While hair loss may not be an emergency, it can be mentally distressing, leading individuals to consider hair transplant as an option. However, the practicality of the procedure and determining candidacy for optimum results involve various factors. It's important to note that not every patient is a suitable candidate for hair transplantation.
Starting the hair transplant process involves a crucial initial consultation. This phase serves to learn about the treatment, verify your candidacy, and establish the final pricing. Therefore, when contemplating a hair transplant, the initial step is to reach out to a qualified hair transplant surgeon who can evaluate your eligibility and assess your hair loss.
Cosmetic surgery for hair transplantation
A hair transplant is a minimally invasive restorative procedure that involves the transfer of hair follicles from a donor area, known for its hair density, to the recipient area affected by baldness. This precise cosmetic surgery requires extensive knowledge and exceptional skills.
Some essential factors to consider when it comes to aesthetic hair transplant surgery include:
- Hair transplant surgery is a restorative procedure that involves the relocation of existing hair follicles from one area to another. It is not a regenerative therapy that can create new hair follicles to replace the ones that have been lost.
- Hair transplant surgery does not yield immediate results. Patients typically need to wait for several months to a year to observe optimal hair growth.
- Hair transplant surgery does not prevent future hair loss. Hair loss may still occur in the areas surrounding the transplanted hairs. However, when correctly done, the transplanted hairs are generally considered permanent.
- Recent technological advancements in hair transplant treatments have made it possible to achieve permanent and natural-looking results that replicate the natural hairline.
- Hair transplant surgery is a procedure that requires precision, and it is important to note that it is not without risks or potential complications.
Actions conducted during a hair transplant procedure
A certified and authorized plastic or cosmetic surgeon should adhere to the following steps when conducting a hair transplant procedure:
- Local anesthesia administration: Before harvesting grafts at the donor and recipient sites during a hair transplant procedure, local anesthesia is administered to ensure patient comfort. The effects of the anesthetic cocktail typically last for approximately 12 hours.
- Grafts from the donor location are harvested. The donor area is typically a region on the scalp that is resistant to hair loss, such as the back or sides of the head.
Two primary hair transplant techniques differ in their harvesting procedures:
FUT hair grafting (Follicular unit transplantation or strip technique)
A strip is harvested when using the FUT or otherwise known strip procedure. This strip is then divided up to get to the individual hair follicles. Subsequently, the wanted and needed recipient area is chosen for the trans platoon of these recovered follicular transplants. It is essential to note however that the FUT method can be quite complicated and requires the surgeon to have a comprehensive range of experience and expertise.
FUE hair transplant (Follicular unit extraction)
The follicular unit extraction revolves around the precise removal of every individual hair follicle from a sufficient distance, as well as the eligible surrounding tissues. Eventually, the wanted recipient’s bald region is implanted with the obtained follicular transplants. Despite this method being quite simple, it does take its time. And despite being straightforward, this technique requires excellent accuracy seeing as the follicles are removed with a punch blindly pushed under the scalp tissues. The outcome could be detrimentally impacted by the incorrect insertion.
What options are available for addressing hair loss?
Hair loss can affect both males and females, but the patterns of hair loss vary between the genders. In general, men tend to experience baldness, while women typically experience thinning hair, which is less common. As a result, men usually seek out solutions for hair loss more frequently. When faced with hair loss, we all try to address the problem ourselves and use various commercially available shampoos, lotions, or oils to find a remedy. However, the effectiveness of these products is often speculative.
Temporary hair loss treatments include hair extensions, hair wigs, suction hair wigs, and strategic parting to hide bald areas. However, these methods can be challenging and uncomfortable for individuals dealing with hair loss. It's important to note that these treatments provide only temporary solutions.
Minoxidil and finasteride are two available drugs used for treating hair loss. Minoxidil, a topical lotion, helps slow down hair loss and promote thicker hair growth. On the other hand, finasteride is an oral medication that stimulates hair growth and delays the progression of hair loss. While these drugs can be effective, their effects may be temporary.
A hair transplant is the only permanent solution for hair loss that yields natural-looking results. This minimally invasive cosmetic surgical procedure involves extracting hair follicles from the donor area and transplanting them into the recipient's bald areas. Many individuals seek this treatment in the hopes of finding a permanent resolution to their hair loss issue.
Can a hair transplant procedure effectively restore lost hair?
It should be noted that though often misunderstood as a procedure that can regrow lost hair follicles, hair transplants do not do such a thing. A hair transplant procedure is simply a restoration surgery during which hair follicles, taken from the donor site, where the hair density is high, are transferred to the recipient's bald site.
Is the hair transplant procedure painful?
The very first thing one thinks of when considering surgery is the pain associated with it, no matter how small or how severe it is. Similarly to this, numerous patients let go of their hair transplant plans because they are scared of the pain after the treatment. It is worth noting that the treatment is fully painless, and to make things easier local anesthesia is administered, which is undoubtedly good news for every individual who suffers from hair loss. After a hair transplant procedure, the patient only experiences moderate discomfort for a quite short period that is tolerable and does not result in morbidity.
What is the growth process of transplanted hair like?
Thinking that hair can regrow right after a hair transplant procedure is a myth. Nevertheless, an individual must wait for several months to fully enjoy the results of the treatment. If carried out by a skilled surgeon, it is needless to say that the results are worth the wait.
Categorically, one will lose the full transplanted hair shaft within a few weeks, which is part of the normality. The newly planted hair follicles go through a rest phase that lasts for about two months, after losing the hair shafts. You can only see the initiation of the visible hair growth after three months following the procedure.
Some people might see noticeable hair growth six months after the hair transplantation, which might have begun irregularly distributed but will eventually cover the scalp. Following the hair transplant surgery, a year later, full hair growth can be seen, during which point the procedure’s rate of success can be established.
The healing process after a hair transplant
After the hair transplant surgery, it would take from seven to ten days for the donor’s site to be physically healed. In recent days, you could have much less side effects. These side effects include a little itching, a little swelling, a little tingling, and a little pain. They, however, are not all troublesome and their longevity is only one week.
It is extremely crucial to adhere to the aftercare instruction given by the specialized surgeon after the hair transplant procedure.
The post-procedure hair growth
Following a hair transplant procedure, enduring new hair grows and looks notably natural. Affirmative, the hair roots implanted during a hair transplant go through a rest phase. Once this resting phase is completed, hair growth commences two months following the procedure. Three months after the procedure, there will be visible hair growth. A decent amount of hair growth can be observed in about five to six months after the procedure. However, you should wait up to a year after the surgery to see the full hair growth.
Is scarring a common outcome after undergoing a hair transplant?
Following a hair transplant, the donor site develops scars. A reliable and expertised surgeon will make sure that there are only a few, invisible to the naked eye scars. Typically, after a FUT hair transplant, the linear scarring left is nearly unnoticeable. Moreover, an FUE hair transplant leaves circular scarring on the donor site. If the procedure is performed by experienced and capable hands, the surgery scars in the form of imperceptible circular dots may appear. To achieve minimum scarring in the donor area, the participation of the surgeon is critical.
Feedback on hair transplant procedures
A broad study has shown that the very best treatment for persistent baldness, up until now, is a hair transplant. The results after the hair transplant procedure are permanent and aesthetically natural, the reason why people are driven to select it as a treatment alternative. Another reason why hair transplants are so popular is that the hair roots planted during the hair transplant procedure do not require upkeep afterward; rather, they will start growing the same way the natural hair does.
If the appropriate clinic is chosen for the surgery, the feedback on the procedure is remarkable and superb. Certainly, a prosperous hair transplant is dependent entirely on selecting the right clinic and surgeon.
Several notable benefits
When performed by skilled professionals, hair transplantation offers several long-term benefits.
- Consistent outcomes: The occipital region, which refers to the back and sides of the head, serves as the donor area for follicular grafts. These grafts are then transplanted to the bald areas, such as the frontal or vertex region of the scalp. Hair loss typically occurs in the frontal and vertex regions because the hair follicles in these areas are genetically more susceptible to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) than the follicles in the occipital region, which are more resistant to DHT.
- Natural outcomes: A hair transplant procedure performed by a skilled surgeon can yield natural-looking results. Achieving the proper angulations during the implantation of follicular grafts in the frontal area requires both surgical expertise and an aesthetic approach.
- Several sittings may be necessary: For individuals with extensive or progressive baldness, particularly younger individuals, multiple sessions may be required in the future. In certain cases, undergoing the hair transplant procedure using the FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) or a combination approach may necessitate up to three separate sessions. Therefore, it is important to make wise decisions regarding the choice of technique.
- Permanent results as opposed to temporary methods: When hair grafts are sourced from a secure donor area, hair transplantation is known to yield permanent results. This allows you to escape the embarrassment of relying on temporary solutions that require frequent concealment.
- Density maintained at donor area: Properly performed hair transplantation ensures the preservation of hair density in the donor area while achieving desired fullness in the balding area. It is crucial to avoid excessive harvesting from the donor area to maintain the integrity of the "safe zone."
Who can not do a hair transplant: Is hair transplantation suitable for you?
Hair transplant surgery is an elective procedure that can be chosen at any stage of hair loss. However, it is important to determine if you are a suitable candidate for the surgery.
While this question may seem simple, it involves various factors that necessitate expert guidance.
Meeting specific criteria makes you a strong candidate for hair transplantation, and here are some statistics to help you understand the qualifications:
- Hair transplant and age: There is no specific recommended age in theory. Instead, the suitability of a candidate is evaluated based on various factors regardless of their age. Factors such as unstable hair loss, the unpredictable pace of hair loss progression, masked systemic involvement, and the possibility of underlying pathology should be taken into account when assessing candidacy for hair transplantation. If all the necessary conditions are met, hair transplantation could be a viable option.
- Hair transplant and health conditions: Before considering cosmetic surgery, it is important to ensure that your overall health is in good condition. Certain health conditions can affect hair loss or the healing process, potentially making a hair transplant risky. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate your general health status.
- Hair transplant and lifestyle: The outcome of a hair transplant can be impacted by various factors, including a healthy diet, regular exercise, alcohol consumption, and smoking. It is important to be mindful in addition to undergoing the hair transplant procedure. It is recommended to avoid alcohol and smoking for at least one week before and after the hair transplant.
- The extent of hair loss: To determine the feasibility of a hair transplant, the surgeon needs to assess the extent of baldness. They carefully examine the donor site for the availability of hair density. If it is sufficient, it confirms your eligibility for the procedure. However, if the donor area lacks many hair follicles, the surgeon will discuss whether you are a suitable candidate for the procedure.
- Post-operative aftercare: Adhering fully to the instructions provided by the surgeon is crucial. If you can do so, you might be a suitable candidate for the procedure. The outcome of the hair transplant depends on following proper aftercare practices.
- Have reasonable expectations: Your surgeon will provide you with information regarding the anticipated outcomes of the procedure. It is crucial to avoid setting unrealistic expectations.