What is a hair transplant?
Hair Transplant is a surgical procedure where small, healthy groups of hair are taken from a healthy section of the scalp and implanted in areas of thinning and balding on the scalp. Hair transplants are an ideal solution to male & female pattern hair loss, otherwise referred to as androgenic alopecia.
What is Androgenic Alopecia?
Androgenic Alopecia is hereditary hair loss that occurs gradually over a period of some months or years in both men and women. Androgenic Alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss in humans, affecting 50% of the world’s population.
Female pattern hair loss often manifests as thinning all over the scalp. It might also present as a widening or thinning of the usual parting.
Male pattern hair loss typically involves progressive hair loss above the temples, creating an unnaturally exaggerated “M” shape, and/or thinning starting at the crown of the head and progressing forward.
Treating Androgenic Alopecia:
- Treatment options include:
- Non-Surgical Treatments, and;
- Surgical Treatments
- Non-surgical:
- Medical Therapy: Medical therapy involves prescription medication to stabilize hair loss if you are suffering from Male pattern hair loss or female pattern hair loss.
- Platelet-Rich Plasma(PRP): PRP treatment stimulates new cells under the skin to assist with regrowth and thinning of the hair.
- Low Level Laser therapy(LLLT) : Low level laser therapy works by directly stimulating the hair follicles growth and lengthening their growth cycle.
- Surgical:
- Hair transplants are a surgical procedure performed under local anesthesia. Healthy, tiny, practically unnoticeable Follicular Unit Grafts are taken from healthy sections of the scalp and implanted into the problem area.
What is a Follicular Unit?
Hair does not grow in single strands most of the time. Instead, most people’s hair will grow in groups of 1, 2, 3 or 4 hairs. These groups of hairs are referred to as a Follicular Unit. On average, a person will grow 2 hairs in each Follicular Unit.
The degree of balding or thinning a person is experiencing determines the number of Follicular Unit Grafts needed for the transplant. As the hair is taken from the same head and in natural groupings like this, the results of hair transplant surgery look completely natural.
What is hair transplant surgery like?
- The two most popular techniques for hair transplant surgeries are;
- Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT), and;
- Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT):
Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT) involves removing a thin strip of skin from the donor area at the back of the scalp. This strip is carefully divided into individual grafts, which are then implanted into the recipient areas such as the crown, temple, or forehead. FUT provides a naturally dense appearance, and the resulting scar is minimal and easily hidden if the hair is longer than 1 cm.
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE):On the other hand, Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) entails extracting individual follicular units or grafts using a micro motorised device. This technique ensures minimal damage to the hair grafts during extraction. The extracted grafts are then implanted in the recipient area, creating a seamless and dense result. The donor area may have microscopic dot-like scars, but they typically fade within 2 weeks, leaving a natural look.
Both FUT and FUE techniques prioritize the aesthetic outcome while preserving the donor area’s appearance.
FAQ's
Yes, completely safe.
Only one transplant would suffice. Results will become visible after 3-6 months, with full results revealed after around 12 months.
Anybody who has lost his/her hair gradually over some months or years is an ideal candidate for a hair transplant.
Depending on how many grafts need to be implanted, based on the severity of baldness or thinning, the whole procedure will likely take a couple of hours.
Yes, the results of a hair transplant are visibly long-lasting and are considered permanent.
