Hair Transplant: Will People Look Down On Me?
Q:
Hey Doctor Mohebi,
I was wondering, I’m thinking about getting a hair transplant, but I’m afraid of telling my future wife and female friends that I’ve had a hair restoration. I know men may not care that much, but if I’m dating someone and eventually I tell them I’ve gotten a hair transplant, I fear that they may get turned off.
I kind of look at it like plastic surgery. I know when I meet women who has undergone a nose job, I kind of feel strange about it and think maybe that person was not happy with their looks.
To be honest, it turns me off.
So, my question is: from your experience with patients, do they keep it a secret from others or do they not mind telling people?
A:
Today, we have capabilities we did not have 50 years ago. As a young soccer lover, I used to have the disadvantage of wearing glasses. It was very difficult for me to stay competitive in succer team without wearing my glasses. Every now and then, I use contact lenses to be able to put aside my glasses. I am planning to get a LASIK procedure for that as well.
If I undergo a LASIK procedure, does it make me an insecure person. Not at all. I call it using all your resources to look your best.
We do have technology that we did not have 10 years ago. I say: why not use it? A lot of people are doing it, and nobody cares if these peoples’ hair is native hair or transplanted. The point: they are not bald any more and they can be as competitive as their non bald rivals in life.
One time, I met a very beautiful woman at a party and I ended up having a conversation with her. When I told her I do hair transplants, she told me a story about someone who proposed to her and she rejected him. She said the man was bald. But I’m not saying because he was bald that he got rejected, but because he did not do anything about it. I know the argument can be made that what the woman did is sad and superficial but, hey, looks do play a part in initial courtship, whether we would like to admit it or not. And it was her prerogative to make that decision.
My point is: Be yourself and do whatever makes your heart happy. No matter what you do with your life, there are going to be people who may not like it. It should not influence your decisions.
Tags: bald men, bald men and attraction, bald men and attractiveness, balding, balding and attractiveness, hair restoration, hair restoration surgery, hair transplant, hair transplants, insecure balding, insecure balding men, insecurity hair transplant
June 9th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
We posted this question “Hair Transplant: Will People Look Down On Me?” on Sermo, a physician social networking site in which doctors of different specialty ask questions from each other and share ideas (check it out if you are a doctor). Here is what we received from the other doctors in different specialties:
Posted Jan 20, 2010 at 4:16 PM
I think people may tend to think negatively about the procedure/people who have had it done. Just my hunch. And alot of men who have had it done want it to remain a secret. Personally – I think bald is normal and looks awesome on so many men. But I agree w you that the pt needs to do what is best for them in the end.
Posted Jan 20, 2010 at 5:40 PM
Bald men are hot!
Posted Jan 20, 2010 at 6:10 PM
…but hair transplantation by the right person does quite well…
Posted Jan 20, 2010 at 6:41 PM
I think it is probably like other cosmetic procedures, like botox, fillers, plastic surgery– your real friends will be happy if you look good and feel good, but others may feel jealous and view it as “cheating.” I agree that most people just don’t care!
Posted Jan 20, 2010 at 6:54 PM
You will get both sides of the fence,like and dislike. You do it cause you want to. If someone doesn’t like it,tough!
Posted Jan 20, 2010 at 8:26 PM
Only if you look like a Chia pet.
Posted Jan 20, 2010 at 8:57 PM
I think if people actually do look down on you, they may notice you had a hair transplant.
Edited Jan 20, 2010 at 11:21 PM
what is the process of hair transplant exactly? I have seen a young male drug rep over the past year who first came in with funny looking plugs of hair on his scalp, where the hair line was significantly receding. I saw him probably at three month intervals, and did sort of laugh to myself at his appearance. By the way he was not a patient, merely providing me with sample product and information. However, at the 9 month time frame, approximately, the hair had coalesced, and the fact that there had ever been a transplant was not apparent. He looked good. If I had missed the earlier embarrassing appearance, I would only have thought that he was reasonably good looking. The final result was a huge improvement over the receding hair line, and I am sure that in the long run he is glad that he did the procedure.
Is this the typical time course for this procedure? Or is there any alternative that is less public?
Edited Jan 21, 2010 at 3:40 AM
Today Hair transplantation is both an art and science. The results are astounding, pleasing natural look that can knock off decades from a persons aged look when done by the right people. Follicular unit transplantation with aesthetically placed transplants can restore normal appearance of hair for the age of the person. It is a painstaking process of microdissecting viable follicular units and implanting them along the expected hairline.In a typical session that lasts 5-8 hrs about 2000-3000 follicular units are strategically placed to ensure the best cosmetic outcome. Modern hair restoration surgeons are a tightly regulated body and work well together to improve the science and the art while competing fiercely in the marketplace. A good cosmetic surgeon ( usually boarded in plastic surgery) can get you an aesthetic hairline for age at around $ 7-10K in one session., I googled the topic and found all this stuff..It is interesting to know what other professionals do and how hard they work for their money.
I consider hair restoration surgeons as the ultimate example of a patient centric practice. They deliver what a patient wants and needs at an affordable price. We would not be having the acrid health care debate if all docs worked like plastic surgeons ( and if all of our medical problems were so straightforward!)
Posted Jan 21, 2010 at 1:27 PM
It is a matter of ‘admitting” to having had one. It is a form of cosmesis, plastic surgery. It is really a matter of how it influences how the person sees himself.
Consider the study that demonstrated a difference in how women perceived themselves as blonds versus brunettes – and to some degree, by others.
On the other hand, there was the report of K Street lobbyists dying their hair Grey to appear older. No woman would ever do that!
Posted Jan 21, 2010 at 1:34 PM
I like that reference to “dyed platinum look ” of old white males with pot bellies and three piece suits. …As they say in one of the movies.( insider) .have three white-haired men in three piece suits in one room and nothing good will come out of that meeting!
Edited Jan 21, 2010 at 2:36 PM
I think that the perception will start to change over time, as the perception of male sexuality has changed. My husband is in “Generation X” and I’m a “Gen Y.” He used to be completely against any kind of grooming beyond “shit, shower, and shave.” That has softened as he sees younger doctors openly talk about hair and skin products, and he’s started to experiment. He’s bald, and I like him that way. But if he decided he wanted to do a hair transplant, I’d back him. Mainly because it’s restoring what he used to have. Honestly, though, I don’t care for the term. I’d call them “permanent extensions.”
Posted Jan 21, 2010 at 7:36 PM
I think hair transplants are looked upon as any other cosmetic procedure — some people respect the effort to keep one’s appearance at its best, others think it’s fake and a sign of insecurity. It’s possible that men get judged harsher for cosmetic procedures than women since it’s less socially acceptable. I do think the man in your blog is a hypocrite for judging a woman for a nose job — he’s judging others for cosmetic procedures to improve appearance when he’s considering the same exact thing!
Posted Jan 25, 2010 at 8:21 PM
If you want the name of the one of the world’s best hair transplant PHYSICIANS, feel free to email me. This doctor is a dermatologist and is a leading figure in hair transplant and male pattern baldness research. Just let me know. He is a good doctor and friendly guy.