What is Scalp Micropigmentation? The 2021 Definitive Guide

What is Scalp Micropigmentation?

Balding is not an uncommon process and is often more prevalent as people tend to age, which happens to be the most common source of baldness. Although it’s more frequent in males it can also happen in females and can be attributed to an array of given variables that can be categorically factorised. Said variables can originate from genetics, aging, hormones, medical conditions or specific medications and will differ in severity and the genesis of its onset.

To put matters into a quantifiable perspective regarding balding, it’s been reported by WebMD that male pattern baldness (MPB) contributes to more than 95% of hair loss. Not only this, but most American men by the age of 35 will have experienced some degree of hair loss. However, to continue the notion that hair loss proceeds with age, another statistic suggests that by the age of 50, 85% of men would have suffered from some form of significant hair loss or thinning of hair.

It’s no secret that baldness tends to be more obvious in men, however, females can also experience some type of female pattern baldness (FPB) as well. With that said, it may not be of the exact severity that men experience but nonetheless, it is a condition that can be attributed from a number of issues such as anemia, ringworm, diabetes or even birth control pills. It can even signal signs of a disease, for example, thyroid disease, so it’s important to take immediate action if hair loss is advancing quicker than usual just be on the safe side.

As balding is an issue that affects such a huge population there have been numerous attempts to rectify it with companies claiming to have the next best solution, however many of these said solutions fail to hold much validity, which is why the problem is still as common as ever. Scalp micropigmentation New York on the other hand, offers a very friendly, noninvasive alternative to the treatment of hair loss.

The idea of SMP is to create the look of having fuller hair to avoid any patches of baldness or to cover baldness of its entirety. It’s performed using an electric tattoo device which essentially is what it is, a form of precise tattooing, as the process of SMP requires significant power in order to penetrate the skin on someone's scalp due to it being thicker than other areas.

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Scalp Micropigmentation vs Other Hair Loss Solutions

No Surgery

A key feature with SMP is that it requires absolutely no surgery, which in my opinion can be a deciding factor for those who are actively searching for the most effective and efficient hair loss solution. Although there are other options that may be more effective in the long run, such as hair transplants, they also incur quite a significant amount of maintenance and they are categorically the most expensive means of hair loss solution in today’s market. Additionally, it can also come with a number of detrimental issues if the surgery does not go as planned which includes; bleeding, infection, scalp inflammation, bruising around the eyes, crustacean from where the scalp was replaced, numbness or sensation loss, folliculitis - infection of hair follicles, temporary loss of transplanted hair, and an unnatural look from the newly transplanted hair (Healthline). There are many things to consider when choosing the most preferred solution to hair loss so it’s key to take these factors into account.

Budget Friendly

Being able to afford a specialised treatment is also something that needs to be addressed, as balding that may arise from issues that have been previously highlighted does not discriminate against those who are rich, poor and in between and unfortunately can affect anybody from any given background. With this in mind, it’s important to choose a treatment that is both cost-effective and provides long term results, which is what SMP offers.

To provide a ballpark figure in contrast to other treatments, a hair transplant can cost anywhere in the region between $4,000-$15,000 depending on the number of treatments needed and the level of specialism that the surgeon has. However, SMP can be somewhat in the area of $400-$1,000 per treatment and again, this will vary depending on the individual's circumstances who requires the treatment. Now, there is a stark difference in costs, which can most times determine whether a person decides to go for one option or another and given the convenience of SMP I firmly believe it’s the most efficient treatment of its kind when compared to rival methods.

Minimal Maintenance

Another important thing to consider is that SMP also requires minimal maintenance due to the ease of its process. It requires you to shave the area that is being treated so that patches of hair follicles cannot be seen where the work has been conducted. A number of other considerations are also as follows:

Shower before every treatment
Will not be able to wash or wet (includes sweating) for four days after each appointment
A single treatment typically lasts approximately 2-5 hours
Three to four treatments are usually needed for long term retention
Treatments are to be scheduled a few weeks apart

No Medication

Unlike other hair loss solutions, SMP does not require any medication as the treatment is regarded as a painless or low-pain alternative. Hair transplants, on the other hand, can include various medications due to the pain it may inflict and to help enhance the phases of recovery in the months after.

The fact that SMP has a no medication approach is a huge factor as to why people tend to opt for this route. With hair transplants having a long road to optimal recovery, which is accompanied by a host of different medications, some of these medications are advised to be taken 2-3 months after surgery. SMP, on the other hand, heals naturally. A typical healing process for SMP consists of an immediate formation of redness with a small amount of inflammation which is completely normal. Day’s two and four will start to show scabbing on the focus area in order to let the skin organically promote the healing process underneath. Lastly, on days five and six you should start to see scabbing fall off which will show the newly formed skin from its regeneration stage along with a transformed look.

Efficiency

SMP is a very efficient method of hair loss solution for a number of reasons. One reason is that it is a very low-maintenance, low-cost, and long-term option. It can be applied for somebody who is completely bald or suffers from partial baldness. This is a pivotal factor for me as even though hair transplants can provide a full head of hair, it’s a much harder service to provide if somebody suffers from partial baldness. This is why SMP is great as it can accommodate for any individual no matter the circumstances or the severity of their issues.

It’s been said SMP can last around 4-6 years before any signs of fading. This is then accompanied by what is known as maintenance treatments to essentially bring out the colour and fullness of the look once more for another 4-6 years. The good thing about this is that after a certain amount of time you decide that you no longer like the look of the SMP treatment you can return and request a different look, whether it be a different hairline or a particular shape too.

SMP Styles and Hairline Options

The Edge Up

The Edge Up is a style that is one of the more popular choices amongst individuals who go through the SMP treatment and is typically chosen by younger clients. This style involves no divergence from the intended hairline position where no pigments are dissipated and the hairline stands out as a ‘hard-line’ look that promotes a youthful aesthetic with a fuller appearance.

Soft Hairline and Widows Peak

The Soft Hairline and Widows Peak is a style that doesn’t appear to be as full as The Edge Up and is considered a light alternative that follows the individual's natural hairline. It helps disguise the treatment as a more natural look that is carefully blended without the need of implementing a harder looking hairline.

Adding Density to Thinning Hair

The Adding Density to Thinning Hairstyle is a procedure that occurs for those who already have what seems to be a decent proportion of hair, however, the hair itself is thinning away thus causing signs of balding to be shown underneath the hair. This treatment is conducted by attending to the hairline in its natural path and is able to blend into the hair’s existing density where it is usually lost in and around the scalp area to create that organic, full hair look.

No Surgery

How Is Scalp Micropigmentation Done? The Inkredible Scalp Process

The initial step is to schedule your free consultation with us so that we are able to deeply analyse your requirements while factoring things such as your age, gender, hair loss, and level of baldness so that we can create a detailed plan that is synonymous with your desired outcome. We take every variable into account so that the plan we offer you is strictly calculated from our SMP professionals and is designed specifically for you and only you.

After you’re happy to proceed following a successful consultation and you’re excited to pursue the individualised plan we have in place for you we can then progress to your very first treatment session. We will suggest a number of sessions based on our professional analysis from the current level of your hair loss, balding and other factors. This can typically range between 2-4 sessions, with a week between each session, depending on the plan we have mapped out for you, however, this won’t be confirmed until we have your full trust and commitment in us to complete this procedure for you. We condemn any type of obtrusive behaviour towards our clients unlike a small minority of SMP practitioners and will only proceed with the treatment only when we have your full consent and you are happy with the service and plan we have provided for you.

You’ve made it! Step 3 is the moment you have been waiting for as you are about to embark on a new revitalising journey that we know will change your life for the better. The first session will take place after the plan and treatment style has been agreed between both the client and the practitioner. However, after the first session, although you may not see a significant difference we must point out that this is completely normal for the majority of our clientele. This is because each individual will vary in terms of their level of baldness, scalp type and of course the specific treatment plan that is in place.

Sessions 2-4 is where the magic arises and the treatment starts to blossom drastically. This stage is when we add more pigment into the process which is accompanied by our specialised microneedles in order to provide you with the most authentic and natural look. This is so the end result mirrors the effect of having brand new hair like stubbles with zero signs of previous hair loss or balding.

Finally, you’ve made it, congratulations! Your life is about to change and we couldn’t be more honoured to be a part of the venture in enhancing your new, confident look. With that said, the end of your treatment still requires aftercare which of course we provide in full detail so you’re familiar with every step in optimally maintaining your end result. Each individual treatment will determine what type of aftercare is provided by the practitioner as there are no general guidelines for all treatments. We take great pride in providing a personalised service straight from your consultation right through to your aftercare so that you are getting the best experience possible. Additionally, if you require a touch up this is advised to be taken 4-6 years after your initial treatment as you may experience slight fading, however, our team of professionals will inform you of this right from the very start.

Inkredible Scalp - Our Satisfied Clients in New York

After suffering from a severe injury at work many years back it left me with a huge scar that ran across the back of my head. As you know with scars they struggle to grow hair effectively after they have healed from the wound. It was something that stood out and people would always comment on it which of course grew my anxiety tremendously. I decided to look at ways to cover it up and then I found SMP. I contacted Inkredible Scalp for a consultation and they were extremely professional from start to finish and advised a very well thought out plan for me. I agreed and the end result is Ink-credible!!! It’s now next to impossible to tell if I have a scar anymore and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome!

Andre

Tom

After giving birth to my second child I started to experience noticeable hair loss which made me panic as my hair was always something I took care of every single day. However, I soon found out that the reason for my hair loss was because of the birth of my last child. This was so daunting to me so I had to find a solution fast. I came to Inkredible Scalp, explained the situation and I was sold immediately. They detailed a personalised plan for me there and then and I was booked in for my first session the same week. The treatment was noninvasive and so effective that I will be returning for touch up sessions as soon as they’re needed. Thank you guys so much!

Helen

I have been working towards a professional bodybuilding licence for around 3 years now which means experimenting with certain drugs and supplements in order to gain an edge on my competition. After taking said drugs and supplements I started to notice my hair drastically thinning from the scalp which of course shocked me, however, I did know that this may be a future side effect of what I was taking but I never thought it would affect me until it did. Competing in bodybuilding means I have to work towards the best aesthetically pleasing image I possibly can which meant I had to do something about my thinning hair. I contacted Inkredible Scalp about my problem and they offered me a strict treatment plan. I was in two minds whether it was for me or not but I decided to try it and see how it went. Long story short I am speaking to you today with what seems to be a full head of organic hair which has not only lifted my overall spirit in day to day life but it’s also showing through my bodybuilding as I am now officially a professional bodybuilder!

Darnell

Alopecia sufferer here who’s struggled with it since my teens. I was bullied for my looks during school and it was something I really struggled to shake off and effectively took a blow to my overall wellbeing. I decided to get a hair transplant which cost me thousands! I thought it was the only option at the time. Even when I had the transplant it left me with scar patches. At this point, I didn’t know what to do as I thought I had just wasted thousands for nothing! I then found Inkredible Scalp online and noticed they offer SMP, so I did some research on them and decided to give them a go based on their great reviews. They were with me every step of the way and even more so during my aftercare and the scar that was present before is no longer an issue. I honestly feel like a brand new person!

Dan

I had recently turned 48 when I started to experience my hair loss. At the same time, I was experiencing menopause which I quickly found out was the reason for my drastic change in hair loss. Now, if you’re a woman and you’ve had to go through both menopause and female pattern baldness like me you will know the feelings of sadness and misery are a common everyday thing. A friend of mine could tell I was going through hardship and advised if I had ever looked at SMP before to which I replied, “No, but will it help me?” and boy did it! I went from a hair losing middle-aged woman going through menopause who was on the borderline of depression to have overcome the menopause, have a fresh new look and I am ready to take on the world with this burst of new confidence! I couldn’t be happier!

Cindy

It’s fair to say I was used to the bald life and for the best part of 20 years it honestly did not bother me. I was so accustomed to the way I was I just accepted that’s how it was for me but then one day I looked in the mirror and decided something was missing. Yes, it was my hair if you hadn’t already guessed. It was right there and then I decided I wanted to make a drastic change to my appearance and elevate my looks. But the question was how? I mean I didn’t want a wig, I didn’t trust medications and I certainly didn’t have the money or patience for a hair transplant. I was at a loss until I found SMP. I had never heard of SMP before so of course like other hair loss solutions I was a sceptic but I’m so grateful the sceptic in me was proven wrong because after going through the amazing service that Inkredible Scalp offers I am now sitting here writing this testimonial with a new appearance that has brought me up to a new level in life! I look forward to seeing the mirror every single day when I wake up and seeing the self-esteem ooze through my smile, I love it!

Mike

Scalp Micropigmentation Frequently Asked Questions?

How long does scalp micropigmentation last?

Scalp micro-pigmentation typically lasts between 4-6 years before an individual will experience any type of fading. Of course, this is entirely depending on the individual in question and the level of treatment they have opted for. Once fading is present the individual will then have the option of returning to a practitioner to receive touch up treatments.

Is SMP reversible?

SMP acts in a way that is similar to a tattoo which makes it possible in reversing the treatment through laser removal sessions. However, it should be noted that pigments that have been engrained deeper into the skin are far more difficult to treat so please be wary of this if you may be considering laser treatment in order to reverse the process.

How long does scalp micropigmentation last?

Are SMP treatments painful?

In the grand scheme of things, SMP is usually a very painless process for most individuals. With that said, we cannot speak on behalf of everybody as you can imagine people from all walks of life will also have a variety of pain tolerance in comparison to others.

How long does the procedure take?

As mentioned in the step by step process it ultimately depends on the individual and the treatment they have mutually agreed upon with their practitioner. Typical sessions usually take 2-4 hours depending on the level of requirements that have been undertaken. This is spaced out over 2-4 sessions and can range from anywhere between 7-10 days depending on the company that carries out the procedure.

Is scalp micropigmentation safe?

Scalp micropigmentation is considered completely safe when conducted by experienced and well-trained professionals in the industry. Be wary of those who are advertising their services at worryingly low prices and overall look as though their business shows signs of inadequacy. Please conduct thorough research on companies that you are considering and be sure to go through a reputable service such as Inkredible Scalp where we put the health and safety of our clients at the forefront of our business.

How much maintenance is involved?

Again, this is something that is completely dependent on the type of service that an individual has gone through. However, generally speaking, it’s vitally important to ensure the focus area is not to get wet which unfortunately includes sweating. Wearing a hat is also not recommended as it may rub against the newly treated area and affect its results. This phase usually only lasts around 4 days and then the head can then be washed or shaved. After this, you may experience elements of fading at years 4-6 which it is then advised to return for touch up sessions in order to keep your head looking as optimal as possible.

How long does it take to recover from a scalp micropigmentation treatment?How much maintenance is involved?

The treatment itself usually has a 6-7 day window until the recovery phase can be finalised. This helps give the focus area time to experience early onset of redness and inflammation which typically lasts a day or so. After the redness tapers off the scabbing will occur at days 2-4 and the healing starts to present itself under the scabs through newly layered skin. Finally, at days 5-7 the scabs should have fallen off in order to make way for your rejuvenated new skin and the scalp is able to fully heal itself.

Wondering what is scalp micropigmentation?
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