A hair transplant is a long and complex process, but more importantly, a highly unique one. The exact nature of the surgery as well as post operative results will depend on the method chosen, the client’s individual needs and the doctors preferred technique. This is because there are several hair transplant methods available today, hair loss can look very different between individuals and each doctor develops their own method for doing things. But most hair transplant procedures are still comparable and knowing what a hair transplant might entail from start to finish, can give an insight into what a hair transplant really is like and whether it seems like a doable solution.
The very first step for anyone considering a hair transplant is to find a hair clinic with a good reputation and schedule a consultation. Scheduling another consultation at a different clinic can also be good to get a second opinion. During the consultation the doctor will assess the hair loss and suggest a plan for restoring the hair. Hair is taken from the clients own scalp and is placed in a natural looking pattern so the end result is likely to be one that no one can detect. The hair transplant will most likely be conducted with one of the two major hair transplant methods, the Strip or the FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) method.
Before the actual hair transplant surgery the doctor will give the client a list of pre operative instructions and these must be followed because they will contribute to a better outcome. The client needs to set aside a whole day for the surgery as it will take many hours. Both hair transplant methods usually require only local anesthesia, so the client can be awake during the procedure and even watch TV in some cases. Both methods can also be identical when it comes to the insertion process, but it is the extraction process that looks different. During the Strip method, a long, narrow strip of skin will be removed from where after hair grafts will be collected and the wound will be sutured together. With the FUE, hair grafts are extracted one by one directly from the scalp.
After the hair transplant, some redness, swelling and tiny scabs can be expected but these will be gone after a few weeks. Some of the transplanted hair can shed, but the root of the hair remains and new hair will grow in the coming months. One year later, the hair transplant is complete as all hair has grown in. Both hair transplant methods have pros and cons, with the FUE being a gentler but also a more time consuming and therefore expensive choice. The Strip method is faster and less costly, but some prospective hair transplant clients are concerned about a possible scar. With some research and a couple of consultations the client should be able to make a choice that feels right.
This question might be answered on this site, but I didn’t see it, so forgive me if it is mentioned on this website. My question is, can successful hair transplant be performed on an area that has no hair folicles? My head was wounded about 6 years ago, and a big part of the top of my head was torn off my skull. The size of this wound was about the size of the bottom of a coke can or drinking glass, and for a while, that was the size of the exposed area of my skull. Skin has grown and healed over, but I no longer have hair there, because that area no longer has hair folicles. I am almost 50 and my hair grows just as fast as it always has, so I am nowhere near balding, but I do have a bald spot now. I would like to know if I could get a hair transplant on this area, or does there have to be existing hair folicles in order for a hair transplant to work? I am tired of wearing baseball caps. =D
A hair transplant should be possible but you need to have in mind that scar tissue isn’t as elastic as the rest of your skin and won’t be as good in keeping the transplanted hair in place. You would need to consult with a doctor to make sure the scar tissue is enough to support the transplant.