Hair transplants are a cosmetic procedure that moves healthy hair from one part of your scalp to bald or thinning areas. Your dermatologist can do this by cutting a strip of skin with healthy hairs, making tiny cuts in the bald spot, and moving healthy hairs.
The days of the infamous “hair plug” are long gone, and these procedures use micro-grafts for a natural look. The results are not permanent, though.
Hair loss is a sign of aging
Hair loss can be a sign of aging, but it doesn’t have to be permanent. People have been dealing with thinning or receding hair for centuries. They’ve used hats, hairpieces, and wigs to cover up their bald spots and give themselves a youthful appearance.
However, if your hair is thin and light-coloured, the results may be better than those of thicker, darker-coloured hair. This is because thin, light-coloured hair doesn’t grow as well as thicker, dark-colored hair.
The hair transplant procedure is complex. It requires a surgeon who has specialized in the field. It is also an expensive operation. It is usually not covered by health insurance, although rare exceptions exist.
There is always a risk of complications, including infection and bleeding. It is also possible that the transplanted hair will fall out and not regrow or that a noticeable scar will form. However, if these problems are treated promptly by a skilled surgeon, they should be minimized. Medications can also help with ongoing hair growth and prevent further thinning.
You’re a smoker
Smoking affects your body in various ways. It can cause a variety of ailments, such as lung cancer, heart disease, and poor circulation, among others. It also reduces the ability of your immune system to work efficiently. This can lead to infections at the hair transplant site, resulting in poor graft growth.
Smokers should stop smoking for at least a week before and a week after their hair transplant. This is because the chemicals found in cigarettes interfere with blood flow. Nicotine causes the blood vessels to harden and constrict. This limits the oxygen supply to the follicles, which makes it difficult for them to grow.
Another problem with smoking is that it can increase bleeding during the procedure. This can cause the surgeon pain as it slows the healing process. In addition, some medications that you might be taking for other conditions like heart disease or diabetes can increase the bleeding during and after surgery. Even certain natural supplements such as vitamin E and fish oil can increase the amount of bleeding during a hair transplant.
You’re a woman
Women who suffer from hair loss due to hormonal changes can benefit from a transplant. However, a woman’s hair differs from a man’s, so the procedure for hair restoration must be customized to her needs.
The first step is a consultation and evaluation. During this time, the surgeon will examine your scalp to determine if you are a good candidate for a transplant. This will also help you understand your options and what to expect during recovery.
Many women think their only option is to use a wig or topical creams. Still, hair transplant surgery can be an excellent solution for those suffering from thinning hair and receding hairlines. A hair transplant can give you back a full head of healthy and natural-looking hair that will last for the rest of your life.
During the hair transplant process, your surgeon will harvest healthy, full-size, vigorously growing follicles from a part of your scalp known as the donor area. Although it’s common for men to use the top of their heads as the donor area, women often choose other places to extract follicles, such as their arms, chest, and even eyebrows.
You’re a man
A hair transplant is a surgical procedure that relocates healthy hair follicles from the back and sides of your scalp to the crown and hairline. The goal is to produce a natural-looking, full head of hair, even if you’re balding.
Historically, men were left with large “plugs” that screamed, “transplant.” Today, hair restoration surgeons use a technique called FUE two (follicular unit extraction), in which they remove individual hair follicles directly from the donor site without removing a strip of tissue from the back or side of the head. The result is a less-invasive surgery with excellent results.
Although there are risks associated with any surgery, hair transplantation for men is considered safe when performed by a qualified plastic surgeon. However, like any surgery, there is a possibility of infection. Disease symptoms may include fever, pain, edema, and pus formation in the recipient or donor areas. It’s essential to consult your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms. They will determine whether they are a symptom of a severe condition. A doctor can also recommend medications to treat any infection.
You’re balding
Hair transplantation is not a good solution for people with very little or no hair. During the surgery, your dermatologist will take healthy hair follicles from a densely-haired area of the scalp (usually the back of the head) and implant them into a place where hair growth is either sparse or thinning. You may need more than one session to get satisfactory coverage.
A surgeon will use a local anesthetic and a sedative for your comfort. The procedure will usually take four to eight hours. During this time, you will be awake but relaxed.
The surgeon will cut a strip of skin with hair follicles from the top or sides of your head, known as the donor site, and then snip it into tiny grafts. There are different methods of delivering these grafts. Some are round-shaped and known as punch grafts; others are smaller mini- and micro-grafts, each containing between two and four hairs. Once these follicles are in place, they will grow normally, giving you the appearance of fuller hair.