Cosmetic Concealers Versus Body Hair Transplant : First let us discuss concealers. The trick of concealing thinning hair without surgery, hats or hairpieces has become a forte among Hollywood make up artists. Under the limelight, no red carpet star would suffer the embarrassment of thinning hair. Actors, actresses, singers, and the like have been hiding their thinning hair with the use of concealment products. From powders to lotions, these instantly gratifying products mimic the color and consistency of real hair to give thinning hair the illusion of fullness. The most recognized commercial brands include:

Thinning Hair Hair Transplant — A bottle of Toppik (hair loss concealer)

Toppik: a keratin-based microfiber powder that bonds to the thinning hair.
DermMatch: a powder applied by rubbing it in and brushing it through the thinning hair.
COUVRé: a lotion compound rubbed in to the area of thinning hair.
Nanogen: similar to Toppik, a keratin-based microfiber powder that attaches to the thinning hair.

Drawbacks Of These Products

While these products may fool the casual onlooker, there are drawbacks to using them:

These cosmetics are a temporary solution to thinning hair.
They are NOT water, wind, and sweat resistant. These elements result in the concealer flowing down the forehead like black paint, much to the embarrassment of the user.
They may appear “off” when in direct sunlight.
Compromising one’s daily physical appearance to such extent may become demoralizing.
As thinning hair progresses and the balding area widens, the concealer becomes more dominant than the actual hair. Hence looking obvious to the casual observer, the area looks painted on. Think Jason Alexander in “Shallow Hal.”
Over time, these concealers can cake onto the scalp.
Like is the case with wearing a hairpiece, the falseness of such a cosmetic may compromise one’s level of day-to-day comfort and confidence.
The hair must remain untouched while the product is in use. The user dreads the prospect of a loved one running their fingers through the hair.
The concealer becomes a nuisance about the house, staining pillows and bed ware.

Cosmetic Concealers Versus Body Hair Transplant

Body Hair Transplant – BHT To The Rescue

Six years ago, Dr. Umar realized that finer body hair could be used in body hair transplant – BHT, to fill in the thinning hair of the scalp permanently. BHT using fine hair would achieve the same subtle filling effect of the cosmetic concealers, but with real, natural hair that lasts. “It grows like and acts like your hair because it is your hair,” says Dr. Umar, board certified hair transplant surgeon and pioneer of BHT. Generally, finer quality, vellus hair is not suitable for giving density. However, in skilled hands, BHT using thinner caliber body hair follicles can promote growth and add fullness to the area of thinning hair. The result is the same gratification of cosmetic concealers, like Toppik, without any of the drawbacks. Dr. Umar demonstrated this in a BHT test procedure conducted in 2006, producing the first incontrovertible evidence of:

The ability of BHT to grow even finer body hair with sufficient yield. This is contrary to widely held belief that only robust body hair grows. Dr. Umar has never held this belief. Finer hair does grow, but it has to be done correctly and be used appropriately.
When finer body hair is added to an area of thinning hair, a toppik-like effect is achieved, but with permanence and authenticity, because it’s real hair.

Cosmetic Concealers Versus Body Hair Transplant

The patient in the following photos opted for BHT in the mid scalp taken by advanced UGraft FUE by Dr U, from his chest. For those wondering about the potential benefits of Cosmetic Concealers Versus Body Hair Transplant; this would be good case illustration. While BHT gave a fuller and even more natural fuller look than Toppik, it is natural, permanent without all the side effects of concealers mentioned above

Before Treatment Cosmetic Concealers for Thinning Hair — Marked area before BHT by Dr. Umar.

Cosmetic Concealers Versus Body Hair Transplant — Same area after BHT by Dr. Umar showing a Toppik-like effect from body hair.*

The critics who said BHT using finer follicles has no place in the treatment of hair loss were wrong. Thickness of hair is not the defining criteria in BHT and even patients with finer body hair could benefit. So stop shaking and dusting that can of powder over your thinning hair. Instead, contact Dr. Umar for a free online consultation about BHT—the technology that means you may never again “sprinkle on” your hair in the morning.