SMP is a form of less invasive scalp tattoo also called Tricho-pigmentation that can be used on both men and women to camouflage areas of the scalp that are thinning.

It is a non-surgical procedure where a carbon pigment is modified to suit the hair and skin colour of the patient and then applied in many dots in close proximity to replicate hair follicles. Doing so, gives the appearance of a closely shaven head or a denser head of hair in those who have longer hair. It is also used to camouflage scars very effectively.

As opposed to a normal tattoo the pigment is deposited at a shallower depth in the dermal layer. To do this, specialist needles (designed purposefully for SMP) and specialist methods are used by a trained licenced SMP Technician.

Can SMP help me?

SMP is used to camouflage all types of hair loss and burns or scarring in Men and Women of all ages, the illusion of a full head of hair is created for those who have a shaven head or for those with longer hair, although the technique is the same, the pigment is applied between existing hairs so as to create a shadow.

It can also be used in addition to transplant surgery to further allude density or blend in an FUT line (a line made from where donor hair is taken from) after healing.

SMP is an instant confident boost, and a great non-invasive alternative to a hair transplant, it is a permanent solution to hair loss which offers instant results.

Lisa our well-respected consultant Trichologist (I.A.T), and a fully Licenced SMP Technician, is passionate about her work and knows the importance of creating a natural look.

When people age so does their hairline, it is so important to have a believable effect and Lisa is an expert at this with a keen eye for natural detail.

The great thing about scalp micro pigmentation is that it gives results from your very first treatment.

The post What is scalp micro-pigmentation (or SMP)? appeared first on Hair Clinical.

Step 1 – Make an appointment.

The first stage is a consultation with Lisa our Consultant Trichologist I.A.T.

In this session we can discuss your expectations and suitability or indeed any other hair-loss solutions. (we will often do SMP in conjunction with other hair loss treatments simultaneously.)

A patch test will be done on this session to rule out any allergic reactions and if you are happy to continue, Lisa will go through your medical history and take a look at your scalp with the trichoscope, evaluating hair density, colour and scalp condition, there are a few factors to consider and Lisa is very thorough.

Step 2 – Book your first session

SMP is done over several sessions and the first session involves a foundation phase in which your hairline is designed and discussed with Lisa, this is a very important stage of your treatment process, considering how it will look as you age and what you would like the finished result to look like. Soft natural hair lines are preferable to everyone and Lisa can show you how this can be achieved, and when you are happy she can start.

In this first session the dots are placed sparsely to be filled in in later sessions, some mild discomfort may be experienced, however most patients tolerate SMP very well.

Step 3 – More treatment sessions…exciting stuff!

The next few sessions will be when you see the most results, 5 times more dots will be placed during this session than in session 1.

Appointment times vary and can be long, ranging between 1 and 3 hours allowing for short breaks for both yourself and Lisa.

Step 4 – Achieving perfection.

Sometimes you will need 3, 4 or even 5 sessions to get the results you are looking for, after all there 10,000 hair follicles on the average scalp so this will take time

With every session you will see better results. Patience is a virtue however and it’s needed at this point as precision is key, so it does take time but it is very much worth it.

Healing from each session on average is 6 to 8 days but Lisa may suggest leaving a longer period of time between sessions, doing this allows your head to recover so you can evaluate the outcome properly and then we can refine your hairline and the density until you are happy with the result.

Step 5 – Aftercare.

Scalp Micropigmentation is a permanent solution, however over time can fade but this all depends on various factors such as UV exposure and your immune system. Some patients may require a touch up after 4-6 years and some may not ever need further SMP.

As you age your hair will naturally change colour so if it does fade it can aid in making the overall look more natural the older you are.

For those patients who are having SMP to improve density in conjunction with other hair loss treatment, it will not affect the look of your hair as your hair grows thicker, in fact it will effectively add to the overall appearance of density as your hair grows.

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We have been amazed by the numbers of young children who silently endure the loss of their hair.  In most cases, doctors are confounded by this devastating condition, unable to resolve it.

Treatments are limited for children with alopecia.  In adults, we would normally utilise a programme of stronger, chemical based solutions to re-stimulate hair growth, but this just isn’t an option in the case of a child.  This can be devastating for the child and their parents.

It has bugged us for a long time.

That was until Lisa came across a successful clinical trial using a very special mix of essential oils used on alopecia patients.  These oils were blended in a very specific concentration and applied and massaged into the patients’ scalp each evening.  A warm towel was then wrapped around the head to aid absorption of the oils.

The results of the clinical trial were outstanding. It used two groups of patients to study the impact of this particular special blend of oils against a normal carrier oil. The results were convincing. Interestingly, they were also much the same as the chemical route – seeing hair return across the whole scalp.  The authors commented that the improvement rate of hair growth was ‘comparable to and possibly of more benefit than trials of conventional therapies for alopecia areata.  Compared with these other treatments, its safety is also greater, offering a better therapeutic ratio’.

We have spent time researching exactly the correct blend of ingredients used in this clinical trial and we are delighted to announce the launch of our first Hair Clinical product for patients (such as children) who cannot endure harsh chemicals.  We have called it ‘Alopecia Blend’.

At Hair Clinical, we are forever striving to offer something that really makes a positive and noticeable difference to our patients. Our diligence, qualifications and constant research are getting us noticed within our profession.

Our new Alopecia Blend goes on sale from Monday, 14^th September at a price of £27.50

The post Hair Clinical Launches Revolutionary New Product for Children with Alopecia appeared first on Hair Clinical.

This week, I travelled to Manchester to observe two top transplant surgeons at the Farjo Institute in action. The Fargo Institute, is considered to be one of the leading hair transplant clinics in the world. It has been running for over 25 years and it was a real honour to be invited behind the scenes to see how this team operates. 

The Clinic is really impressive, offering state of the art apparatus and a spotless environment mixed with a friendly and welcoming team. 

I had to be at the clinic early in the morning to meet Bessam and his team. I was given a gown, cap and mask and taken into the first theatre where an FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) hair transplant surgery was underway. 

Later on that morning I was invited to watch an FUT (Follicular Unit Transplant) surgery followed by an eyebrow surgery in the afternoon. 

I was blown away by the level of skill and expertise shown not only by the surgeons, but by every member of the team who were involved in these cases. Their attention to detail and care shown to each patient was outstanding. 

I came away from the day feeling absolutely certain that Bessam and his team are a credible referral solution for our patients when other trichology treatments are not the best way forward.  It was lovely to actually see and experience the Clinic first hand.  Thank you Bessam! 

At Hair Clinical we constantly strive to seek out the best and latest solutions for our much treasured patients.  I believe that travelling to meet with other experts in our professional field is the only way to do this and I know that our patients greatly value this extra diligence on our part. 

If you would like to know more about the facts when it comes to a hair transplant – please just give me a call and I will gladly talk you through it. 

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