Hair Transplant — Hair transplant 101

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 →

When a Hair Transplant May Not Be Optimal

Posted on December 28, 2010

A hair transplant done today almost always leads to an excellent, natural looking result and a satisfied client; however there are times when a hair transplant may not be a realistic solution. This means that not everyone with thinning hair can or should undergo hair transplantation. There are many different times when a hair transplant is not optimal, and this should be taken into consideration by anyone who is planning to have a hair transplant.

One of the more obvious times when a hair transplant is not optimal is if the client is too young in age. While there are certainly doctors who will operate on anyone regardless of age, the vast majority of doctors will not undertake a client who is too young. While young can be defined in different ways, it is most often someone in their early 20’s. This is mainly because their hair loss patterns have not been established yet. What this means is that the client will most likely continue to loose hair, but in a unpredictable way. This could lead to the hair transplant being counterproductive, because it could result in a strange look, with for instance, the transplanted hair on the frontal parts of the scalp, but visible baldness right behind it. 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 →

Hair Transplant Surgery: What are the Options?

Posted on December 22, 2010

A hair transplant is a popular procedure that can effectively restore hair to any area of the scalp. The final result will be available about one year after surgery, but the transplanted hair is permanent and will grow for a lifetime. To individuals with thinning hair, the thought of having fuller hair again is so attractive, that a hair transplant has become one of the most popular cosmetic procedures of our time. So what are the options when it comes to hair transplantation? There is more then one way to have a hair transplant.

While there are many different techniques and variations when it comes to the art of hair transplantation, the two most common ones are the FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) hair transplant and the Strip hair transplant. These are by far the two methods that are most frequently performed. While the insertion technique for the hair follicles with these two methods is very similar, it is the extraction method of the hairs that differs quite a lot. With the FUE, hair follicles are removed individually from the scalp, one by one, and then re-inserted into areas where hair is needed. With the Strip, a strip of hair bearing skin is removed from the back of the scalp, from where after the wound is closed up and hair follicles are dissected and transferred to other areas. Continue reading →

Hair Transplant Terms: What is Graft Survival?

Posted on December 19, 2010

When it comes to terms that are used in the hair transplant industry, graft survival simply refers to the individual graft’s ability to survive once it has been transplanted. Graft survival is important because no one has an unlimited donor supply. Everyone has a certain amount of donor hair that can be used, and this precious hair should not be wasted. An ethical doctor would want to successfully transplant as many hairs as possible, and that’s why he or she needs to constantly pay attention to and improve their graft survival rate.

So how can one make sure that donor hair is not wasted and that all grafts survive? While there are no guarantees that every single transplanted hair will survive, there are several measures one can take to increase the graft survival rate. The very first step is to find an excellent hair transplant doctor. Consulting with an experienced doctor who is extremely meticulous about their work paves the way for a successful hair transplant with a very high graft survival rate. Continue reading →

Hair Transplant Financing

Posted on December 16, 2010

A hair transplant is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures of our time, but is also one of the more costly ones, with fees running as high as many thousands of dollars. Given that not everyone who needs or wants a hair transplant has loads of money, there are ways in which this procedure can be afforded and financed.

Someone who may not be able to pay for the hair transplant in full should first raise this concern to the hair transplant doctor. This is because hair transplant clinics often have special arrangements with 3rd party financing companies. They might be able to offer a better deal than one would otherwise find, and that is why it is important to ask. And while interest rates with these 3rd party financing companies can be high, it is possible to find a reasonable option. 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 →

Is There Any Scarring From an FUE Hair Transplant?

Posted on November 19, 2010

One of the more highly debated topics in the hair transplant industry is whether an FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) hair transplant leaves any scarring or not. During an FUE procedure hair grafts are extracted one by one using microsurgical tools. This is different from the Strip procedure, where a strip of hair bearing skin is removed. The strip procedure is known to leave a linear scar on the back of the scalp, but there is still confusion regarding how much, if any, scarring is left from an FUE procedure.

Whether there will be any visible scarring from an FUE hair transplant procedure depends on a few different factors. The skill and experience of the doctor who will be performing the FUE is perhaps the most critical part. Extreme precision when extracting and inserting hair grafts is needed, in order to avoid damage to the surrounding skin. Continue reading →

Hair Transplant Techniques: Creating a Natural Looking Hair Line

Posted on November 17, 2010

Creating a natural looking hair line is one of the most critical factors when it comes to a successful hair transplant. A natural hair line is difficult to mimic and requires a very high degree of technical and artistic skill. If the client’s hair line is not created with utmost expertise, it can easily reveal the fact that a hair transplant was done.

Whether the hairline will end up looking natural or not depends on several factors. The first step to having a successful hair transplant with a natural looking hair line is to consult only one of the best hair transplant doctors available. Most hair transplant doctors have different techniques in what they believe will create the most natural looking hairline, and prospective hair transplant clients would need to find a doctor who they trust and feel comfortable with. Continue reading →

A Hair Transplant Without Any Hair Loss?

Posted on November 15, 2010

Not everyone who is interested in a hair transplant is experiencing any significant amount of hair loss. In fact, it is fairly common for men and women alike to want to increase the amount of hair on the head, without seeing any balding or excess loss of hair, and this is where doing a hair transplant becomes of interest.

Many hair transplant doctors are open to doing a hair transplant on someone who is not balding, as long as the client is considered a good candidate. And what makes someone a good candidate for a hair transplant where there is no hair loss will ultimately depend on the hair transplant doctor, as they all have different criterions. The most basic qualifications for being able to do a hair transplant, regardless of hair loss, is that the client is not too young, is healthy, and has an acceptable amount of donor hair. Continue reading →