Frequently Asked Questions on Hair Transplantation

Hair transplantation is a process aiming to restore the process of hair growth to that part of your scalp with no hair, limited numbers of hair, or absence of hair growth. Hair transplants are the proven hair treatments for various types of hair loss; however, it does not guarantee to stop any hair loss in the future. To be more precise, Hair transplant is a surgical procedure that executed by a specialist to add extra hair to the balding or thinning area of your head. The hair transplantation process refers to taking hair from thicker parts of your scalp or from any other hairy parts of your body and grafting those hairs to the thinning or balding parts of the scalp. 

How does hair transplantation work?

If you are in confusion about whether hair transplantation work or not, then you should first understand how it actually works and what is the procedure of hair transplantation? There are commonly two parts in the working process of hair transplantation.

1- Pre-operative evaluation and planning of hair transplantation 

Your surgeon will analyze your scalp and advise you on the best approach and the expected outcome of hair transplantation. A pre-operative folliscopy (Folliscope is a software that is used to determine the level of hair growth and loss) refers to the information regarding the hair density that actually exists. With this, postoperative outcomes of your recently transplanted hair grafting can be precisely assessed. 

The patients are suggested to stay away from taking any medicines couples of the days prior to the surgery as it might result in bleeding during hair transplantation and a poor grafting as well. The patients also suggested not consuming smoking and alcohol that can result in poor grafting survival as well. Aside, some of the post-operative antibiotics are usually prescribed to avoid graft infections. 

2- Harvesting in hair transplantation

After preoperative evaluation and hair transplantation planning, harvesting in your balding or thinning parts is the most important part for a surgeon. Hair transplants usually executed on the basis of outpatient using mild sedation or injecting local anesthesia during the operation. It doesn’t require a patient staying overnight in the clinic as the total hair transplantation process needs up to 8 hours. The patient’s scalp washed with shampoo and afterward treated with a sterilized agent earlier to the donor parts of the scalp being harvested. There are a couple of techniques available to harvest hair follicles. Apart from the harvesting procedure, proper removal of the hair follicle is vital to confirm the feasibility of the transplanted hair and avoid the transaction. Transections usually take place in the recipient parts of the scalp if incisions are not made far adequate away from the adjacent hairs. Hair follicles commonly grow at a minimum angle to the surface of the skins; hence transplanted tissue must need to be detached at a parallel angle. 

Types of Hair Transplantation: Which one is more effective?

1- Follicular unit extraction 

Follicular unit extraction is known as FUE in brief and with this transplantation technique, a surgeon removes hair follicles from the donor parts with a small punch tool. This transplantation procedure is somewhat scary; however, it is not something to get scared. The person generally doesn’t require any stitches. This type of hair transplantation is found much effective to date.

2- Follicular unit strip surgery

Known as FUSS in brief and a surgeon eradicate a skin strip from the donor parts of your body and secure those parts with the stitches. Later, the doctor uses a microscope to separate the skin of the donor parts of your body into small follicular units containing one or a couple of hair follicles and adds these units into the preferred transplantation area of your scalp.

It has found both hair transplantation processes as effective; however, different types of results may come in some of the cases. As per the experts, Follicular unit extraction requires advanced skill and usually takes longer time than follicular unite strip surgery, and FUE transplantation techniques found as more effective that FUSS, as per the experience of the surgeons. However, it’s the surgeon that will fix the appropriate hair transplantation technique depending on the conditions.

Does hair transplantation work?

Hair transplantation is a proven treatment and considered more successful than hair refurbishment products, however, there are couples of factors to consider:

1. Approximately up to 80 percent of transplanted hairs most usually grow again as natural in 3 to 4 months.
2. Transplanted hair also becomes thin over time as like natural hair.
3. People that have inactive hair follicles may experience less effective hair transplantation results. Inactive hair follicles refer to the hairs under the skin, however, not growing.

Is hair transplantation effective for all?

Hair transplantation is not effective for all as they are generally used to restore your hair if you are thinning or balding by nature or you have lost your hair due to any injury. Since most of the hair transplantations are executed with existing hair, so this transplantation is not effective to treat in the following conditions.

1. Extensive baldness and thinning on your scalp.
2. You are experiencing hair loss due to various medications or chemotherapy.
3. Injury in the thick scalp.

How long does hair transplantation last?

Hair transplantation is considered the most effective option to restore the process of your hair growth. During the hair transplantation, the surgeon uses your hair follicles to graft the parts of your scalp that are balding or thinning. Such transplanted hairs are usually resistant to DHT hormone (Dihydrotestosterone) which causes hair loss and other health issues. Because of DHT resistant, the transplanted hairs continue to grow, even though the adjacent non-transplanted hairs continue to fall out. Hence, hair transplantation lasts almost a lifetime if any other serious health issues will not suffer you in the future.

How often should you visit the surgeon after hair transplantation?

Though your surgeon will advise and prescribe you regarding precautions, medications, and rest after hair transplantation, however, you may need to visit your surgeon quite regularly for a check-up. Though it is a lengthy process, visiting your surgeon after hair transplantation is normally limited to two or three times.

Pros and Cons of Hair Transplantation

Before moving into anything, you should have insights concerning its pros and cons. For your better understanding, some pros and cons of hair transplantation are the following.

Pros of Hair Transplantation

1. Hair transplantation is a very complicated surgical procedure that can provide you a guarantee regarding the growth of healthy hair in thin for balding parts.
2. The outcomes of hair transplantation are always intended at natural and subtle looking.
3. Except for a little follow up, the exciting part of a hair transplant is that you will find your hair as the completely functional, no maintenance hassle.

Cons of Hair transplantation

1. Hair transplantation is a surgical treatment and needs a long hour to complete. Some of the patients may find it scary during treatment.
2. Recovery time is usually longer in the range of 10 days to 3 weeks that is tough to manage for a busy working person.
3. Hair transplantation cost usually high.

How much does a hair transplantation cost?

Based on your location, transplantation procedures, types of transplantation, how much hair you need to transplant, and other variable factors, the approximate cost of hair transplantation typically in the range of $4,000 to $15,000.

You can’t estimate it with your own as you need to consider a number of factors and associated expenses. Hence, it’s better to consult with your surgeon and get a detailed hair transplantation plan including schedule, types of transplantation, medication, check-up and follow-up, other related processes, and the exact cost of the total hair transplantation.