The SMP option: Your scalp recovers very quickly from the tiny tattoo dots and there is no risk of infection.
And here's the kicker.Â
Hair transplants are an amazing surgical option for hair loss, but when men get hair plugs to cover up hair loss, the effect is often not very natural. At Headline Inc we have a lot of clients who come to get SMP after a hair transplant has healed. We tattoo between the hair plugs as the SMP adds the appearance of thicker hair, which helps to make the hair plugs look more natural and the hair coverage more even.
In most cases, we think that SMP is a better choice than hair plugs for hair loss.
SMP is a simple non-surgical process, and costs a (helluva) lot less. The healing process is very fast, and no medication is required. Of course, this article is not intended as medical information and we recommend you seek professional advice before making any decision on hair transplant surgery.Â
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