After effects | Hair Transplant.org

Hair Transplant Redness?

Posted on March 21, 2011

All individuals who undergo a hair transplant can expect some side effects after the procedure. And while it is possible for a medical issue to arise, most of these side effects are more likely to bother the client from a cosmetic view point, meaning unwillingness to go out in public or let others see the scalp. Hair transplant redness, or in other words, that the skin on the scalp will be red after the hair transplant, is a common side effect that many clients will experience. And while this side effect is not a reason to worry, it can still be of concern to many clients in the post operative phase.

The reason why this redness occurs is because the hair transplant doctor needs to make hundreds or even thousands of tiny slits in the scalp so that hairs can be extracted and inserted as needed. These tiny slits can be compared to very small wounds, so it is completely normal for the skin to react by becoming red. Due to the fact that clients are given antibiotics before the surgery, the scalp is not likely to get infected. But if the redness seems excessive, abnormal and comes with pain, oozing and swelling it can indeed be signs of an infection and the doctor should be contacted. But a scalp that is just red is completely normal and not a reason to worry.

The main concern with the redness on the scalp that occurs after a hair transplant is Continue reading →

Commonly Used Hair Transplant Terms

Posted on March 2, 2011

There are many different words and terms that are frequently used in the hair transplant industry as well as among doctors who perform this procedure. While some terms might be easy to understand others are more complex. Those individuals who consider a hair transplant procedure will benefit greatly from understanding what all the different terms mean. Knowing some of the most commonly used terms will also prove helpful during the hair transplant consultation, which is something all prospective hair transplant clients will need.

When talking about thinning hair doctors might refer to alopecia, which simply means loss of hair and can be the result of different causes. But involuntary, or androgenic alopecia, is the most common form and means that hair is lost for genetic reasons. Hair transplant doctors might also mention male or female pattern baldness and both can be the result of aging, genes and hormones, but the main difference between the genders is the pattern in which the hair is lost. Females often experience overall thinning of the hair while men tend to keep the sides and the back and loose most of the hair that is on top.

A hair transplant can correct most types of hair loss, and usually means that hair will be Continue reading →

Hair Transplant Surgery – Will I Need Time off Work?

Posted on February 24, 2011

The immediate time after the surgery is what concerns many of those who consider a hair transplant. And whether or not one should take off from work becomes another major concern. But while it is possible to go back to work the following day after the hair transplant, many doctors will recommend that the client schedules a few days off from work. The exact number of days that will be needed is hard to predict and depends on many different factors, but the type of hair transplant procedure chosen will make a difference.

The two major hair transplant methods, the FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) method and the Strip technique, have a clear difference between them which might affect the time that will be needed off from work. The difference is the process in which hairs are removed from the scalp. The strip means that a strip of skin will be removed from the head from where hairs will be harvested. The FUE removes hairs individually from the scalp without the use of a scalpel. What this means is that the strip is a more invasive hair transplant procedure which will leave the client with a wound, and having this wound can lead to more pain and discomfort which in turn could make it a good idea to stay home for a little while. Continue reading →

Hair Transplant: Pain

Posted on February 18, 2011

Prospective hair transplant clients are sometimes concerned about potential pain that they might experience during the procedure, but unlike many other cosmetic procedures a hair transplant does not hurt at all while it is being performed and especially not if the client is under general anesthesia. However, many doctors are moving away from general anesthesia as they do not deem it necessary. And especially not for the FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) method which is minimally invasive. For most hair transplant procedures the client will be awake but the scalp will be numb under local anesthesia and the client is not likely to feel anything.

A handful of doctors might still use general anesthesia for the Strip, or for some other hair transplant procedure, such as a flap or a scalp reduction. Some doctors might also use general anesthesia it if the client is overly anxious and requests it, but overall it is not a must. In other words, there is no need for general anesthesia when it comes to most hair transplant procedures and definitely not in regards to the FUE hair transplant, because it is Continue reading →

Hair Transplant Surgery – What Are The Risks?

Posted on February 16, 2011

A hair transplant is generally a low risk procedure, but as with any other surgery, there is always a small risk that there can be some kind of complication. The likeliness of any small problems is highly dependent on many different factors, such as the exact method chosen and the skill of the doctor who will be performing the procedure. The reason why the method chosen makes a difference is because the two major hair transplant methods, the FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) method and the Strip surgery, have clear differences, for instance, one involves the removal of a strip of skin which will add a few additional risks.

Overall, a hair transplant is a safe procedure, especially if being treated by an experienced doctor but there is always a small possibility that something can go wrong or that the surgery will not lead to the best possible outcome. Most hair transplant procedures requires local anesthesia, which carries only a very small risk, but in healthy people there is nothing to be concerned about. Another small risk is Continue reading →

Hair Transplant Effectiveness

Posted on February 10, 2011

A hair transplant can be done on various parts of the face and body but most commonly involves removing hair from the back and sides of the head and transferring it to areas of the scalp that are thinning. As the majority of hair transplant doctors will only use the client’s own scalp hair for transplantation the hair is not considered foreign tissue and will not be rejected by the body. For most clients, the process of hair transplantation is slow, but the hair eventually grows in. Overall, a hair transplant is a very effective way of restoring hair to the scalp, but several factors should be considered.

A hair transplant is the only way to add hair to the scalp which will be permanent and remain in place for the rest of the client’s life. A variety of hair transplant techniques have been around for many decades, but thanks to new technology, excellent methods which are less invasive and that use tiny tools have been introduced in recent years. Older hair transplant methods such as scalp reductions and scalp flaps are no longer Continue reading →

Hair Transplant Numbness?

Posted on January 27, 2011

A hair transplant does come with minor risks, especially if a Strip hair transplant was chosen. These risks include the possibility of being numb in a smaller section on the back of the head. While this type of numbness is not life threatening in any way, and is not cosmetically important, it can still be of concern to many clients. This numbness can last a few days, weeks, months or years. It can also be a permanent numbness. It is hard to say in advance who will experience numbness and for how long, if at all, but it is those who choose the Strip hair transplant that face the risk.

During a Strip hair transplant procedure, the doctor will make a long linear incision in the back of the scalp where after a narrow strip of hair bearing skin will be removed. The reason why the numbness occurs is because nerves were damaged during the incision. The exact amount of skin that was removed from the scalp can affect numbness. For instance, clients who require a larger amount of grafts will need to remove a bigger strip of skin, which can lead to more numbness. The scalp laxity, or flexibility, can also affect the numbness, and so can the amount of nerves that were damaged during the strip removal process. Continue reading →

After Hair Transplant Surgery – Going Out in Public

Posted on December 31, 2010

In addition to being concerned about the hair transplant procedure itself, many prospective hair transplant clients also worry about the moment they have to step out in public for the first time after surgery. While it is fully normal to dread the day when leaving the house after a hair transplant is no longer an option but more of a must, there is rarely anything to stress about.

Perhaps the most important thing following hair transplant surgery is to take a couple of days of from work and all other activities. In addition to helping with the healing process this will also allow the client to just take it slow and adjust to the new situation, and determine whether they feel ready to step out in public or not. Continue reading →

Healing after a Hair Transplant

Posted on December 25, 2010

A hair transplant is a surgical procedure, and as with all other surgical procedures, there will be a time frame where healing is needed. The extent of the healing period will have much to do with which hair transplant procedure was chosen. There are two main hair transplant techniques today, the FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) method and the Strip procedure, and they heal differently.

The FUE hair transplant method is the least invasive approach. It does not involve any scalpels or stitches so there are no big wounds that need to heal up. On the other side, there will be hundreds or thousands of tiny incisions all over the scalp, from extracting and inserting the hair, and these incision sites would need about one week to heal and close up. With the Strip method, there will be a long linear wound on the back of the scalp. This wound will need longer to heal, and stitches or sutures will be removed after about 10 to 14 days. Continue reading →

Scarring after Hair Transplant Strip Surgery

Posted on December 13, 2010

While every hair transplant method has its pros and cons, the long linear scar is perhaps the biggest drawback when it comes to hair transplants with the Strip procedure. A hair transplant with the Strip method is still attractive to many, because it is an affordable solution that can transplant a large amount of hair in a reasonable amount of time. Despite its advantages, the scar remains a big concern with the Strip procedure, mostly because it is not always possible to predict what the scar will end up looking like.

A hair transplant with the Strip method involves removal of a strip of hair bearing skin. This strip of skin is from where hairs will be extracted and thereafter inserted into the scalp. A skilled hair transplant doctor will use a very fine wound closure technique in order to close the wound in the best way. Some doctors use the trichophytic closure technique as it provides coverage by allowing hair to grow through the scar. The skill and experience of the doctor is absolutely crucial when it comes to the final look of the scar. A skilled doctor will be able to produce a much better looking scar than an inexperienced doctor, or one who uses a poor technique. Continue reading →