Hair Transplantation
What is hair transplant surgery?
Hair Transplantation refers to the surgical procedure that involves removing strips or circular units of skin containing hair follicles from one part of the body and relocating them to a balding area. When a hairy patch of skin on the body is relocated to a bald spot on the body, it also takes the genetics with it, enabling hair to continue growing in the new donor site. Hair on the back and sides of the head are considered “lifetime hair” and will not stop growing even if grafts or plugs are removed, which is why these two areas are often used as donor sites. Hair transplant surgery methods have greatly improved in the last few decades. The major difference today has to do with the graft or plug size. Hair transplant surgeons discovered that the patchy or sprouty look was a result of larger grafts. Consequently, they improved their techniques on the basis that smaller grafts and plugs would lead to better results.
Who can benefit from hair transplant surgery?
Hair transplant surgery is mainly used to treat Androgenetic Alopecia, also known as “pattern baldness”, yet it can also be beneficial to people who are experiencing hair loss due to chemotherapy, thyroid disease, physical or emotional stress and hormonal change. Hair transplant surgery has replaced all other hair loss therapy methods, pills and creams that have not been proven effective. Hair transplant surgery has become the leading treatment for hair loss and hair replacement therapy.
Hair Transplant Surgery Methods
FUE Method
Description of FUE Method: Follicular Unit Extraction involves the extraction of follicular units of hair from the donor area of the scalp, using a specialized small, round punch (approx. 1mm diameter). The small follicular units are then implanted to the recipient area, usually the top and front of the head. The FUE method is less invasive than the FUT strip method, however it is also more time consuming and tedious, and therefore more expensive. The FUE method extracts individual hair follicles without causing damage to the scalp.
Pre-surgery: The hair on the donor area will be trimmed short so that the grafts can easily be removed. Both the donor and the recipient areas will be treated with local anesthesia.
How should I prepare for hair transplant surgery?
One week prior to your hair tranplant operation:
- Refrain from Aspirin and Vitamin E intake one week before your operation.
- Refrain from smoking or limit the amount.
- Do not get a haircut.
- You may dye your hair one week before your surgery but you cannot dye it for 6 weeks after.
- If you use hair replacement, please remove it one week before the operation.
- Stretch the skin in the donor site area at least five times a day.
- Refrain from alcohol consumption one day before the surgery.
- Eat a light breakfast the morning of the operation, and after the operation eat a light lunch.
- Wear a button-down shirt the day of the operation.
What does the FUE procedure entail?
After the donor and recipient sites have been anesthetized, the hair transplant surgeon will extract microscopic grafts of follicular units from the patient’s donor site (typically the back of the head, just above the nape), using a small punch (a pen-like instrument used to pluck out follicular units). donor area, which will heal in a few weeks. As soon as the grafts have been removed, they will be thoroughly examined under a stereo microscope for maximum regrowth yield. The surgeon will then prepare the recipient site by puncturing tiny micro-holes for where the microscopic grafts will be transferred at a predetermined density and pattern that alludes to a natural-looking, realistic hair pattern.
Following this, the surgeon will implant the micro-grafts into the tiny punctured holes. The affected area will then be cleansed and covered with gauze.
Hair transplant surgery (FUE Method) aftercare:
- Avoid alcohol consumption for 5 days after operation
- Avoid strenuous activity during the first few days after your hair transplant surgery.
- Expect swelling, bruising, headache and mild discomfort. These symptoms can be alleviated with over-the-counter pain relievers.
- Do not use an electric razor for 6 months after your hair transplant surgery.
- Avoid saunas, artificial or natural sunbathing and wearing a motorcycle helmet for 2 weeks after surgery.
- Avoid scratching or picking at your scalp for the first 3 months after your surgery, as it may cause an infection or pimples.
- On the day of your hair transplant surgery, after surgery, make sure you ice your eye and temple area for 10 mintues every hour.
- Sleep with a raised pillow for the first few nights after your surgery.
- 3 days after the operation, you may gently wash the affected area.
What should I expect after hair transplant surgery? Because of the lack of oxygen transported to the transplanted roots, the transplanted hair will fall out within 1-2 months. The transplanted roots will strengthen in about 12-14 weeks, in which time new strands will be produced. New hair will start to grow in the grafted area within 3 months. You should expect full results after 8 months – 1 year. The normal rate of hair growth per month is approximately 1 cm. The day after the surgery, you may brush or comb your hair without exerting any pressure on the affected area. Expect the donor and recipient areas to heal in approximately 2 weeks.
Hair tranplant surgery risks: Hair transplant surgery risks are very minimal. One may experience an allergic reaction to the anesthesia, like any other surgery. Infection is possible, but very rare. The only risk is that the results may not be exactly what the patient expected.
Choose Visit and Care: Why should you go through the hassle of dealing with several different parties to make reservations and appointments with a doctor when we can handle all of that for you without it costing you a penny more than what you would pay if you were to do everything yourself directly. What is our incentive? We get paid by hospitals and clinics when we refer customers to them. In our agreement with the hospitals and clinics we work with, it states that our customers will not be charged any extra fee by a hospital or clinic, in order to compensate for our fees to them. So, if a procedure costs you 500 dollars when you arrange it through the hospital directly, it will also cost you 500 dollars when you arrange it through Visit and Care. Our goal is to connect our customers to top English-speaking medical professionals in their destination of choice. If you have any inquiries or would like to learn about a procedure that is not listed on our website, please feel free to contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We will return to you with an answer as soon as possible.
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