Hair transplants (also called surgical hair restoration) are extremely effective in the right way.
What is their process? What are the steps involved? Are you a qualified candidate? Check out this article to learn more.
How can Hair Transplants work?
All hairs on the body is unique to you. (and is aware of) its own distinct identityfor example, hair on your scalp or an eyebrow hair the hair of your arm or leg or a leg hair, etc. Hair transplanted will continue to develop in the same way that they did previously regardless of where they are located. For instance the eyebrow hair will continue to grow the same way as eyebrow hair even though it’s transplanted to the head. This is the premise that underlies hair transplants.
If you transplant a head hair follicle and hair follicle it will preserve the characteristics of the scalp region from where it came from. The sides and lower portion of your head don’t typically lose hair even in the most severe cases of female and male hair loss. This is due to the fact that the follicles located there aren’t subject to male hormones in the same manner like follicles found in other regions that are on the scalp. Therefore, if you take the follicles here and put them in other areas, they’ll continue to expand just like they did before.
What Types of Hair Loss are considered eligible for a hair Transplant?
Transplants can be used for certain kinds of hair loss however, not all. The surgeon or Trichologist you consult can advise you about your eligibility to receive treatment.
Hair transplants are commonly utilized to treat male and female pattern hair Loss. In these instances hair transplants are made from the sides and rear of scalp (sometimes called the permanent area as these hairs will grow throughout the course of a person’s life) to the frontal, top and areas of the crown (sometimes called the ‘non-permanent’ region, as this is a region that can be affected by both male and female Pattern Hair loss).
In addition to Transplantation of hair for both female and male pattern loss can be utilized for:
Traction / mechanical hair loss
Hair loss caused by burns
Hair loss due to plastic surgery, like facelifts
Permanent loss of hair following radiotherapy
Hair transplantation is also utilized to grow or strengthen eyebrows, if lost, based on the causes. When they are transplanted from the scalp they’ll maintain the characteristic of being longer, which means they will need to be cut frequently and trimmed, unlike normal eyebrow hairsthat have a shorter growth phase!
Hair transplants aren’t a good option to treat hair loss as a result of the following circumstances:
Primary scarring Alopecia (resulting due to an immune disorder) like Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia
Alopecia Areata
Hair Transplant Methods
There are two primary types of hair transplants available in the present:
FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation)
FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction)
Each procedure comes with its own set advantages and drawbacks. Your surgeon and you will be able to determine in concert which one is most suitable for you. The cost will start at approximately the amount of PS5,000.
FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation)
This is sometimes referred to as “strip method’ because it is a thin strip of skin hair is taken off from the donor area on the rear of the scalp.
A donor’s strip of hair is cut into grafts (each comprising three to four hairs) under a microscope after which they are transplanted in small cuts at the site of the recipient.
Between 1500 and 1600 grafts are transplanted during one single procedure.
Closure techniques for incisions at the donor site are extremely sophisticated, but they will leave a fine scar when they heal. This scarring could be evident when the patient chooses to sport a cut hairstyle.
There is no requirement for patients to trim their hair prior to the procedure.
FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction)
With a specially designed device using a special device, hair follicle units (containing 3-4 hairs) are taken one at a time at the site of donor, and are inserted through small cuts at the site of the recipient.
About 1300-1400 grafts (each comprising 3-4 hairs) can be transplanted during one surgery.
The procedure is slightly more time-consuming than FUT, and has an increased chance of follicle waste However, it offers the advantage of faster healing.
There isn’t any linear scarring, which makes this style more suitable for people who prefer extremely short hairstyles.
The patient is usually required to trim their hair prior to the procedure.
In both forms of transplantation, both the locations of both the recipients and the donors are treated with a local anaesthetic prior the procedure, meaning there shouldn’t be any discomfort. Based on the quantity of hairs that are transplanted the procedure could take anywhere between four to twelve hours. The procedure is generally straightforward and there are very few complications however, it is crucial to follow the following steps suggested by the surgeon.
Following care for hair Transplants
The surgeon who performed the transplant will give you detailed instructions on how to take care of your scalp following a transplant. It is common to go home in about half an hour after surgery has been completed You may also receive medication and topical treatments to help prevent infections. Many surgeons suggest having at least a few days off from work and/or doing any strenuous exercise.
After the grafts are implanted, tiny Scabs may develop. They will disappear within seven to 10 days, and hairs might fall out too. This is normal. But remember that it’s the hair follicles and not the hairs that were transplanted. Hairs will return.
Be gentle in the beginning — especially when you wash your hair. If you massage your scalp too hard it could damage the hair grafts. Hairs that are newly grafted will begin to grow after three months, and the full effect will be evident about a year after the surgery.
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