A Complete A-to-Z Guide to SMP Scalp Micropigmentation at a Plastic Surgery Clinic

Hello, this is Ribone Plastic Surgery. 🙂

Hair loss is a skin condition that can happen to anyone due to genetic and environmental factors.

Hair loss caused by autoimmune diseases such as alopecia areata, or telogen hair loss that occurs when the resting phase lasts too long, may have the possibility of natural recovery. If treatment is received in time, there is a chance that hair will grow back over time, so it is good to keep an eye on the progress.

(* Of course, if alopecia areata appears in multiple areas or becomes widespread rather than limited to one area, the possibility of natural recovery becomes extremely low, and active treatment is needed. In addition, if telogen hair loss does not receive timely treatment, the lost hair may not grow back for a long time, so you should consider an alternative treatment method.)

However, unlike these two types of hair loss, male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) is strongly influenced by hormones, so the hair mainly on the crown and M-shaped hairline gradually becomes thinner, and eventually the two areas connect, creating a large bald patch.

The difference from the two types of hair loss mentioned above is that male pattern hair loss has almost no chance of self-recovery and does not improve on its own once it starts, so timely treatment is necessary. If you miss the timing, you should consider alternative treatments such as wigs or tattooing.

In the past, many people used wigs, but because hygiene management is important and they are difficult to use in the hot summer months, many people may be looking into tattoos instead.

Recently, there have often been cases of celebrities receiving SMP (Scalp Micro Pigmentation), and as a result, more people have been contacting our clinic with related inquiries.

"When I look at eyebrow tattoos I had done before, the color becomes more set and turns bluish over time. Does SMP not do that?"

"The scalp will also age over time, so I’m worried that the shape of the tattoo might change."

You may also have many questions while reading this article, but if you check the following content, I think you will gain a good understanding of SMP scalp micropigmentation.

I’ll explain everything from A to Z in an easy-to-understand way, so please follow along slowly. 😍

• What is SMP (Scalp Micro Pigmentation)?

The term SMP was first reported in the medical field in 2012.

Also, unlike pigments used for eyebrows or other areas, it uses scalp-specific pigment, making it an efficient solution for restoring the appearance of hair while visually creating the look of fuller hair.

Normally, tattoos inject pigment deep into the dermis.

In the case of the scalp, using a standard needle increases the chance of damaging the hair follicles. Since hair follicles are the pockets from which hair grows, it is best to preserve them during the procedure in preparation for any future treatment that may be needed.

• Which areas can receive SMP treatment? It can be done on any part of the scalp.

It is effective for women whose hair is present but whose crowns look sparse with age, for people with empty patches commonly called "dambang," and for those whose hair has thinned overall so that the scalp is visible when they go into bright places.

Most importantly, androgenetic alopecia, also called male pattern hair loss, as mentioned at the beginning of the article, continues to thin the hair once it progresses, and eventually the hair falls out completely and does not grow back. Therefore, to prevent further progression, you should consider surgery or SMP treatment while taking hair-loss medication.

In the case of surgery, the process involves transplanting the remaining follicles from the back to the front.

Recently, the non-incision method is also commonly performed, but if there are almost no remaining follicles or they are difficult to confirm with the naked eye, incision surgery is unavoidable.

The outcome can also vary depending on the graft survival rate, and the cost can feel burdensome.

SMP treatment does not make hair grow back, but regardless of graft survival rate, it makes the hair look real, and whether seen from far away or up close, you can see a result that is not much different from having a slight amount of hair.

As such, SMP treatment is being used on various areas without hair, so please keep that in mind!

• Let’s take a look at the features of SMP at a glance.

ⓐ The maintenance period is permanent. However, depending on skin type, the color may fade over time, so additional sessions may be needed later.

ⓑ There is no separate recovery period after the procedure, and you can continue daily life as usual. It does not run even when it gets wet, and shampooing is possible after 24 hours.

ⓒ Even if you are too old or, depending on the condition of the scalp, are not suitable for hair transplantation, you can receive it without much burden.

ⓓ Because it uses scalp-specific pigment and micro-needles rather than ordinary semi-permanent pigment and needles, it can be performed safely in a way suited to the scalp.

ⓔ It does not damage existing follicles, so future hair treatment remains possible.

• For those of you considering SMP treatment

The biggest advantages of SMP treatment compared with hair transplantation or other hair-loss treatments are that it causes less pain and the treatment cost is also lower.

If you visit the clinic, we can show you directly, but the needles are very fine, so special anesthesia or aftercare is rarely needed.

Because the procedure is not very deep, another advantage is that it does not affect the hair follicles.

Some people also ask, "If I get SMP treatment and then want to receive follicle injections such as mesotherapy, is that okay?"

Once the pigment has settled, follicle injections have no effect at all, so there is no need to worry. The reason is that the layer where the follicle injections go is different from the layer where the pigment goes.

If you need help, you may visit our Ribone Plastic Surgery for a consultation. We will guide you if we determine it is necessary, but we will not pressure you, so please come by with ease. Thank you. 😆