Preparing hair for Transplantation

Hair makes an important part of a person's body and personality. It protects the head from losing heat and prevents harmful solar radiation from reaching the scalp. Hair that forms the eyebrows is directed such that it protects the eyes from water or sweat running down the forehead. Aesthetically, hair makes a person look younger, more attractive, and good looking in general. That is why people who suffer from hair loss are anxious to undergo hair transplant, or hair restoration.

Hair loss is more severe a problem among men, though women do suffer from it. Aging, hormonal imbalance, genetic tendency to hair loss, skin infections, and injuries are some of the many causes that cause hair loss and bring baldness. One of the increasingly popular methods of hair restoration is hair transplant i.e. a surgical procedure in which the surgeon takes hair from healthier, hair-bearing parts of the head and implants them in bald areas where they grow and cover the baldness. Thus, hair transplant, or surgical hair restoration, is a redistribution of the hair.

In most cases, hair transplant surgery does not require the patient to stay at hospital. It is performed in the cosmetic clinic. The patient is advised on the details and requirements of surgery and the procedure is performed under local anesthesia, i.e. making only the scalp insensitive with a sedative. In unusual cases, general anesthesia may be given to make the patent unconscious throughout the procedure.

Hair grafts differ in size and shape, ranging from mini-grafts with up to four hairs to round punched grafts (up to 15 hairs) and longer strip grafts (about 30 to 40 hairs). It usually takes more than one session for satisfactory hair restoration. There is a gap of several months between successive sessions, allowing complete healing from the surgery. Grafts are usually spaced at about 8 inches apart so as to allow optimal circulation of blood across the scalp. After grafting, the doctor will cleanse and cover the patient's scalp, usually with gauze. The doctor may ask the patient for wearing a pressure bandage for a couple of days, though recovering without bandage may also be chosen by some doctors.

An important surgical method of hair restoration is the flap surgery, which has been successfully employed by cosmetic surgeons for over two decades. In flap surgery, a hair-bearing flap on the head is cut at one end and sewn at another position such that it covers a bald patch of the scalp while still remaining attached to one end of its former position. This is a quicker surgical method of hair restoration, covering relatively large parts of the head affected with baldness.

Hair transplant is usually a fairly safe procedure. In a few cases, bleeding, scarring of the scalp and infection may occur. The patient may have a sensation of numbness in the operated parts but it usually gets to normal in 2 to 3 months. Another undesirable possibility is that of temporary loss of hair.

Questions and Answers:

What are Hair Transplants and How Do They Work?

Hair transplant procedures rely on the genetics of hair growth. In the vast majority of people who lose their hair, a sizable portion of hair never falls out. This hair usually a fringe above the ears and around the back, is genetically encoded to grow throughout life. It is this permanently growing hair that serves as the "donor" region. The roots, or follicles, are removed and transplanted to a thinning area. Unlike hair weaves or wigs, the transplanted hair is permanent and will continue to grow indefinitely.

What happens to the "donor area" of my head?

With new techniques, the donor area is enclosed and surrounding hair covers the site completely, usually leaving the surgery undetectable even immediately after a procedure.

Is there any way I can look inconspicuous?

New methods of grafting offer a solution. Donor grafts are divided to create micro and mini grafts consisting of one to five hairs. They provide a natural hairline without the need for messy bandages and little scabbing after surgery.

Does it hurt?

The procedure itself is virtually painless. We use a local anesthetic after which you should feel very comfortable. The first evening you may opt to take prescribed pain medication, but most require nothing stronger than Tylenol or ibuprofen. Few people require any medication the second day or beyond.

When can I return to work and normal activities?

Recovery from hair transplant surgery is generally quick. Most people return to work the next day. You can perform most normal daily living activities immediately. Strenuous activity can be usually within a week.

Do I have to worry about infection and swelling?

As part of the hair transplant restoration surgery procedure, antibiotics are commonly prescribed to prevent infection as well as an anti-inflammatory medication to control and reduce swelling.

How much hair can I expect?

Your results from hair transplant restoration surgery are dependent upon the shape and extent of your current and future hair loss: the texture, color, nature and thickness of your donor hair and the number of sessions you have.

How many grafts can be done at one time?