Hair Transplant :

CAUSES OF HAIR LOSS

Hair loss can be due to various reasons. It may be temporary or permanent. Hair transplants have proved to be a blessing in the following cases of permanent hair loss:

• Alopecia areata (autoimmune disease attacking hair follicles)
• Androgenic alopecia (Male pattern baldness)
• Hormonal imbalances (thyroid disorders)
• Inflammatory diseases (e.g. Lichen planus)
• Traumatic injuries
• Burns

TYPES OF HAIR TRANSPLANT

Hair transplant surgery can be broadly classified into the following four types:

• Grafting : It is the most common type of hair transplant surgery. In this procedure, a health care provider cuts small bits of the scalp having healthy hair. At times, they remove skin having 10 to 15 hair with the help of a small, round punch.
• Scalp reduction : This procedure entails removing a small area of bald skin from the scalp. The surgeon then loosens nearby skin, which has hair on it and pulls it to cover the bald patch. Finally, they stitch it in place.
• Flap surgery : This method is advantageous for treating large, bald areas near the front of the scalp. In this procedure, the surgeon creates three superficial cuts around the donor site, with the fourth side remaining attached while maintaining its blood supply as before. The cut flap is lifted over the bald patches to cover the bald areas. General anesthesia is required before starting the flap surgery.
• Tissue expansion : procedure is used to treat bald patches caused by scalp baldness or disfigurement due to burns. It also requires general anesthesia and is a multi-step procedure. First, a balloon-shaped implant is inserted under the scalp, where hair is still present. This implant is called a tissue expander, and it is gradually inflated over several weeks to stretch the skin. Finally, the stretched skin is used to cover the bald area.

Autologous hair transplant technology is a minimally invasive procedure for treating hormone-related alopecia and cicatricial alopecia in children. FUT (Follicular unit transplant) and FUE (Follicular unit excision) are two methods that fall under autologous hair transplant.

FUT VS FUE HAIR TRANSPLANT

Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT)/strip and Follicular Unit Excision (FUE)are principal hair transplant methods. Both these methods are effective hair restoration techniques.

However, there is a stark difference between both these methods. While in FUT, the surgeon takes a strip of donor skin from which to extract the follicular units to be transplanted, in the FUE method, a person's follicular units are directly excised from the scalp without needing a donor.

HAIR TRANSPLANT PROCEDURE

A. Before the Procedure : a thorough physical examination to evaluate your hair loss, discuss the best treatment option for your condition with your healthcare provider. Inform about any past surgeries you may have undergone and the type of anesthesia used. Understanding the possible risks and complications before undergoing hair transplant surgery is essential.

Also, telling your healthcare practitioner about any over-the-counter medications and vitamin supplements you might be taking is vital. Follow all instructions provided, especially if you are advised to take a particular medication or alter the dose of an existing one.

B. After the Procedure : How you feel after the surgery depends on how extensive the surgery was. You are most likely to feel bruising and swelling, with slight numbness. There may be throbbing pain and discomfort, and small scabs may form across the areas treated during the surgery. You might be asked to wear dressings and pressure bandages for one or two days after the surgery.

HAIR TRANSPLANT SUCCESS RATE

Even though most hair transplants are successful, the results are visible after nine months. This is because the hair requires time to take root before filling in. Generally, good results are obtained with thick hair that is light colored or grey rather than hair with a thin texture and dark color.

However, hair transplantation should not be considered a cure for male pattern baldness because even though the bald patches get covered, there is no guarantee that further hair loss will not occur. Thus, it might be worthwhile to consider surgery and medical treatments to slow down hair loss.

HAIR TRANSPLANT COMPLICATIONS: IS HAIR TRANSPLANT SAFE?

Certain risks are associated with a hair transplant, as with any other surgery. These may include:

• Scarring
• Infections
• Failed grafts or flaps
• Excessive blood loss
• Allergic reaction to anesthesia

HAIR TRANSPLANT SIDE EFFECTS

The possible hair transplant side effects are mostly temporary and may include:

• Itching
• Swelling
• Tightness
• Throbbing pain
• Formation of crusts or scabs
• Loss of feeling or numbness

IS HAIR TRANSPLANT PERMANENT?

Usually, the results of a hair transplant procedure last a lifetime. However, there may be instances where the transplanted hair falls out as the flap or graft heals. In such cases, the hair should ideally grow back. Sometimes, you may need to undergo a few “touch-up” hair transplant surgeries to achieve natural-looking hair.

HAIR TRANSPLANT FOR WOMEN

Hair transplantation could be a possible solution for women who suffer from male pattern baldness. However, it is a known fact that only some women are ideal candidates for hair transplant surgery.

A significant reason why women generally don't opt for hair transplants is that compared to men, women do not have large, bald areas for transplantation. This makes the procedure tedious to perform because of diffuse thinning in women.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE HAIR TRANSPLANT SURGEON

Finding a suitable hospital of repute with specialist hair transplant surgeons with a proven track record of performing successful hair transplants can be daunting. Factors to consider while choosing your surgeon include their training and experience in performing these procedures.

A hair transplant surgeon from a reputed hospital should be your preferred choice, with years of experience in successfully carrying out hair transplant surgeries.