Hair transplants are an option for those who want to save their hair or cut their hair short to grow it back, but for those with conditions such as diabetes, they are not recommended due to side effects such as weight gain, skin problems and infections.
In an effort to combat the issue, the Australian Hair Foundation has created the Hair-Recover program.
The program is currently open in Adelaide and Melbourne and aims to educate people about the pros and cons of hair transplans.
In order to enroll, patients must have a primary health issue, such as a heart condition, Parkinson’s disease or diabetes, or be currently in the process of cutting their hair.
Patients are given the option of undergoing a hair transplant at home, but a more expensive alternative is available at the Hair Foundation’s Hair Rejuvenation Centre, in Brisbane, Australia.
A person can have their hair transplanted from anywhere, including their own head.
They are then expected to maintain their hair at the same length for up to three months and then remove the hair, often in the form of a wash or styling.
The procedure is not recommended for patients who have severe hair loss due to diabetes, heart disease or other conditions, but it is possible for those patients to achieve their hair restoration goals.
The Hair Foundation says the program has helped thousands of patients in its program and has helped reduce the number of patients needing a hair loss treatment.
It says the number is growing, and that about a third of its patients are achieving their hair regrowth goals.
It also has an online donation page that aims to raise funds for the Hair Rejuviance Centre, which is set up in Melbourne to provide hair transplant services to people with diabetes and other conditions.
Al Jazeera’s Christian Whitehead reports.
