The scabs that form after a hair transplant are the result of the hundreds or thousands of tiny slits that the doctor has to make during the procedure. These slits are required in order to extract or accommodate hairs. Depending on method chosen, slits might be made during the extraction process, but most definitely during the insertion process. Immediately after the hair transplant these tiny slits will be wounds, but only after a day or so start forming into scabs. The scabs can look unappealing or itch but it is important not to pick on them, because the hair grafts can be attached to them, so if the scab is picked on, the graft can get dislodged. Picking on the scabs too early on can also lead to scarring, so it must be avoided.

Hair transplant doctors will show their clients how to wash their hair, and these instructions are there to protect the transplant and should always be followed. If most of the scabs have started to fall off it can be ok to help the rest along by wetting the scalp, applying a shampoo or conditioner, wait a few minutes which will soften the scabs, and then try to gently massage the scalp in order to make the last scabs fall off. But again, being gentle is very important because if the scabs are not ready to be removed the hairs might come off with them which would defeat the whole purpose of the hair transplant. Perhaps it would be best to not try to make the scabs come off at all, but let them come off in their own time.

When the scabs have fallen off, the hair grafts should be securely attached to the scalp, just like any other hair, and can in fact be treated the same way, including brushed, blow dried and styled. Once all of the scabs are gone there might be some redness, but this redness will also go away in the coming days or weeks after the hair transplant.  As hair starts to grow in it can cause pimples which later bursts as hair wants to come through. This process can lead to new scabs. But overall, all types of scabs will be gone a couple of weeks or no longer than a couple of months after the surgery. It is important to remember that everyone is unique and most cases are completely normal.

Several different factors can affect the hair transplant failure rate, such as the way in which hair grafts were extracted, trimmed and inserted. The doctor must employ a very refined technique and use the smallest tools possible in order not to damage the hair follicles. How the grafts are prepared before they are inserted can also make a difference, as hair transplant doctors often discuss fat vs. skinny grafts and many doctors believe that fat or chubby grafts, where most of the fat is left intact, results in a lower failure rate. How long grafts were out of the body and whether they were in a special solution to prevent them from drying out can also make a difference. Dry grafts are less likely to take root in their new location.

Many hair transplant doctors pride themselves in having a very low failure rate, only a few percent, meaning that only a very small amount of the transplanted hairs may or may not grow, but the rest will take root as planned. But a few weeks after the hair transplant some or most of the transplanted hairs might shed, but this is not a reason to think that the hair transplant was a failure; this is simply normal and can be expected. The hair that fell out will grow back because the root of the hair remains and will grow new hair in the coming months. The new hair is then permanent and can be treated like any other hair.

With all the advancements that have been made in the hair transplant industry in recent years, including new research, studies, better strategies, and improved tools failures are simply rare. And if choosing one of the best hair transplant doctors in the field, the risk of a failure is even lower. A hair transplant is an efficient and proven method that can transplant hair as needed. Perhaps the most important part of avoiding a hair transplant failure is choosing the right doctor. And with some research, that shouldn’t be too hard.

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.

During the hair transplant consultation good communication between the doctor and the client is crucial. The client should ask everything that comes to mind, as no question is too big or too small. If anything is unclear the client should make sure that the doctor clarifies and explains accordingly. The client should never hesitate to ask plenty of questions, as a good hair transplant doctor will be pleased to answer all of them and make sure his client is comfortable during the entire consultation.

A good place to start is to ask the doctor what type of hair transplant he or she recommends and why they recommend it. Find out exactly what will be done during the procedure, meaning how the doctor will conduct the hair transplant. Also ask about the doctor’s experience with the type of hair transplant in question, and inquire about before and after pictures of previous clients. Some doctors will allow clients to speak with other clients who have had the procedure, and this might also be a good idea.

No one wants a hair transplant that will be noticeable to others, so asking about this is imperative. Ask if the hair transplant will look natural and see what the doctor says. The doctor should not hesitate in promising you a natural look because the best doctors in this field can produce undetectable hair transplants, meaning a hair transplant that no one can spot. Ask about the doctor’s artistic abilities, if he or she takes pride in creating a natural hair line: one that mimics the original one. The hair line is the first thing people will see, and it is crucial that hairs are placed in a natural looking way that matches with the clients existing hair and facial features.

Asking what type of anesthesia will be used during the hair transplant as well as pre and post operative instructions is also a good idea. The doctor might start to sketch a plan and the client should ask how the doctor plans to restore their hair and ask them to draw a line on the scalp to show what the results will look like. How long the hair transplant session will take and whether one or several sessions will be needed should also be discussed. And finally, the total cost for the hair transplant, financial concerns as well as the need for a financing plan should also be brought up.

Contemplating on whether a hair transplant is right or wrong and trying to decide if it is the correct choice is a complicated matter that should never be rushed. The first step for anyone who is loosing their hair is to go to their regular doctor and see if there are any underlying causes that are contributing to the hair loss. Sometimes, medications, treatable illnesses or even stress can be the reason for the thinning hair so assuming that a hair transplant is the solution to any hair loss is not accurate.

Once the doctor has determined that the hair loss cannot be reversed the client might want to look into permanent hair restoration which is what a hair transplant is. However, a hair transplant is not right for every person and far from everyone will make a good candidate. A hair transplant can be right for an individual who has dealt with hair loss for many years and already tried every other option. This is because some individuals feel satisfied with other hair loss treatment options. A hair transplant is also permanent, and someone who is not sure about a permanent change may not want a hair transplant.

If the client is young in age, he or she should wait a few years before considering a hair transplant, because the hair loss pattern needs time to mature. Transplanting hair on a scalp where the final pattern is not established can result in an unnatural look as hair loss continues. Clients with unrealistic expectations or high demands may also want to consider other options, as hair transplant doctors cannot give the client an unlimited amount of hair but only redistribute the hair that already exists.

Being able to afford the hair transplant is also important, as financing plans will not be approved for everyone. Committing to pre and post operative instructions given by the doctor as well as staying healthy is essential as these factors will contribute to a good end result. And finally, displaying a good amount of patience, as the transplanted hair takes a long time to grow in, is also important. But if all of these aspects sounds agreeable, a hair transplant might just be the right option for you too.

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, again, that it is cosmetically unpleasing. Immediately after the hair transplant the client might also have some swelling which can make the redness appear worse, but this swelling should go down in the coming days while the redness can last much longer, for several weeks or in a few cases even longer. However, for some clients the redness doesn’t last longer than a couple of days. No two cases are identical and everyone will have a unique experience.

The exact degree of redness that will follow a hair transplant is hard to predict in advance. The redness will depend on several different factors, with one being the skin complexion of the individual. Pale individuals might experience more redness that lasts longer than those with dark skin where the redness may never be noticeable. Those with sensitive and reactive skin might also have more redness than others. Healthy individuals with good healing abilities will heal faster and have less redness than others.

Luckily, the redness after a hair transplant will for most people go away after a couple of weeks and the skin will go back to its regular tone. Scarring will also fade in the coming months. But clients who are concerned about the redness being noticeable to others can apply a topical steroid, foundation or tinted lotion to the scalp or wear a hat, but these tricks and especially hats should be used as little as possible as to not restrict air and blood flow.

In the days following hair transplant surgery, focus should not lie on hair styling but on the proper healing of the skin. The client will have hundreds or thousands of tiny wounds and possibly also a larger linear wound on the back of the scalp if the Strip hair transplant method was chosen. These tiny wounds will turn into scabs, and the client should not brush on or pull the skin during this time as this can lead to scarring or the possibility that hair grafts become dislodged. Soon after the surgery clients can gently wash their scalp as indicated by their doctor, but any major hair styling is still not an option. Strictly following the instructions given by the doctor is important in order to allow the scalp to heal and avoid any harm.

Once the tiny wounds are healed and scabs are gone the hair grafts that were transplanted cannot be displaced. At this point the client will have more options in regards to hair styling. The client can treat their hair as normal as long as there is no discomfort but there still won’t be much hair to style. Around this time most clients will notice that some or most of the transplanted hair shave shed, but there is no need to worry as these hairs will grow back. Once the permanent hair starts to grow in, which will happen in the coming months, the client can style the hair in any way, but the hair transplant won’t be complete at this point.

About one year after the hair transplant surgery, the client should be able to style their hair the way they imagined, because all the hair will be grown in at this point. Products that will help the styling, such as sprays, gels and mousses can be used freely. The hair can also be dyed to give it a new look. Blow drying can add volume and body to the hair. The hair can be styled, parted and combed in any way and the client should experiment with different styles to find one that suits them best. Proper styling and grooming of the hair after a hair transplant is important because it will have an overall positive effect.

While it may seem unnecessary to disclose nearly everything about ones lifestyle, it is crucial when it comes to hair transplant surgery. There is no need to be ashamed about certain habits, such as smoking, because the doctor has most likely already met many clients with the same habit before, and will use the information solely to help the client reach the best outcome possible. Oftentimes the hair transplant doctor will give the client a chance to stop drinking, smoking and taking any drugs or herbs a couple of weeks prior to the surgery, which will reduce any risks significantly and have a positive effect on the clients health.

Excess drinking, meaning frequent intake of alcohol, can interfere with certain medications or lead to other complications, such as bleeding, during or after a hair transplant. Preferably, alcohol should be avoided a couple of weeks prior to surgery. Smoking cigarettes or any other kind of tobacco can also have a negative effect on the hair transplant and clients should, if they can, stop smoking in good time before the surgery. Smoking can negatively affect the blood circulation or cause bleeding. Smoking can also diminish the blood vessels in the skin and reducing blood supply to the scalp, which can increase the risk that grafts that will not take root in their new location. In addition, smoking can impact the skins ability to heal properly. It is possible to undergo a hair transplant despite smoking and drinking, but these clients will need to understand that the results may not be as good as they could have been.

Any type of drugs can interfere with other medications that the doctor prescribes before, during and after the hair transplant, and can cause complications and side effects. Prescription medicines as well as over the counter medications, even aspirin, can also cause side effects, such as bleeding, and intake of any of these should be reported to the doctor. Vitamin supplements, especially vitamin E, and certain herbal products can also have a similar effect. And lastly, stress in the days and weeks after a hair transplant should also be avoided as stress is known to impair the body’s natural ability to fight infection and heal properly.

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 transplanted from less important areas of the client scalp, such as the back and sides, to more important ones like the top and frontal parts of the head. At this point the doctor will mention donor and recipient areas of the scalp: the donor area is from where hairs are taken and the recipient area is where hairs are inserted.  Doctors also commonly use the word “site” instead of area, but they have the same meaning.

Follicular units are groups of hair as they naturally occur and can contain anywhere from 1 to 5 hairs with 2 being the most common. Follicular unit grafts are commonly used by hair transplant doctors today because they produce natural looking results. Follicular Unit Extraction, also called FUE, means that these follicular units will be extracted directly from the scalp and later inserted as needed. Follicular Unit Transplantation, which is the same thing as the FUT and Strip method, means that a strip of skin will be removed where after hairs will be harvested and inserted as follicular units. This method might also be called follicular unit micrografting.

The size of the hair grafts that will be transplanted will be determined by the doctor, but many hair transplant doctors are moving towards smaller grafts, because they lead to superior results. Micro-grafts contain one or two hairs while mini-grafts contain between three and six hairs. Micro-grafts are to be preferred as they produce better results. Creating a natural looking result that no one can detect is the ultimate goal in hair transplantation today. The aforementioned terms do not cover all the hair transplant related words that are used, but are certainly a good start for anyone considering a hair transplant.

Topical treatments, or hair growth stimulators as they are also called, are popular because they are easy to use and there is no surgery involved as with a hair transplant. However, the different topical creams, foams and lotions can be expensive and any hair growth is likely to stop when the product is no longer being used. Loosing the hair that was gained is easily one of the biggest disadvantages with these topical treatment products. Also, the fact that these products will need to be purchased frequently and will eventually lead to a big expense is another major disadvantage. That being said, topical treatments do not require any recovery time and results are not permanent, which can be good for someone who is not sure if they want to undergo hair transplant surgery. It is important to note however, that these products contain chemicals and can cause irritation for some, and they may not work at all for some others.

A hair transplant on the other side, is most definitely a permanent procedure. The hair that has been transplanted will grow for a lifetime and there is little room for regrets or reversals. While it is possible to repair a dissatisfying hair transplant it should be avoided as additional surgeries are expensive and the results may never be as good as they could have been the first time around. A good hair transplant doctor will take his time to create an aesthetically pleasing look that the client will be happy with. If done right, a hair transplant can be a very positive and life changing experience. And while a hair transplant is a one time large expense, financing plans are often available and many clients say it was worth every single penny.

Before making any decisions about treating the hair loss it is very important to see a general doctor, because there could be an underlying illness that is causing the hair to thin out. After conducting the appropriate tests the doctor would be able to give a diagnosis. The doctor would also be able to give recommendations regarding whether a hair transplant or topical treatments are to prefer. After that, the client should research different topical treatments or consult a couple of hair transplant doctors depending on what decision they are leaning towards.