Hair transplant surgery is a surgical procedure that involves taking hair follicles from one area of the scalp and transplanting them to another area. The benefits of this surgery include:
It can help to restore hair growth in areas where there is little or no hair.
It can help to give the appearance of a fuller head of hair.
It can help to improve self-esteem and confidence.
It can help to give the illusion of a younger appearance.
It is a relatively safe and effective surgical procedure.
1. Hair Transplant
About the procedure:
Hair transplant surgery is a surgical procedure that involves taking hair follicles from one
area of the scalp and transplanting them to another area. The benefits of this surgery
include:
1. It can help to restore hair growth in areas where there is little or no hair.
2. It can help to give the appearance of a fuller head of hair.
3. It can help to improve self-esteem and confidence.
4. It can help to give the illusion of a younger appearance.
5. It is a relatively safe and effective surgical procedure.
If you are considering hair transplant surgery, it is important to consult with a qualified
surgeon. The results of the procedure are long-lasting if performed on individuals who have
a healthy scalp.
Treatment techniques:
There are several kinds of hair transplantation like DHI (Direct Hair Transplant), FUT
(Follicular Unit Transplantation), or FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction).
Direct Hair Transplantation: Direct Hair Transplantation (DHI) is a minimally invasive hair
transplant surgery that is recommended for patients with thinning hair or those who are
looking to add density to their existing hair. The procedure is performed by taking individual
follicular unit grafts from the donor area and transplanting them into the recipient site. This
technique allows for the grafts to be placed in a more natural direction, which gives the
patient’s hair a more natural appearance.
DHI is typically performed using local anesthesia, which means that the patient will be awake
during the procedure. The doctor will make small incisions in the scalp and then insert the
follicular unit grafts into these incisions. Once the grafts are in place, they will be secured
with stitches or staples. The entire procedure usually takes between two and four hours to
complete. After the procedure is completed, the patient will be able to go home the same
day.
Follicular Unit Transplantation: FUT is a hair transplantation procedure in which a strip of
hair-bearing scalp is removed and the individual hairs are then transplanted to the balding
area. The first step in FUT is to remove a strip of hair-bearing skin from the back of the head.
This strip is typically about 1-2 inches wide and 6-8 inches long. The skin is then dissected
into individual follicular units, which are the natural groupings of 1-4 hairs.
The follicular units are then transplanted to the balding area of the head, where they will
grow into healthy, permanent hair. FUT is a popular hair transplantation procedure because
it is very effective and can produce natural-looking results. If you are considering a hair
transplant, be sure to consult with a qualified hair transplant surgeon to see if FUT is right for
you.
2. Follicular Unit Extraction: FUE is a minimally invasive hair transplant procedure that
involves extracting individual hair follicles from the donor area of the scalp and grafting them
into the recipient area. The procedure needs two operations: first, the surgeon harvests the
hair follicles from the donor area; second, the surgeon transplants the follicles into the
recipient area.
FUE hair transplant is usually performed under local anesthesia, which numbs the area
around the eyes and forehead. The surgeon makes tiny incisions in the skin around the
follicles, then carefully removes them one by one. Once all the follicles have been removed,
the surgeon cleans and prepares the recipient area for transplantation. The surgeon then
makes tiny incisions in the recipient area and transplants the follicles into these incisions.
After the transplant, the follicles will start to grow new hair within a few weeks. The
transplanted hair will fall out within three to six weeks but will grow back within three to six
months.
Robotic Hair Transportation: Robotic hair restoration surgery is a type of hair
transplantation procedure that uses a robotic device to precisely remove donor hair follicles
from the back of the head and transplant them to the balding or thinning areas of the scalp.
This surgery can provide patients with a fuller, natural-looking head of hair.
Care before hair transplant procedure:
Do not take Aspirin, certain anti-inflammatory drugs, or some herbal medications that
can increase bleeding
Avoid smoking at least one week before the procedure
Avoid sun exposure for at least one week before the procedure
Do not drink alcohol or take drugs for at least 24 hours before the procedure
Risks and complications of hair transplant procedure:
Some of the common side effects of a hair transplant procedure include bleeding,
infection, swelling, bruising, itching, pain, numbness, and scar.
It is important to discuss these risks with your surgeon before having the procedure
so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not it is right for you.
Recoveryafter hair transplant procedure:
Do not scratch or touch the transplanted area for at least two weeks
Sleep with your head at an elevation for at least one week post surgery
Wear loose-fitting clothes for at least one week
Minimize consuming sugar and salt and drink plenty of fluids
If you have opted for FUE or FUT, you need to wash your scalp using a gentle
shampoo.
It may take three to four days to completely recover from the procedure.
What to expect after a hair transplant procedure?
After the surgery, you will likely experience some redness, swelling, and bruising around the
transplanted area. These side effects are temporary and will resolve on their own within a
few weeks. You may also notice some shedding of the transplanted hair in the first two
weeks after the surgery which is normal and not to be worried about. The transplanted hair
will start to grow back within three to six months, and you should see full growth within one
year.
3. Ideal candidates for hair transplant procedure:
The surgeon will do an initial consultation, assess your general health to ensure that you are
strong enough to heal from the surgery. He/she may go ahead if:
You are healthy with no major illnesses or medical conditions
You have enough donor hair to harvest from the back of your head
You do not have active scalp infections
You seem to have a strong and healthy immune system
You do not have a history of keloid or hypertrophic scarring
Cost for hair transplant procedure:
The hair transplant cost varies depending on the patient’s medical condition and treatment
technique finalized. On the whole, the cost depends upon the factors such as
City where the procedure is performed
Facilities of the clinic or hospital
The expertise of the surgeon
The reputation of the clinic
Cost of anesthesia
Additional procedures planned
Credentials mandatory for treating doctors:
The treating doctor must be an experienced cosmetic/plastic surgeon
Look for experience and number of hair transplant procedures performed
Check hair transplant before-and-after photos of the patients treated by the doctor
Look for testimonials from other patients who have been treated by the doctor