If you’re looking into solutions to combat thinning or balding hair, you’ll run across a number of options. The two biggest options are hair transplants and hair systems.
Hair transplants are a surgical solution to thinning or balding hair. Hair systems refer to a number of different non-surgical hair solutions.
To help you compare these two options, we’ve compiled key information about hair transplants vs. hair systems.
In this guide, you’ll learn how they work, the differences between them, as well as their pros and cons to help you make the best choice.
What is Hair System and How Does it Work?
Hair systems aren’t just old-fashioned wigs anymore. While hair systems of decades past may be easy to spot, modern hair replacement systems look almost undetectable and make you feel great.
They are hand-woven and look as natural as real hair. A number of advancements in hair system creation allow us to make hair systems that look like your natural hair.
Even the most popular male celebrities who are experiencing hair loss are wearing toupees.
There are two parts to each hair system: the base and the hair itself. A hair system’s base will be in direct contact with your scalp when worn. This base can be made from lace or poly (skin). Lace is often more durable and breathable, while poly will look more like your natural scalp.
Most hair systems use real human hair. In some cases, though, synthetic hair is used as well. The hair is carefully attached to the base a few strands at a time using a variety of different techniques. These methods allow the hair system to have a natural look, making it nearly impossible for others to know you’re wearing a hair system!
Hair System Pros:
Self-Confidence
Men who face hair loss often find their self-confidence decreases. It’s important for people to feel good about themselves, which is why hair systems are such a vital service. With the right hair system, men can feel good about how they look.
No Pain or Bleeding
Hair systems are a great option because they offer a non-surgical solution to hair loss. Since they adhere with tapes and glues, there won’t be any pain. Additionally, hair systems don’t require medication.
No Side Effects
Hair systems offer a solution without side effects since medical-grade adhesives are less likely to irritate the skin. Systems can be attached safely and pose almost no risk of infection. That means hair systems are a much less risky option for men who want to overhaul their appearance.
It’s Reversible
Surgical hair replacements are permanent, which means you may be stuck with unwanted results. Fortunately, hair systems aren’t permanent. That means you can change your look at any time. You can try different cuts, colors, and styles to find the right fit for you.
More Options
One of the best things about hair systems is the freedom to try different options. Hair replacement surgery often limits you to your natural hair density. Meanwhile, hair systems allow you to choose the hair density, color, and texture you want.
Immediate Results
When you get a hair system, you’ll see immediate results. You don’t have to wait for your scalp to heal and hair to grow since the full hair system will be taped or glued to your scalp. That means you can have a brand new look overnight!
Hair System Cons:
Ongoing Investment
Unfortunately, your purchased hair system will wear out over time. Most men have to replace their hair systems three or more times a year. If an adhesive is used, the hair system will need to be reapplied every 20 to 30 days.
Mild Risk of Hair Glue Allergy
A very small number of men have an allergy to some of the ingredients in hair glue. However, anti-allergy glue is available for men with this allergy.
What is Hair Transplant and How does it Work?
Hair transplants are a surgical hair replacement option that involves moving healthy hair follicles to balding areas. The surgery works by helping natural hair grow after normal blood circulation is established. Hair transplant surgery does not increase how much hair is on your head. Rather, it moves healthy hair follicles to balding areas.
This surgical procedure usually takes between four and eight hours. The surgeon cleans the patient’s scalp and uses a numbing agent on the back of the head, where the hair follicles will be removed. Hair transplants can use either a follicular unit transplantation (FUT) or a follicular unit extraction (FUE) method.
If the surgeon uses the FUT method, a strip of skin is removed from the back of the head. This six to ten-inch strip is divided into 500 to 2000 tiny grafts, each with one to four hairs. The surgeon stitches up the scalp where the skin was removed, making sure the hair covers the graft line.
If the surgeon uses the FUE method, they will shave the hair from the back of the patient’s scalp. Then they will remove hair follicles from that area, one by one. When the area heals, small dots of scarring will be covered by existing hair growth.
Whether a surgeon uses FUT or FUE, the remainder of the transplant works the same. The balding area is numbed, and small holes or slits are created. The surgeon moves each graft into one hole. It takes about six months for the procedure to heal. After that, hair will grow naturally from the transplanted hair follicles.
Hair Transplant Pros:
Natural Look and Feel
When done well, hair transplant surgery can offer a natural look and feel. Since the hair is coming from the patient’s own scalp, they can treat it like their natural hair. It can be dyed, cut, and styled however the patient wants.
Permanent Solution
Hair transplant surgery is often praised as a permanent solution to hair loss. While the one-time surgery can provide a long-term solution, it’s important to remember that the patient has less control over the finished look than they would with a hair system.
Hair Transplant Cons:
Not Suitable for Everyone
Men experiencing significant hair loss are not good candidates for hair transplant surgery. If they are severely bald, they do not have hair to transplant to balding areas.
Men with healing burns or scalds are also unsuitable for hair transplant surgery since the blood supply to burnt skin is damaged. Proper blood supply is needed to grow healthy hair.
Surgical Risks
Every surgery has risks, even hair transplant surgery. There are risks of infection, bleeding, and scarring. Patients may even lose transplanted hair due to infection, although it can regrow over time.
No Immediate Results
Right after a hair transplant surgery, the entire scalp will be bloody and unsightly. The recovery time after this surgery is six months or more. That means those with hair transplant surgery will have at least six months before their hair replacement looks the way they’d like.
Less Control Over Appearance
Despite the surgeon’s skill, the final look cannot be controlled. That means men who undergo hair transplant surgery must wait until their scalp has healed to see how it will look. Even then, there’s a risk that the hair will not grow back in a visually appealing way.
High Cost
Hair transplant surgery is prohibitively expensive. For many men, the cost of hair transplant surgery is a major barrier to having the procedure. While some surgeons may offer a less expensive option, patients must be wary of cheap hair transplant surgery.
Hair Transplant vs. Hair System: 7 Reasons to Choose a Hair System Over Hair Transplant Surgery
While hair transplant surgery may be an option for some men, hair systems are typically a better choice. Since they offer a non-surgical solution to hair loss, there is significantly less risk and less pain involved. Below are seven reasons why hair systems are a better solution than hair transplant surgery.
| PROS | Hair System | Hair Transplant |
| Cover the Baldness | √ | √ |
| No Side Effects or Scars | √ | |
| No Pain or Bleeding Involved | √ | |
| Immediate Results | √ | |
| You Can Control the Final Look | √ | |
| Permanent Solution | √ | |
| Work for Everyone | √ | |
| One Time Procedure | √ |
1. There is no pain or bleeding involved.
Hair systems use tapes and glues to attach the hair system, which means there won’t be any pain with a hair system. Many hair systems allow you to wear them for twenty to thirty days at a time. Even with these hair systems, there isn’t any pain.
On the other hand, hair transplant surgery can be a painful process. Your scalp will look bloody and scarred for six months or more while you wait for the surgery to heal. Although numbing is used during the surgery, the healing process can be lengthy and painful.
2. There are no uncomfortable side effects or scars.
Hair transplant surgery poses a major infection risk. Even when the surgeon does everything correctly, patients can face infection as the scalp heals. Once healed, surgical hair replacement can leave scars. While these scars are typically hidden by new hair growth, they can be visible.
Hair systems are attached safely with adhesives. Since no incisions are made, there is significantly less risk of infection. That makes hair systems a safer option for men who want hair replacement.
3. Hair systems offer more control over the final look.
While hair replacement surgery allows you to naturally grow your own hair from your own scalp, the final look is largely uncontrollable. Even skilled surgeons are unable to control how your scalp heals. If healthy blood flow cannot be restored to the area, your hair transplant surgery will not give you the natural hair you want.
Men who get hair transplant surgery are also limited to the natural density of their hair. Transplanted follicles are only as good as the best areas of hair growth on a man’s head. This means that men who get transplant surgery may not have the thick hair they desire, even after undergoing painful surgery.
When you purchase a hair system, you have complete control over the final look. You can choose the hair color, texture, length, and style. If you’re trying to blend your hair system with your natural hair, the myriad options available allow you to find the perfect fit.
4. Many men aren’t candidates for hair transplant surgery.
Hair transplant surgery only works if you have healthy follicles to transplant to balding areas. Men who have significant hair loss or total baldness are not candidates for hair transplant surgery.
Additionally, men with burns or scalds cannot undergo hair transplant surgery because the burnt skin won’t have good blood supply needed to grow new hair.
5. Hair systems offer immediate results.
Hair replacement surgery will take six months or longer to heal and show positive results. On the other hand, hair systems offer immediate results. The full hair system will be glued or taped to your scalp, leaving you with luscious locks overnight.
6. Hair systems are significantly less expensive.
You need to prepare at least thousands of dollars before you take the hair transplant surgery, making it a bad option for men without the financial means. However, hair systems cost you less at first, you just need to prepare a few hundred dollars to get it started..
Even with ongoing maintenance and replacement, hair systems are a more affordable option. Plus, replacing your hair system regularly gives you the opportunity to try different looks!
7. Hair systems are reversible.
No matter how much you anticipate loving your hair system, there are cases where you might want to go back to your natural look. Hair replacement surgery is a permanent solution, but that also means you’re stuck with the permanent consequences of your choice.
Hair systems are reversible. If you don’t like how they look, you can remove them without any pain. In some cases, men like their hair systems but want to choose a different option. Their flexibility allows men to easily make changes to their appearance.
Conclusion
I hope this guide is helpful for you if you are facing hair loss and comparing hair transplant vs. hair system.
Men facing hair loss are often faced with a wide range of options. They can accept their thinning hair, get hair transplant surgery, or invest in a hair system.
While hair transplant surgery boasts permanent results, the high cost and health risks make it an unappealing option.
Hair systems are a pain-free, non-surgical option for men facing hair loss. They offer great flexibility, allowing men to choose a look that suits them best. With modern advancements in hair systems, most people won’t be able to tell you’re wearing one at all!
If you’re ready to invest in a hair system, Newtimes Hair is here to help. We’re a professional manufacturer with over ten years of experience with hair products. Our top-quality hair replacement systems offer men a number of non-surgical options for thinning or balding hair.
