Hair System vs Hair Transplant: The Main Differences

If you are losing your hair and want it back, the two options most people weigh up are a hair transplant and a hair system. They work in completely different ways, suit different people, and come with different costs over time. This guide sets out the main differences so you can decide which is right for you, or whether one could lead to the other.

What a hair transplant involves

A hair transplant is a surgical procedure. Hair follicles are taken from a donor area, usually the back and sides of the head, and implanted where the hair has thinned. The two common methods are FUE, where follicles are removed individually, and FUT, where a strip of scalp is removed and divided into grafts.

Because a transplant moves hair rather than creating it, the result depends on how much healthy donor hair you have. Transplanted hair usually sheds in the first weeks and regrows gradually, so the full result can take many months to show. Where hair loss is still progressing, further treatment or procedures may be needed later. A transplant is a medical decision, and it should be discussed with a qualified surgeon who can assess your hair loss and donor area.

What a hair system involves

A hair system is a non-surgical hair replacement. A thin base, usually lace or a fine poly skin, carries real hair and is attached to the scalp with specialist adhesive or tape, then cut and styled to blend with your own hair. The result is immediate, and a system can be made for any degree of hair loss, including where there is little or no donor hair.

A hair system does need looking after. It is re-bonded regularly, cleaned and maintained, and replaced periodically as the hair and base wear. That means an ongoing commitment of time and cost rather than a single procedure.

The main differences

Suitability

A transplant needs enough donor hair to cover the area being treated. A hair system does not depend on donor hair at all, which is why it is often the option for advanced hair loss, alopecia, or anyone who has been told a transplant is not suitable.

Time to a result

A hair system gives a full head of hair from the day it is fitted. A transplant takes months to grow in, and the final density is limited by the grafts available.

Recovery

A transplant involves surgery and a recovery period. A hair system involves no surgery, and most people return to their normal routine straight after a fitting.

Cost over time

A transplant is usually a single large cost, although some people need further procedures as their hair loss progresses. A hair system costs less to start but carries ongoing costs for maintenance, adhesive and replacement systems.

Commitment

Once a transplant has grown in, the hair is your own and needs no special care. A hair system needs a routine: regular maintenance appointments or home re-bonding, and the right products to keep the bond secure and the skin healthy.

Not ready for surgery?

Many people choose a hair system because they are not ready for surgery, are unsure whether they are a candidate, or want a result straight away while they decide. A hair system does not rule out a transplant later, and some people use one while they consider their options.

Talk to us

Our hair system studio in Chipping Sodbury, Bristol fits and maintains non-surgical hair systems, from ready-made systems to bespoke units made to your measurements. If you would like to find out whether a hair system suits you, you can book a consultation through hair4alluk.com.

If you already wear a system, everything you need to keep it secure is in our hair system glue and adhesives and hair system tape collections, and our hair system guides cover the routine step by step.