Hair transplantation is not only a solution for those who have lost hair or have thinning hair, but also a method for individuals who want to reshape their hairline or achieve a more attractive appearance. But is hair transplantation really a safe and successful procedure? Is it permanent, or does it cause unwanted changes in the body?
To address these questions and clarify any doubts about this procedure, you need to understand the hair transplant process in detail and be familiar with the different hair transplant methods.
Hair Transplant Methods
Hair transplantation is a surgical procedure that involves removing hair follicles from the scalp, face (beard area), or legs and transplanting them to bald or thinning areas of the scalp. This method is also used for eyebrow and beard/mustache transplants. The latest hair transplant techniques offer permanent results and involve extracting hair follicles as grafts (singly or in pairs), resulting in significantly fewer side effects. The hair transplant process has been performed using various methods, which have evolved over time to reduce complications and improve the longevity of results.
In the Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) method, also known as strip harvesting, a thin strip of hair is removed from the back or sides of the scalp. The donor area is then stitched, and the hair above the incision covers the area, making it unnoticeable. The strip taken from the donor area is placed under special microscopes and divided into follicular units, each containing one to four hairs. These grafts are stored in a special preservative solution and kept refrigerated before being carefully transplanted into the scalp.
In Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), a newer method compared to FUT, instead of removing a strip of skin, small circular incisions are made around each follicular unit, and the grafts are extracted individually and directly from the scalp. These grafts are stored in special solutions, and, similar to the FUT method, they are transplanted to the recipient area after extraction is complete. The FUE method is a manual and time-consuming process, but it produces very natural results and leaves no visible scars, making it suitable for those who prefer short hair. However, it is not a cost-effective procedure and is time-consuming for both the doctor and the patient.
One of the best and newest hair transplant methods, which has gained significant popularity, is the MicroFIT hair transplant technique, which offers numerous advantages. In the MicroFIT method, hair follicles are extracted from the donor area using a micromotor and transplanted directly to the thinning or balding area using an implanter, without being placed in a preservative solution. One of the greatest advantages of the MicroFIT method is that it does not require shaving or trimming the hair in the donor area. Due to the short time between extraction and transplantation of each follicle, and the use of advanced micro-tools, the follicles remain undamaged, resulting in a highly successful transplant with significantly higher density compared to other methods.
Detailed Description of Hair Transplantation
The hair transplantation process includes the following steps:
Step 1: Preparation of the Donor Area
In older hair transplant methods, the donor area’s hair was shaved before the procedure began, but in newer, advanced techniques, this is no longer necessary. The donor area, or “hair bank,” is the region from which the grafts needed for transplantation are extracted, typically the back of the head between the two ears, as this area is highly resistant to hair loss. To prepare the donor area, it is first numbed with local anesthesia, and then the specific area for graft extraction is carefully identified.
Step 2: Extraction of Grafts from the Donor Area
The tissue in the donor area, which contains hair follicles resistant to hair loss, is extracted using specialized, ultra-fine tools. These tools prevent scarring and minimize damage to the grafts during extraction. In the MicroFIT hair transplant method, a tiny incision, about the size of a needle tip, is made around each graft, leaving only small red spots on the skin that heal quickly. The number of follicular units extracted in a single day ranges from 1,000 to 8,000, depending on the extent of the balding area and the density of the donor area, which is determined during the initial stage of the hair transplant process.
Step 3: Preparation of the Recipient Area
In this stage, local anesthesia is applied to the recipient area to prepare the scalp for the transplant procedure. Tiny incisions, made with needles less than 1 mm in diameter, are created in the recipient area to accommodate the hair follicles in the next step. The depth of these incisions matches the length of the follicular unit to avoid damaging blood vessels in the scalp. It’s important to note that these incisions determine the angle and direction of future hair growth to match the natural hair in the recipient area, making this stage highly critical.
Final Step: Transplantation of Grafts into the Scalp
In the final stage of hair transplantation, the follicular unit grafts are placed into the tiny incisions created in an irregular pattern in the recipient area. The smallest grafts (containing one or two hair follicles) are placed along the hairline, while larger grafts (containing three or four hair follicles) are placed in the areas behind it.
Immediately after the hair transplant, short hairs in the recipient area will show initial results. However, these transplanted hairs typically fall out within two to four weeks and begin to regrow from the third or fourth month onward. Generally, the final results of the hair transplant are visible between the tenth and fifteenth months.
Recovery Time After Hair Transplantation
Although hair transplantation is a surgical procedure, modern techniques are minimally invasive and often performed on an outpatient basis. You can return home immediately after the procedure and resume light activities. However, due to the local anesthesia, it’s advisable to have someone accompany you and drive you home. Minor side effects, such as bruising and swelling, may occur but typically resolve within seven days. During this period, you should avoid activities that could worsen these side effects. Most individuals are allowed to wash their hair after two to three days, but the exact timing should be determined by the doctor. Additionally, the scalp must be protected from sun exposure and infection for some time after the procedure. To increase the likelihood of a successful hair transplant, it’s essential to follow the doctor’s recommended guidelines, which include avoiding pressure on the transplanted hairs, keeping them clean and dry, sleeping with your head elevated, maintaining proper nutrition, and resting. Based on each individual’s condition, pre- and post-transplant care instructions will be provided to ensure faster recovery and longer-lasting results.
Facts About Hair Transplantation:
- Transplanted hair behaves like natural hair, and it takes at least one year to see the final results.
- The use of local anesthesia makes hair transplantation a painless procedure, allowing the patient to return home on the same day.
- The outcome of hair transplantation varies from person to person and depends on the natural quality of the individual’s hair. Therefore, a hair transplant does not guarantee perfect results for everyone.
- The final result of a hair transplant depends not only on the condition of the donor hair but also significantly on the individual’s overall health, the skill of the surgeon, and post-procedure care.
- The cost of hair transplantation depends on the method used and the number of grafts. The higher the number of grafts, the more expensive the procedure.
- Growth of transplanted hair begins 3 to 4 months after the procedure. Since the transplanted hair contains genetic coding that is resistant to baldness, it is less prone to falling out and provides long-lasting results.
