There are many claims that a hair transplant is the number one solution for hair loss, but how many of these claims are actually true? Stress, hormonal changes, family history, and certain medications – all these can lead to severe hair fall and hair loss. The incidences of pre-mature balding are only increasing. One is often left with doubts– how does a hair transplant work? Is a hair transplant safe? Is a hair transplant effective? What are its side-effects?
To answer all your queries, here are 9 facts you should know about hair transplant:
What is a hair transplant?
It is a cosmetic surgery. Wherever you have a hairless potion in the scalp, the cosmetic surgeon transplants or inserts healthy hair follicles through a surgical procedure. Hair follicles are glands that bear the hair roots and are responsible for hair growth.
Does a hair transplant need a separate donor?
In most cases, you are your own donor. Nobody else’s hair grafts are used- this is to avoid side-effects. The idea is to extract healthy hair follicles from the part of your scalp that still has some hair growth and to plant them in the hairless portions. Hair transplantation is thus not about planting new hair but about redistributing your existing hair evenly across you scalp.
What is FUT?
There are two procedures of conducting a hair transplant surgery. One of them is Follicular Hair Transplant (FUT). In this method, strips of skin along with the hair are scrapped from the area of the head that is not affected by hair loss (usually the back or the side of the head). These strips are then divided into separate hair grafts such that each graft or mini hair strip now contains 2 hair follicles. These hair grafts are then individually stitched into the cuts or incisions made on the bald portion of the scalp. This method is also known as strip harvesting and is the most widely recommended technique. It can lead to a little scarring at the portion from where the strips are taken which would considerably go away in 2 – 3 weeks.
What Is FUE?
The second method of hair transplantation is Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). In this, hair clusters along with their follicles or roots are manually extracted one by one using a punching device and planted in the hairless portion. It’s comparatively more time consuming but leaves little to no marks or scars.
How does hair transplant work?
The surgery usually takes 2 to 3 hours and you can go home the same day. Since it involves a surgery, local anesthesia is given. That is why it is better to have someone drive you back home. Depending on how bad your hair loss is, it might take 2 to 3 sessions to cover your entire head. Each session will have to be done with a gap of at least 3 to 4 months. The main idea of hair transplantation is to allow the implanted hair follicles to seep into the bald portion of your scalp and become a part of it. These roots will then encourage hair growth in a natural manner. Hence, it’s a permanent solution.
How long is the recovery period?
For the first few days, you may experience redness, swelling, tightness and slight pain & numbness. If they get severe consult your surgeon immediately. Your head may or may not need a bandage depending on your case. You can return to work in a day or two after the surgery. Post a week after the surgery, you will have to go back to the doctor to get the sutures removed. Overall, it may take 4 to 6 weeks to get rid of all the temporary side-effects thoroughly.
What are the precautions you have to take until the recovery period?
Follow the post-transplant care instructions given by your doctor carefully to prevent scarring, bleeding, and in-grown hair. Avoid any strenuous activity or any form of exercise. Vigourous movements can lead to hair follicles getting displaced from the incisions. Also, the excessive sweat caused by exercise can lead to infections. Stay away from alcohol, smoking and certain supplementary medications at least for 2 months as they can interfere with the healing process. Avoid swimming at least for a week or two as the chlorine can be harmful for your sensitive scalp.
How long will it take for the hair transplant to show the desired result?
After a few weeks of the surgery, your newly transplanted hair will fall off. It is perfectly normal for this to occur. Slowly and gradually it will take about 3 to 5 months for the new hair to sprout from the transplanted follicles. It will further take a few more months for the new hair to grow to a considerable length. Overall, it might take 12 to 18 months to attain your desired hair all over the scalp. Our experts recommend you to plan accordingly so that your hair transplantation session doesn’t collide with any important events close by.
What is the success rate of a hair transplant?
Hair transplant is a permanent solution for hair loss but its success depends a lot on your patience, discipline and the quality of your hair. Sometimes you may not get as dense a mane as you had dreamt of, especially if your hair loss is stress induced. If you are completely bald, then chances of conducting a hair transplant itself becomes very bleak as body hair cannot be used as a substitute for your scalp hair.
With hair transplant, you not only restore your hair but also restore your lost confidence. For safe and guaranteed results consult only reputed and renowned hair transplant surgeons. Although hair grafts are sourced from your own scalp, a clinic that ensures zero-infection rates will make sure that your grafts are prepared in the most sanitized conditions. Apollo Cosmetic Clinics guarantees this and also ensures the best of patient-care in their world-class procedural suites.
Visit Apollo Cosmetic Clinics today and fulfill your dream to look young and attractive! Our expert Trichologists are just an appointment away.
