Hair Transplant
Hair loss occurs in more than 60% of men and in approximately 10% of women. Balding is a major concern for many, and surgery to treat hair loss (i.e, hair transplantation) is the most common cosmetic surgery procedure performed on men today.
What Is a Hair Transplant?
Hair transplantation is a surgical technique that removes hair follicles from one part of the body, called the 'donor site', to a bald or balding part of the body known as the 'recipient site'. The technique is primarily used to treat male pattern baldness. In this minimally invasive procedure, grafts containing hair follicles that are genetically resistant to balding (like the back of the head) are transplanted to the bald scalp. Donor hair can be harvested in two different ways: strip harvesting or follicular unit transplantation (FUT), and follicular unit extraction (FUE).
Pre-operative assessment and planning
At an initial consultation, the surgeon analyzes the patient's scalp, discusses their preferences and expectations, and advises them on the best approach (e.g. single vs. multiple sessions) and what results might reasonably be expected.
For several days prior to surgery the patient refrains from using any medicines which might result in intraoperative bleeding and resultant poor grafting. Alcohol and smoking can contribute to poor graft survival. Post operative antibiotics are commonly prescribed to prevent wound or graft infections.
Harvesting methods
Transplant operations are performed on an outpatient basis, with mild sedation (optional) and injected local anesthesia. The scalp is shampooed and then treated with an antibacterial agent prior to the donor scalp being harvested.
There are several different techniques for harvesting hair follicles, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Regardless of the harvesting technique, proper extraction of the hair follicle is paramount to ensure the viability of the transplanted hair. Hair follicles grow at a slight angle to the skin's surface, so transplanted tissue must be removed at a corresponding angle.
There are two main ways in which donor grafts are extracted today: strip excision harvesting( or FUT), and follicular unit extraction(FUE)
Follicular unit transplant
Follicular unit transplant (FUT) is the traditional hair transplant method which involves extracting a 6 to 10 inch linear strip of hair bearing skin from the back or the side of the scalp. He sets it aside and sews the scalp closed. This area is immediately hidden by the hair around it. The strip is then dissected into 500 to 2,000 tiny grafts, each with an individual hair or just a few hairs.
Follicular unit extraction
If you’re getting the FUE procedure, the surgeon’s team will shave the back of your scalp. Then, the doctor will remove hair follicles one by one from there. The area heals with small dots, which your existing hair will cover.
After that point, both procedures are the same. After he prepares the grafts, the surgeon cleans and numbs the area where the hair will go, creates holes or slits with a scalpel or needle, and delicately places each graft in one of the holes. Depending on the size of the transplant you’re getting, the process will take about 4 to 8 hours. You might need another procedure later on if you continue to lose hair or decide you want thicker hair.
Expectations and Recovery
After the surgery, your scalp may be very tender. You may need to take pain medications for several days. Your surgeon will have you wear bandages over your scalp for at least a day or two. He may also prescribe an antibiotic or an anti-inflammatory drug for you to take for several days. Most people are able to return to work 2 to 5 days after the operation.
Within 2 to 3 weeks after surgery, the transplanted hair will fall out, but you should start to notice new growth within a few months. Most people will see 60% of new hair growth after 6 to 9 months.
Some surgeons prescribe the hair-growing drug Minoxidil to improve hair growth after transplantation.
