A hair transplant is a procedure during which a plastic surgeon or dermatologist moves hair to a bald area of the head. The surgeon usually moves hair from the rear side of the head to the front or top of the head. Hair transplants typically occur in a hospital or clinic under local anesthesia.
According to Dr. Gajanan Jadhao who is known for the best hair transplant in Pune, pattern baldness is liable for the bulk of hair loss. This is mostly due to genetics. The remaining cases are because of many other things, including:
• Diet
• Stress
• Illness
• Hormonal imbalance
• Medications
Are there different types of hair transplants?
There are two sorts of transplant procedures: slit grafts and micrograft’s. Slit grafts usually contain 4 to 10 hair follicles per graft. Micrograft’s contain 1 to 2 hairs per graft, based on the quantity of coverage needed. The cost a of hair transplant also varies based on the type of hair transplant opted for. It also depends upon the place of treatment. Hair transplant cost in Mumbai is comparatively less due to the easy availability of advanced technology & highly experienced surgeons.
What happens during a hair transplant?
After thoroughly cleaning your scalp, a surgeon will use a small needle to numb an area of your scalp with the help of local anesthesia. Two main techniques are wont to obtain follicles for transplantation: FUT and FUE.
Follicular unit transplantation (FUT)
The surgeon will use a scalpel to chop out a strip of the scalp skin from the rear of the head. The incision is usually several inches long. This is then closed with stitches. The surgeon next separates the removed portion of the scalp into small sections with the help of a magnifying lens and sharp knife. When implanted, these sections will grow as natural-looking hair growth.
Follicular unit extraction (FUE)
The hair follicles are cut out directly from the rear of the head through hundreds to thousands of small punch incisions. The surgeon makes small holes in the recipient area with the help of a pen-like machine which usually has a rotating blade or needle. They gently place hairs in these holes. In one session, a surgeon usually transplants hundreds or even thousands of hair follicles.
Post-surgery
What is a happens during hair transplant? After the process is done, gauze or bandages will cover your scalp for a couple of days. A hair transplant session usually takes four to six hours. Stitches in the donor area will be removed about 10 days after surgery. You may require up to 3 or four sessions to realize the complete result that you desire. There are gaps of several months between sessions to permit each transplant to completely heal.
What happens after a hair transplant?
• You’ll have to take medications after the hair transplant surgery. Your doctor might recommend pain medication & antibiotics to scale back your risk of infection, anti-inflammatory medications to keep swelling down.
• Most people are able to return to their daily life several days after surgery.
• Usually, the transplanted hair will fall out two to three weeks after the procedure. This makes way for new hair growth. Most of the people will observe visible hair growth 8 to 12 months after surgery.
• Many doctors prescribe minoxidil (Rogaine) or the hair growth medication finasteride (Propecia) to enhance hair regrowth. These medications also prevent future hair loss.
Who might get a hair transplant?
Receiving a hair transplant will surely improve your appearance and self-confidence. Following are the cases where a doctor considers opting for a hair transplant:
• Men with male pattern baldness.
• Women with thinning hair.
• Hair loss from a burn or external injury.
Hair replacement isn’t the best option for:
• Women with a scattered pattern of hair loss throughout the scalp.
• People who don’t have enough hair density in donor sites from which hair follicles are harvested for transplant.
• People whose hair loss is because of medication like chemotherapy.
Complications of a hair transplant:
Side effects from a hair transplant are usually minor and clear up within a couple of weeks. They can include:
• Bleeding.
• Infection.
• Swelling of the scalp.
• Bruising around the eyes.
• A crust that forms on the donor or recipient areas of the scalp.
• Itching.
• Inflammation or infection of the hair follicles, which is commonly known as folliculitis.
• Temporary loss of the transplanted hair.
• Unnatural-looking tufts of hair.
What is the long-term outlook?
Typically, people who’ve had a hair transplant will still grow hair in the transplanted areas of the scalp. The new hair density depends on:
• Scalp laxity.
• The density of follicles within the transplanted zone.
• Hair caliber or quality.
• Hair curl.
If you don’t take medication (such as minoxidil or finasteride) or undergo any type of laser therapy, you’ll still experience hair loss in non-treated areas of your scalp. You must discuss your expected outcome from the treatment with your surgeon as this will help to develop realistic expectations.
