A hair transplant is a procedure that adds hair to a balding or thinning area of your head. This involves taking hair from the thicker areas of your scalp or other body parts and grafting it onto the thinning orbalding area of your scalp.
Around 60 percent of men worldwide experience hair loss, and half of women. People often resort to over-the-counter remedies, such as minoxidil (Rogaine) and topical treatments.
Another method of restoration is hair transplant Turkey. In Japan, the first hair transplant was done in 1939 with single-scalp hairs. The “plug” method was developed by doctors over the years. This involves the transplantation of large tufts.
To minimize the appearance of transplanted scalp hair, surgeons started using micro- and mini-grafts.
Hair transplants are more successful than other hair restoration products. There are a few things to keep in mind:
In three to four months, transplanted hair can fully recover.
Transplanted hair can thin like regular hair.
Dormant hairfollicles are those that do not grow hair. However, a 2016 study found that plasma therapy may be able to help as much as 75 percent of transplanted hairs grow back completely.
Hair transplants are not for everyone. These are used to restore hair when you have lost your hair because of an injury or natural balding.
Transplants with existing hair are not effective for people with:
Widespread baldness and thinning
Hair loss caused by chemotherapy or other medications
From injuries, thick scalp scars
The cost of hair transplants ranges from $4,000 to $15,000 per treatment.
Final costs could depend on:
The extent of the transplant procedure
Locate a surgeon in your area
Experience of the surgeon
surgical technique chosen
Hair transplants are not covered by health insurance because they are cosmetic procedures.
Additional costs may be incurred for aftercare medications.
A hair transplant is simply the removal of hair from an area that you do not have. It is usually taken from the back of the head but can also come from other areas of your body.
Your surgeon will sterilize the area to be treated and then numb it with local anesthetic before you begin a transplant. Sedation can be requested to allow you to remain asleep during the procedure.
The surgeon will then choose between FUT or FUE.
Follicular unit transplantation (FUT)
Follicular unit strip surgery (FUSS) is also known as FUT. These steps will help your surgeon perform FUT procedures:
The surgeon will remove a small piece of your scalp using a scalpel. This is usually done from the back of the head. The length of the strip is usually 6-10 inches, but it can extend from ear to ears.
The stitches are used to close the wound.
The scalpel is used to cut the scalp into smaller pieces by your surgeon and his assistants. The surgeon may also split the hair into 2,000 pieces, which are called grafts. These grafts might only contain one hair.
The surgeon will make small incisions on your scalp using a knife or a needle. This is where the hair will be removed.
The surgeon inserts the hairs taken from the scalp into the puncture holes. This is known as grafting.
The bandages or gauze are then applied to the surgical site.
The number of grafts that you receive will depend on:
Type of hair that you have
Size of the transplant site
Quality (including thickness)
hair color
Follicular unit extraction (FUE)
These steps are required to perform a FUE operation:
They will shave the hair at your back.
The surgeon will then remove individual follicles from the scalp skin. Each follicle will leave tiny marks.
The surgeon will make small incisions on your scalp and then graft hair follicles to the areas.
The bandages or gauze are then applied to the surgical site.
FUT and FUE can take between a few hours and several days to complete. This is partly dependent on how much work was done by the surgeon. The surgeon will send you home on the same day.
After the surgery is complete, your surgeon will carefully remove any bandages. Your surgeon may inject triamcinolone to reduce swelling in the affected area.
It is likely that you will feel pain or tenderness at the site of the transplant as well as the area where the hair was removed. Your surgeon may recommend the following:
Pain medications such as ibuprofen, (Advil), are available.
Antibiotics to prevent infection
Anti-inflammatories such as an oral steroids to reduce swelling
To stimulate hair growth, medications like minoxidil (Rogaine), or finasteride [Propecia] can be used.
These are some tips to help you after a hair transplant procedure.
Wash your hair after surgery for a few days. For the first few weeks, only use mild shampoos.
In about three days, you should be able return to work or other normal activities.
For approximately 3 weeks, don’t touch the grafts with a brush or comb.
You should not wear hats, pullover shirts or jackets until your doctor says it is okay.
Do not exercise for more than a week.
Do not be alarmed if some hairs fall out. It is normal. Transplanted hair might not grow as much or blend seamlessly with the surrounding hair for several months.
Scarring is the most common side effect and cannot be avoided.
There are also possible side effects:
Infections
Pus or crust around surgical sites
Itching, scalp pain, and swelling
Folliculitis is an inflammation of hair follicles.
bleeding
Sensation loss around surgical sites
Easily visible areas of hair that are not in line with the surrounding hair, or that are noticeably thinner
If your hair is still falling out, you can continue to lose it.
Side effects of Propecia and Minoxidil can include:
Scalp irritation
dizziness
chest pain
Headaches
An irregular heart beat
Hand, foot, and breast swelling
sexual dysfunction
These are some suggestions for those who are looking for hair transplant surgeons:
Only choose a licensed and certified surgeon.
Ask to see a portfolio of transplants that have been successful.
See reviews.
Before you decide to have either hair transplant, talk to your doctor.
While neither procedure can be guaranteed to succeed, it is important to understand that scarring is possible. Your hair quality and volume may determine if you are not eligible for either procedure.
