FUE Hair Transplants Vs. The Other Common Hair Loss Solutions

Men hate talking about their hair loss. There is a tacit fear that speaking its name will give it more power. Talking about it might cause you to lose your hair faster.

Interestingly enough, the average man will lose anywhere from 50 to 100 hairs every single day and that’s perfectly normal. We barely even notice until we clean our keyboards or wear something black. But when the drain in the shower starts to be a collector, it could be time to find a plastic surgery clinic in Toronto that does hair transplantation procedures.

You may not go for a procedure right away. You may experiment with creams, or shampoos, or pills. But, most of our customers get fed up with those half-measures or rip-offs and start debating the FUE vs FUT transplant procedures.

This blog will take a deep dive into the FUT vs FUE hair transplant debate, while also examining some of the most popular hair loss treatments on the market today.

FUT vs. FUE Transplants

We might as well start here for obvious reasons. These are the two most popular hair transplant types on the marketplace today and they’re often compared to each other.

What is the difference?

A Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) hair transplant uses robotic (Artas) and automated (NeoGraft) micro-rotatory punches to harvest the hair follicles on the back of your scalp, and then implant them onto the bald areas. The procedure is painless and leaves no scarring at all.

On the other hand, a Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT) would transfer a strip of hair-bearing skin from the back of the head to the areas where you want to add volume.

Which is better? A case can be made for either in certain situations. You should talk to your doctor or surgeon about your goals.

FUT vs. FUE Transplants: The Verdict

A lot of people may go with the FUT because the survival rate of follicular units is 86%, as opposed to FUE’s 61.4% survival rate. However, that number is far from the only thing to consider.

First of all, do you like to wear your hair long or short? If you like to wear it short, the FUE is probably the better choice, because you will want to avoid the possibility of a linear scar being visible.

But if you’re looking for a higher number of grafts, you will probably be better off with a FUT because of a higher yield of hair.

Once again, you should talk to your doctor before making any big decisions.

FUE Hair Transplants vs. Rogaine

Besides other hair transplant procedures, Rogaine is the thing that our customers ask the most about.

Rogaine has dominated the hair loss product market for over a decade, and it’s available at nearly any drug store or pharmacy aisle. And there is an army of men who will line up to testify to its effectiveness.

Does Rogaine work? Yes and no. As some of the men who talk candidly about it at the gym or at work will tell you, you can see an appreciable difference. But that comes with a lot of other ‘buts.’

First of all, it can take 4 months (or longer) for you to see any results from Rogaine. So, if it’s not going to work for you, you just waited a third of a year to find out you wasted your time and money. That can really sting. Also, keep in mind that you will not suddenly wake up to a full mane of hair on Day 120. It will be a gradual build.

The second problem is that it is not really a great solution for male pattern baldness and hair that is receding from the front of the scalp. To be fair, they don’t claim it is. If you pick up the box and look at it, it shows you exactly where it works: The top and crown of the head. Anything beyond that, it’s not going to help you.

The third problem that you may run into is the list of side effects. While Rogaine’s side effects are fairly rare, some of them are very serious.

There have been some anecdotal accounts of Rogaine causing erectile difficulties and other performance issues, but there are no clinical studies to back that up.

However, some of the known side effects could include:

•   Scalp irritation or sensitivity
•   Chest pain and/or irregular heartbeats
•   Dizziness or confusion
•   Headache or light-headedness
•   Rapid weight gain
•   Swelling in the hands and feet
•   Increased facial hair growth

The fourth and final issue is the one that most often causes men to consider a FUE hair transplant in Toronto after a few years. Rogaine is only as good as your dedication to using it. If you stop using it, you will lose hair.

There have been other accounts of some men noticing that Rogaine seems less effective as time goes on. They seemingly develop an immunity to it. So they stop wasting their time and money on something with diminishing returns.

This leads them to consider more permanent and effective solutions. They probably start debating FUE vs FUT transplants.

FUE Hair Transplants vs. Rogaine: The Verdict

Rogaine has a very well-known name and it can work well in some situations.

However, it’s important to remember that off-the-shelf solutions will always have a shelf-life. Rogaine will only work for as long as you’re religiously taking it. And the results could start to fade over time.

At the same time, it’s only designed to work on the top and crown of your head. It doesn’t work on receding hairlines.

So, the FUE hair transplant is often the better long-term (and permanent) solution.

FUE Hair Transplants vs. Hair Loss Vitamins

You may have heard anecdotal evidence, or seen an Instagram ad, all about how effective certain vitamins can be in fighting hair loss.

Vitamins like:

•   Biotin
•   Folic acid
•   Vitamin D
•   Vitamin A
•   Vitamin C
•   Vitamin E

In the previous section, we discussed how Rogaine can work in some situations. On the other hand, vitamins can essentially only help in one situation: You’re deficient in that particular vitamin.

Let’s say you’re deficient in Vitamin D. This can cause some hair loss. Topping up your body’s supply of that vitamin can help. However, if you’re deficient in Vitamin D, you’re probably dealing with a host of other problems like cramping, bone pain, irritability, or fatigue. Hair loss may be the least of your problems. So, you probably should have been taking that vitamin supplement anyways.

Beyond that, there is very simple science that disproves the effectiveness of vitamins to cure baldness. Simply put, your body absorbs all of the vitamins it needs, and no more. It will not store extra vitamins the way your body stores calories as fat. If your body already has enough Vitamin D, you’re simply just going to pee the rest out.

FUE Hair Transplants vs. Hair Loss Vitamins: The Verdict

It’s no contest. If you’re already getting enough vitamins, there is no point in taking these at all… Unless you enjoy the chewable taste.

A FUE Hair Transplant vs. Hair loss, Thickening, or Volumizing Shampoo

When you’re going bald, washing your hair can be an unnerving process. Each wash may leave you with a little bit less hair than when you entered the shower. It can be an awful and hateful experience.

This can lead you to stroll the hair loss shampoo section and browse all manner of thickeners/ volumizers and wonder if any of these actually work. Do they? They can, in some situations.

First of all, if your hair loss is due to inflammation on your scalp from a condition such as dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis) or psoriasis, certain medicated hair loss shampoos can help the swelling and inflammation, possibly causing your hair to grow back. At the same time, if you’re suffering from androgenic alopecia, a shampoo containing ketoconazole could show you some good results.

If you’re not suffering from those conditions, these shampoos will be no help.

Now, on the other hand, volume and thickness adding shampoos use a different approach. No, they don’t somehow stimulate the follicles to cause your hair to grow back. If that actually existed, there would be no other hair loss solutions on the market.

These shampoos make your hair appear to be fuller, by making sure it’s not weighed down by all of the hefty ingredients found in most standard off-the-shelf shampoos.

A volumizing shampoo could make your hair appear thicker by using lightweight ingredients, because flat hair looks thin. At the same time, thickening shampoos target the surface of each strand of hair, instead of the roots. Some have been known to use protein and collagen to strengthen and thicken each strand. Or they may add biotin or palmetto that could help bolster the strands.

A FUE Hair Transplant vs. Hair loss, Thickening, Volumizing Shampoo: The Verdict

If you have psoriasis, androgenic alopecia, or dandruff, a medicated shampoo will do a lot of good. It can probably help the hair loss, as well as the flaking and itching. However, you should see a doctor either way.

On the other hand, volume and thickness adding shampoos are probably better for your hair than most average shampoos. They will leave less behind and make it look like you have more volume. They cannot actually add more hair. That’s not possible from a shampoo.

However, if you went with a FUE hair transplant, our team can expertly graft more hair to the areas you are looking to thicken. It will not simply look like you have more hair there—you actually will!

Dr. Tom Bell is widely known as one of Canada’s elite plastic surgeons, and he is the former president of the Canadian Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

FUE Transplants vs. Hair Loss Helmets

Hair loss helmets are most likely the least viable and impactful solution we’re going to explore today, which is why we saved them for last.

You may have seen these advertised on television or in a Facebook ad. Most of them make big promises about low-level laser therapy and claim they can help both men and women grow their hair back.

Yes, our post-op program after a hair transplant does include light therapy (and nutrient shampoos) to help you get the best possible results. However, there is a big difference between light therapy to help a hair transplant and light therapy instead of a hair transplant.

Just read the online reviews and you will get an unfiltered account of how disappointed the buyers are. Some people even complain of severe headaches.

It’s also important to know that some of these products claim to be FDA-cleared. But that is a bit deceptive because there is a big difference between FDA-cleared and FDA-approved.

FDA-Approved: The product must be shown in studies to be effective

FDA-Cleared: The product only has to be “substantially equivalent to another (similar) legally marketed device” that already has FDA clearance or approval

FDA approval is harder to get, so these companies can sometimes try to fool people into thinking they’re approved.

FUE Transplants vs. Hair Loss Helmets: The Verdict

Save your money. Avoid these helmets completely.

Get the Most Effective Hair Treatment on the Marketplace

If you’re tired of putting time and money into over-the-counter products that don’t work, let us show you something that does.

Stop struggling with over-marketed hair loss solutions that under-deliver. Try something that actually works! You can start right now by clicking the Schedule a Consultation button at the top of the screen, or by calling 647-723-3739 today.