Posted on 10th May, 2023 at 1:42:41 AM
What is a hair transplant?
It is a medical/surgical process through which a plastic surgeon or a dermatologist places hair in the bald area of the head, usually from the back or side of the head (called the donor site) to the front or top of the head (called the recipient site). It mostly takes place at a clinic or medical office. Plastic Surgeons and Dermatologists use local anesthesia on the recipient of a hair transplant. It is also called Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT). Let us see what we should expect during a hair transplant.
Why a hair transplant takes place?
Hair transplants take place to treat male pattern baldness. It is a minimally invasive procedure where balding-resistant grafts containing hair follicles are transplanted to the bald scalp. Hair transplant can also be used for the restoration of eyelashes, eyebrows, beard hair, chest hair, and pubic hair. It is instrumental in filling in scars caused by accidents or surgery such as face-lifts and previous hair transplants.
Who benefits from a hair transplant?
Hair Transplants are beneficial for men suffering from male pattern baldness, women who have thinning hair problems, and anybody who had lost hair because of burns or scalp injury. A candidate for a hair transplant must be at least 25 years. However, hair transplant is not to be chosen by women with common hair loss patterns through the scalp, people who do not have enough donor sites, people who develop thick, fibrous keloid scars after surgical procedures or injuries, and people who have after-effects from medications for example, chemotherapy. Therefore, it is highly essential that you understand what to expect during a hair transplant before you go through with it.
Types of hair transplant
There are two types of hair transplants:
1. Follicular Unit Hair Transplants (FUT) also called as Strip Method and,
2. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE).
In both methods, follicular transplant takes place by extracting hair from the donor site and transplanting it in the recipient site but the way in which this process occurs is different in both cases.
Firstly, the surgeon cleans the scalp thoroughly and uses a small needle (with local anesthesia) to numb an area of the head. FUE is the type of hair transplant where transplantation takes place by taking out individual hair follicles from the donor area and relocating it into the recipient site or area of baldness one by one. It is done by making tiny holes in the recipient site with a blade or needle and placing hair one after another.
FUTs is a type of hair transplant that is done by taking out a strip of hair follicles from the donor site and placing it in the recipient site. In this method, the surgeon uses a scalpel and makes an incision of seven inches long by cutting out a strip of scalp skin from the back of the head. Then, the surgeon uses a sharp surgical knife and magnifying lens to separate the removed portion of the scalp into small sections. It is then closed with stitches. Once these sections are implanted, it helps in accomplishing a natural hair growth look. This hair transplant is considered a golden standard as it has higher success rates.
The scalp can be sore after surgery so doctors suggest taking medications after hair transplant surgery, like pain medication, antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection, and anti-inflammatory medications to keep swelling down. Thus, it is important to understand the different types of hair transplant options and what to expect during a hair transplant in order to get the best results.
Benefits of Hair Transplant
Possible Risks
