Hair Transplant: An Ultimate Step by Step Guide 2020

People between the age of 35-50 faces hair loss issue, besides many solutions, hair transplant is the permanent treatment. Hair Transplant is a one-time process although it may seem costly in the beginning, in the long run, it will save you quite some money. When deciding for hair transplant, there are many techniques involved which differ in their way of application and feasibility. Below are some types of hair transplants used in modern clinics:

Types of Hair Transplant

The major types of hair transplant techniques that are being practiced in today’s world are:

1. FUT Technique

In Follicular Unit Transplantation, a long thin sliver of tissue is removed from the donor area in the back and sides of the scalp and the individual follicular unites are removed from that strip by a stereo-microscopic dissection, the wounds are then closed leaving a thin fine scar. Because the grafts are taken by a stereo-microscope the hair follicles are not damaged. Thus, the hair grows faster because the small channels do not disturb the blood circulation. Finally, the part of the fabric of the band is closed by suture and a very fine seam remains, but this scar is not apparent unless the hair is cut short.

Advantages of FUT technique:

• More hair follicles can be transplanted in a session,
• Can be applicated on eyebrow and beard transplantation,
• To be done in a shorter period and less expensive,
• The absence of traces in patients with white hair.

2. FUE Technique

The Follicular Unit Extraction, is the process of removing hair grafts from the donor area with a special instrument then implanting it on the bald regions. The benefits of using this technique such as the easy and fast application of hair culture have made it more popular than FUT technique which is older, with this technique the grafts are taken with a special device from the donor area and implanted in channels around 0.7/0.8mm using special inserts with no cutting or a skin band.

FUE Technique Advantages

• Easier and faster,
• Roots recover from 24 to 48 hours,
• No incision process and no sewing required,
• No loss of texture and feeling.
• Faster recovery process,
• The absence of pain after the operation because of the minimal incision.

3. Manual Punch FUE

One of the FUE techniques, Manual Punch FUE is a hair transplant method that is managed with the pen-shaped tool, ranging in size from 0.75 mm to 1.35 mm, by hand.

FUE performed with manual punch technique, 2500 grafts can be extracted in one hair transplant session. These extracted grafts are transferred manually to the bald area of the scalp by an experienced doctor.

The advantages of manual punch FUE as follows:

• Remain less scar owing to the pen-shaped tool,
• Allows navigating easily around the follicular unit,
• Harvest rates of grafts can be quicker,
• Grafts can be harvested without changing their natural structure.

This technique is also considered as the safest, most accurate method, because of its low trans section rate.

Step-by-Step Process Involved in FUE Hair Transplant

Some methods involved in an FUE hair transplant for men and women are:

1. Graft extraction – Your hair is assessed for the strongest and most suitable donor areas for the grafts to be taken. A special micro-motor is used for the extraction of the hair root.
2. Opening of the recipient canals – Tiny and microscopic canals are opened in the target area and are made for the grafts to be implanted.
3. Planting of the grafts – The grafts that had been removed are implanted into the canals that are being opened up and made ready.

The biggest advantage of the FUE technique is that it allows the highest number of grafts to be taken while leaving no scars on the donor skin.

Everyone’s hair transplant is designed on an individual basis.

Because everybody’s hair loss is different, so it is obvious that every hair transplant will also be different.

The following four points must be carefully considered before planning your hair transplant: distribution, density, direction, and angle. If all of these areas are considered carefully and expertly, you will be able to achieve natural, thick, and pleasing results.

Hair Transplants’ Side-effects?

Complications or side effects associated with a hair transplant, which usually only last a few weeks are typically minor.

These can include: bleeding, inflammation or swelling of the area where the procedure was done, numbness or lack of sensation on the treated area for an extended time, infection, bruising around the eyes, crusting around the areas where treatment was done, unnatural tufts or hair growth of the newly transplanted hair.

Eligibility for the Hair Transplant

A hair transplant can be recommended for anyone experiencing partial baldness due to male-pattern baldness, female-pattern baldness, a receding hairline, traction alopecia, or head trauma. A hair transplant can offer eligible candidates a permanent, natural-looking solution.

The procedure is not recommended for anyone experiencing diffuse hair loss, spot baldness, or for those with insufficient hair at the donor site. The surgery is also not generally recommended for anyone under the age of 25, since it is difficult to predict the long-term stability of donor hair and the extent of future hair loss.

Meaning of the term: Graft

A graft refers to a piece of living tissue that is surgically moved from one body site to another, without bringing its own blood supply with it. After it is placed into the target site, a new blood supply will grow in.

Hair follicles naturally grow in groupings of 1 to 4 hairs, known as follicular units. FUE hair transplant surgeons will aim to harvest and transplant hairs in their natural groupings to promote uniform hair growth. The surgeon will use microblade and fine needles to insert the grafts into the target sites, angling the grafts in a consistent pattern for a natural look and density.

Hair Transplant Completion Duration

The length of the procedure itself varies, based on the number of hair grafts required and the size of the surgical team, but is usually completed in 4 to 8 hours. Because the procedure is done under local anesthesia, the patient is fully awake and can read, watch TV, have conversations, eat, etc., during this time.

Immediately following the procedure, patients can walk around and resume the majority of their normal day-to-day activities. The transplanted area will be swollen and tender for 3 to 5 days, but patients can return to work within 2 to 3 days of the hair transplant. There will usually be redness and scabs for up to 10 to 14 days post-procedure.

Some patients may require that the hair transplant be performed in multiple sessions, a few months apart, to achieve the desired result. This can be determined by the surgeon before the procedure.

Expectations and Recovery

After the surgery, your scalp may be very tender. You may need to take pain medications for several days. Your surgeon will have you wear bandages over your scalp for at least a day or two. He may also prescribe an antibiotic or an anti-inflammatory drug for you to take for several days. Most people are able to return to work 2 to 5 days after the operation.

Within 2 to 3 weeks after surgery, the transplanted hair will fall out, but you should start to notice new growth within a few months. Most people will see 60% of new hair growth after 6 to 9 months.

Ideally, those who have had a hair transplant procedure done will continue to grow hair in the areas of the scalp where hair was transplanted.

However, the new hair growth may appear more or less dense depending on: the laxity of your scalp or how loose is the skin on your scalp. The density of the follicles that were transplanted and the quality of hair may also influence the hair growth of the transplanted hair.