Thinking About A Hair Transplant…Here’s What You Need To Know
Posted on 04. Apr, 2009 by Melissa in Surgical Procedures
Hair transplant is a surgical procedure whereby hair is removed from a part of the scalp with normal hair growth and transferred to a balding part of the scalp. There are many drugs in the market that are said to stop hair fall, but hair transplant has been preferred by many, as it replaces hair that has been lost. That’s why it is also called hair replacement surgery.
Hair transplant is mostly used to treat male-pattern baldness whereby the hairline recedes around the temples and the forehead, and bald patches are clearly noticed at the crown area. In women, hair loss is more uniform and rarely leads to bald patches.
How It’s Done
In hair transplant surgery, healthy tissue containing hair follicles is removed from an area of normal hair growth (donor area) and embedded carefully in the balding area (recipient area). The donor areas are mostly at the back of the head or the sides.
In the early days, large portions of donor tissue with 20-25 hairs were grafted to the balding area at once. These grafts looked unnatural and the hair often stood straight and did not effectively cover the bald patch. Today, hair transplant technology has evolved and is known as microsurgery. Furthermore, the tissue is microscopically dissected into various smaller parts. Each part contains a group of two to three hair follicles known as ‘follicular units.’ These follicular units are carefully placed close to each other in the recipient area using needle punctures.
Attention is paid even to orientation and angle of the transplanted hair. Therefore, the hair on these grafts usually spread out, giving a natural look. These grafts are also strategically placed along the forehead and temples in order to create a hairline. After a few months, the transplanted hair grows naturally and the bald patch is no longer seen.
Before, During and After Hair Transplant
The doctor examines the patient’s scalp and ascertains the extent to which the hair transplant will be done. The patient is advised not to take any medications and to refrain from taking alcohol. The patient may even be prescribed antibiotics a few days before the surgery.
A local anesthetic is administered, before the surgical procedure is started, making it virtually painless. Depending on the size of the recipient area, the patient will have to undergo one or more than one sittings. The patient can return home after a few hours with minimal or no dressing.
After the surgery, scabs will develop in the recipient area. During the first week, care should be taken that these scabs do not stick to the newly grafted hair, as they may uproot the newly grafted hair follicles. Therefore the doctor will advise the patient to use a mild shampoo to loosen these scabs. The newly grafted hair will begin to fall after a week. There will be no hair growth for a couple of months, after which new hair will begin to grow.
Hair Transplant Versus Medications
Medications prevent further hair loss, whereas hair transplant replaces fallen hair. Medications are temporary and cannot cure hair loss. Hair transplant is a permanent solution if done by an expert. Medications incur a recurring cost, whereas hair transplant incurs a one-time cost. Medications work gradually and one can see the results only after six months of more whereas the effect of hair transplant can be seen and felt immediately.
Several years after hair transplant, medications or another transplant session may be advised by the doctor.
