Whenever you hear the phrase “hair transplants,” you might think of the uneven, obvious hair plugs that were popular in the past.
Hair transplantation, on the other hand, has come a long way, particularly in the previous decade.
When it comes to hair transplantation, also known as hair restoration, it is an outpatient treatment that uses micrografting technology to transplant your own hair follicles to thinning areas of your scalp.
This article will assist you in understanding the results of a hair transplant, what to expect, and the different sorts of surgeries available to you.
WHAT IS A HAIR TRANSPLANT AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
A hair transplant is a treatment in which a plastic or dermatological surgeon transplants hair from one part of the head to another in order to fill in bald spots.
The plastic surgeon moves hair from the rear or side of the head to the front or top of the head.
It is customary for hair transplants to be performed in a medical office under a local anesthetic.
The bulk of hair loss is caused by a condition known as pattern baldness. Genetics has a role in all of this.
These instances are still being investigated because of a range of causes, which include: diet, stress, or illness.
See Also: The Ordinary Hair Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT FORMS OF HAIR TRANSPLANT PROCEDURES?
In the current market, there are two types of “modern” hair transplantation treatments.
During a Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) surgery, a strip of your own hair follicles is removed from the back of your head and transplanted to the parts of your scalp where your hair is thinning or balding.
When you have a Follicular Unit Extraction (FEU), small punctures are made on your scalp to extract hair follicles and transplant them to places where your hair is thinning or falling out.
Generally speaking, both forms of hair transplantation operations are permanent in nature.
WHO WOULD BE A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR A HAIR TRANSPLANT?
Receiving a hair transplant might help you feel more confident and improve your appearance.
Among those who would benefit from a hair transplant are:
- Male pattern baldness is a type of hair loss that affects men.
- Women with thinning hair anyone who has lost some hair as a result of a burn or a wound to the scalp.
Hair replacement is not a good solution for the following people:
- Women who experience a pattern of hair loss that is broad throughout the scalp.
- Patients with insufficient “donor” hair sites from which to harvest hair for transplantation Patients who suffer from keloid scars (thick, fibrous scars) following an injury or surgery Patients who suffer from keloid scars after an injury or surgery.
- Those suffering from medication-induced hair loss, such as chemotherapy patients.
HOW DO I DO A HAIR TRANSPLANT PROCEDURE?
Once you clean your scalp thoroughly, a surgeon will use a small needle to inject a local anesthetic into a specific area of your head.
Follicular unit extraction (FUE) and follicular unit transplantation (FUT) are the two main procedures utilized to retrieve follicles for transplantation.
In Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), the following are the procedures:
You’ll remove the scalp skin from the back of the head by the surgeon, who will use a knife to do so. It is customary for the incision to be several inches long.
Stitches are then used to seal the opening.
The surgeon next divides the scalp into little bits by using a magnifying glass and a sharp surgical knife to split the excised portion into small sections.
When you implant the portions, they will aid in the development of natural-looking hair growth.
The surgeon will remove Facial hair follicles directly from the back of the head using hundreds to thousands of tiny punch incisions, which is known as follicular unit extraction (FUE).
Using a blade or a needle, the surgeon creates small holes in the area of your scalp that will be receiving the hair transplantation. They carefully insert hairs into these openings.
One treatment session may consist of hundreds or even thousands of hairs a single surgeon transplants.
This procedure will cover your scalp for several days following the procedure with a graft, gauze, or bandages.
A hair transplant procedure can take up to four hours or longer. They’ll remove the stitches around 10 days after the procedure.
The number of sessions required to attain the desired full head of hair could range from three to four.
Schedule sessions should be several months apart to allow for the complete healing of each transplant.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR A HAIR TRANSPLANT TO TAKE EFFECT?
Following hair transplant surgery, your scalp may be uncomfortable, and you may need to take drugs to alleviate the discomfort, such as pain relievers.
Take Antibiotics to lower your risk of infection.
The use of anti-inflammatory drugs to keep swelling under control
The majority of people are able to return to work within a few days of surgery.
After the treatment, it’s common for the new hair to fall out two to three weeks after the procedure. This provides a way for the growth of new hair.
The majority of people will notice some fresh hair growth between 8 and 12 months after surgery.
Hair regrowth can be improved with the use of minoxidil (Rogaine) or the hair growth medication finasteride (Propecia), according to many specialists. These drugs also aid in the prevention or slowing of future hair loss.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS AND SIDE EFFECTS OF HAVING A HAIR TRANSPLANT PERFORMED?
The side effects of a hair transplant are usually modest and disappear after a few weeks of the procedure.
It is possible to experience the following side effects:
- bleeding
- Infection
- Swelling of the scalp
- Bruising around the eyes
- A crust forming on the parts of the scalp where hair was removed or implanted
- Numbness or loss of sensation on the treated areas of the scalp, and more.
The itching, inflammation, or infection of the hair follicles is known as folliculitis, and it results in shock loss, or the sudden but typically temporary loss of the transplanted hair.
Unnatural-looking tufts of hair can also result.
See Also: How to Safely Apply Remove Eyelash Extensions
IS A HAIR TRANSPLANT A ONE-TIME PROCEDURE?
Hair follicles are grafted into regions where your hair is thinning, and it takes time for your skin to heal after the procedure is completed.
As a matter of fact, it is common for some of your hair to fall out during the first three months following your surgery.
Depending on the severity of the injury, healing can take anywhere from 6 to 12 months.
Although it takes several months for the transplanted follicles to fully mature, they will begin to produce hair and will eventually fill in the bald regions on your scalp.
These are strands of hair that will continue to develop in a natural manner as you grow older.
The relocation of the hair follicles is irreversible; there is no way to get them back to where they were before they moved.
The transplanted hair follicles, like the rest of your hair follicles, have a limited lifespan. It is possible that they will progressively stop producing as much hair as they used to at some point.
Therefore, a hair transplant may or may not be a one-time procedure. This depends on your preference and hair growth rate
IS IT FEASIBLE THAT YOU WILL REQUIRE ANOTHER HAIR TRANSPLANT IN THE FUTURE?
Your first hair transplantation treatment may not be your last, and you may need more procedures in the future.
Some transplant candidates will be informed by their doctor that they would require many “sessions” of transplant surgery in order to obtain the desired results.
Following the healing of their first hair transplant, other applicants are satisfied with the results they achieve and opt to attempt to fill out more thinning areas on their heads.
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM A HAIR TRANSPLANT IN THE LONG RUN?
In the long run, your hair transplant should look natural and healthy.
It’s possible that your hair follicles will thin as you get older, but they will almost certainly continue to produce at least some hair for the remainder of your life.
If your hair thinning continues, your hairline will not recede in the manner in which your natural hair loss was previously “patterned.
Your provider should go over the strategy with you in detail to ensure that your hair doesn’t look patchy or unnatural in the years following your hair transplant to ensure that your hair looks natural.
WHEN IS IT APPROPRIATE TO CONSULT WITH A DOCTOR?
If you are self-conscious about your hair loss, you should speak with your doctor about your concerns.
Some medical disorders and drugs can cause hair loss as a side effect as a result of their use.
Before you become a candidate for a hair transplant, you may need to rule out external variables.
There is no accreditation mechanism in place for veterinarians who intend to undertake hair transplantation on their patients.
As a result, it’s critical that you complete your research before deciding which specialist to consult for this surgery.
Make an appointment with a medical professional who specializes in hair transplantation.
Dermatologists, cosmetic surgeons, and plastic surgeons are examples of professionals who fall into this category.
Before scheduling a session, request several sets of before and after images and speak with a possible provider about the procedure and process of your hair transplant before making a decision.
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE COST OF A HAIR TRANSPLANT?
The cost of a hair transplant is highly variable, typically ranging from $4,000 to $15,000.
In case you’re thinking of an insurance cover for the bills, bear in mind that this procedure is not in any insurance cover.
These expenses are frequently borne entirely by the individual.
A hair transplant is classified as a cosmetic operation by the majority of insurance carriers.
Many different factors influence the price of hair transplants.
Here are some examples:
- Your city of residence
- The relative cost of living in the location, as well as the number of surgeons who perform the surgery in the area, can have an impact on how much a surgeon cost.
- The sort of operation you select will depend on your needs. In the field of hair transplantation, there are two main types of procedures: follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE) (FUE). Each one has a distinct price tag.
- Your surgeon’s ability to perform. If your surgeon is recognized as one of the best in the field, he may demand a higher fee. At the same time, greater rates are not always indicative of superior skill, so conduct thorough research before making your decision.
How much hair would you like to have transplanted?
When compared to getting more hair throughout the entire scalp, wanting a few patches added will be substantially less expensive.
Expenses for travel. Although this is not something that your doctor will charge you for, it is a cost that you should take into consideration.
It is often necessary to travel in order to find the best doctors, and you should take these fees into consideration when determining whether or not you can afford the treatment.
How much does it cost to recover after a hair transplantation procedure?
In addition to the costs of therapy, there are other potential recovery costs that you should factor into your calculations.
See Also: WHAT IS THE COST OF A PRF HAIR STIMULATION THERAPY?
CONCLUSION:
In most cases, the effects of a hair transplant are visible and remain for a long time. As a result, people consider them to be permanent.
The operation is extremely time-consuming, and it necessitates a period of healing and recuperation thereafter.
Individuals who have already suffered severe thinning of their scalp hair are typically the best candidates for a hair transplant because of these considerations.