As more men look into cosmetic procedures, such as FUE hair transplants, some people are asking why. The reasoning for these procedures often comes down confidence. More men are heading to cosmetic procedure clinics so they can address what they see as flaws and imperfections. Additionally, just like women, they want to reverse changes that come from aging.
Addressing the Onset of Baldness
One reason for cosmetic procedures is to combat the onset of baldness. More men than ever before are looking into FUE hair transplants so they can retain a younger, more attractive look.
This isn’t really a new trend, though. Trying to offset baldness goes back to the 1940s when Japanese doctors grafted hair follicles onto the brows and lashes of people who had suffered injuries during World War II.
Despite this historical precedent, it took nearly 20 years for the same techniques to reach the U.S. Cosmetic surgery research during that time resulted in a procedure to address early onset male pattern baldness. Since then, that procedure has become increasingly popular.
The Two Types of Hair Loss Solution Procedures
Two types of procedures can solve hair loss: Follicular Unit Extraction and Follicular Unit Transplantation. The FUE hair transplant is the more popular option. This is because it leads to less scarring when the hairs are removed and put somewhere else. However, many surgeons, still prefer to use FUT. This procedure is done by removing a strip of skin from the back of the head and harvesting as many individual hair follicles as needed. They are then placed in the desired areas. While it is more effective, the aftercare can be harder to handle.
Hair Loss and the Associated Stigmas
There has almost always been a stigma related to men who begin losing their hair when they’re still young. The idea of going naturally bald has been treated like something to fear. Men have been ridiculed for it over and over. On the other hand, men who experience baldness and try do something about it — such as FUE hair transplants — sometimes receive criticism for their perceived vanity.
Encouraging Personal Choice
According to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, nearly 80,000 procedures that relate to hair restoration were completed in 2016 in Europe alone. That’s a huge increase from the 29,800 procedures from only a decade before. The constant? 85 percent of these patients were men.
Men undergo many other types of procedures to regain their confidence and their youthful looks. Some of these include breast reductions, tummy tucks, and liposuction. No matter what men decide to do when it comes to cosmetic procedures, it’s important to remember that it’s a very personal decision and one that probably doesn’t come easy.
Therefore, it is important that we as a society stop ridiculing men for their choices. If they decide to embrace their aging issues, including balding, then that’s fine. If they decide to partake in a procedure to reverse these problems, well, that’s fine, too.
