Genetics, imbalanced diet, chronic stress, illness, medications, or hormonal imbalance; anything and everything could spur hair loss. Perpetual hair loss may lead to pattern baldness, also known as androgenic alopecia. The condition is marked by thinning of hair on the crown followed by a receding hairline. While hair transplant is seen as an effective remedy, there’s more to it that you need to know. Read through to know all about hair transplant surgery and what you need to be mindful of when you decide to get it.
What is Hair Transplant?
A hair transplant is a surgical procedure carried out by a certified dermatologist or trichologist surgeon. Performed under local anaesthesia, the hair transplant surgery entails moving hair follicles from donor areas to the affected balding region, also called the recipient site.
Typically, hair from the back or side of the head is moved to the top of the head. However, in cases where extracting enough hair from the back of the head does not seem feasible, the donor hair is picked from other parts of the body.
Types of Hair Transplant
Hair transplant procedures are of two types.
1. Follicular Unit Strip Surgery
Follicular Unit Strip Surgery (FUSS), also known as Follicular Unit Transplantation, involves removing a long, thin piece of scalp tissue (sized about 6 – 10 inches) from the back of the head. Later, individual hair follicles are removed from the strip through stereo-microscopic dissection. While the harvested follicles are planted at the affected balding region, the area from where the tissue is retrieved is closely sewn together, leaving behind a small, thin scar that is hidden by the surrounding hair.
The merits of hair transplant through the FUSS method include:
- Manageable recovery time
- The high follicle survival rate
- Results in natural-looking hair growth
- No additional or repetitive scarring
2. Follicular Unit Extraction
Unlike in FUSS where a common tissue strip is extracted and hair follicles are subsequently extracted, under the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), each hair follicle unit is extracted from the scalp and transplanted to the affected region. Hair follicles are randomly extracted through microscopic circular incisions on the scalp.
Hair transplant surgery through FUE can be manual or robotic. In a manual FUE hair transplant, the extraction of hair follicles is done through a hand-held device. On the other hand, under a robotic FUE hair transplant, the procedure is carried out by an ARTAS robot that is guided by a physician. The latter promises high precision and accuracy.
The merits of hair transplant through the FUE method include:
- High graft quality
- Results in natural-looking hair growth
- Painless procedure
- Short recovery span
- Minimal scarring in the donor area
Hair Transplant Results
Do hair transplants work? Well, the broad answer to this question is ‘Yes’. Almost 98% of the hair transplant surgeries are a success. But there is a category of best candidates for a hair transplant. If one fits the bill, the hair transplant surgery will be a success. The best candidates for hair transplant surgery are:
- Men with male pattern baldness
- Women who experience thinning of hair
- Hair loss triggered due to burning or scalp injury
Who Must Avoid Hair Transplant Surgery?
Hair transplant surgery is not recommended for:
- Women with a widespread pattern of hair loss
- People with not enough ‘donor’ hair
- People who have thick, fibrous scars post injury
- Hair loss triggered due to chemotherapy
What to Expect During a Hair Transplant Surgery?
A hair transplant surgery is almost like a visit to a dental clinic. The surgeon will thoroughly clean the scalp and numb the head with local anaesthesia. A hair transplant session typically lasts for 4-5 hours. One might require 3-4 sessions to get a full head hair transplant. Two consecutive sessions are generally gapped several months apart.
Depending upon the technique opted for – FUSS or FUE, the extraction of hair follicles will begin.
In the FUSS transplantation method, with the help of a scalpel, the surgeon will cut out a strip of the scalp from the back of the head. The incision is typically 6-10 inches long. Once the tissue is extracted, the area is sealed with stitches. From the extracted scalp tissue, hair follicles units are harvested and implanted in the affected area.
On the other hand, if you opt for the FUE hair transplant method, single units of hair follicles are extracted through tiny punch incisions across the donor area. The tiny holes are made with the help of a small blade or needle and the extracted hair follicles are gently placed in the holes. One might experience hundreds to thousands of holes per sitting. After grafting, the entire scalp is covered with gauze and bandages for the next few days.
What to Expect After Hair Transplant Surgery?
Each hair transplant session takes about 10 days to heal. During this time, the scalp will remain sore. A series of medications will be prescribed by the surgeon. These include painkillers, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Some patients may also be prescribed medicines to improve hair regrowth.
Most people return to work within a week after surgery. The next hair transplant session is generally scheduled after 3-4 weeks.
Hair Transplant Side Effects
There are a few side effects related to hair transplant procedures. These are:
- Risk of bleeding
- Risk of infection
- Swelling of the scalp
- Lack of sensation in the treated region of the scalp
- Scalp itching and irritation
- Stretching of the scalp once the crust begins to form
- Inflammation or infection in the hair follicles
- Temporary loss of the transplanted hair, also known as shock loss
- Tufted hair growth
Essential Facts About Hair Transplant Procedure
Here are some important hair transplant facts that can help you make an informed decision:
- After a successful hair transplant, the transplanted hair grows and sheds the same as natural hair.
- Hair fall is natural with transplanted hair too.
- A hair transplant is an OPD treatment and the patient can go home the same day.
- Hair transplant results are not immediate. It can take up to 12 months to witness full growth.
- Every case of pattern baldness cannot be treated by hair transplantation.
- Hair transplant results will vary from person to person.
- The success of the hair transplant surgery is linked to the person’s natural hair quality.
- The hair transplant price directly depends on the number of grafts.
Conclusion
Hair transplant comes across as an established treatment to treat baldness caused due to perpetual hair loss and hair thinning. Hair transplant surgery is an effective way to treat pattern baldness in both men and women.
The innovations in techniques and technology support two types of hair transplant procedures – Follicular Unit Strip Surgery (FUSS) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). The two techniques differ in the way the hair follicles are extracted from the donor area. In either case, hair transplant surgery is an OPD procedure carried out after administering local anaesthesia.
