Hair Transplantation Surgery
Hair transplantation is the only thoroughly
proven way to permanently restore hair to thinning
or bald areas of your scalp. When you have
hair grafted from the back and sides of your
scalp to your balding areas, your hair will begin
growing, and can keep growing, throughout your
life.
A combination of hair restoration techniques
may be used to produce the best results. The
type of hair replacement surgery chosen depends
on the extent and pattern of hair loss, along
with your individual situation, lifestyle and
desires.
For more information, see the answers to the
questions below:
Who is a candidate for transplantation?
Your
desire and motivation for a more attractive hairline,
as well as increased hair density, are the keys
to success in treating hair loss. At the initial
consultation, your surgeon will advise you if there
are any factors that could limit your ability to
benefit from our hair replacement techniques.
In general, age or sex is not a limiting factor
for our hair restoration techniques. Patients
age 70 and older have had successful procedures.
Individuals in their 30's who are experiencing
male pattern baldness also can be successfully
treated. Even younger patients may be candidates,
but should be managed conservatively. Some women
with specific patterns of hair loss also may
qualify as candidates.
The ideal candidate for hair restoration surgery
has healthy hair on the sides and back of the
head -- the areas from which grafts are taken.
It is often better to start when you are not
completely bald so that you can use existing
hair to help camouflage the early stages of the
restoration.
The following individuals may be good candidates
for hair transplantation:
- Individuals with well-defined male pattern
baldness or female pattern baldness.
- Individuals with hair loss from scarring,
scalp injuries or cosmetic surgery procedures.
- Individuals who wish to restore or thicken
eyebrows, mustaches or beards.
- Individuals who had prior hair restoration
procedures.
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What is microblend grafting?
Male or female
pattern baldness affects the top and front of
your scalp. Fortunately, the back and sides of
your scalp are genetically programmed to grow
for life. These "horseshoe" areas
around the back and sides become your donor area.
Hair grafted from these areas (called an autograft)
to your balding areas will eventually begin growing
and keep growing.
- Donor dominance is the ability of autografted
hair from healthy donor sites on your scalp
to take root and grow normally when transplanted
into the balding (recipient) areas of your
scalp.
The grafts may be either “micro” (follicular)
grafts or “mini” (follicular groupings).
Each micrograft contains one to three individual
hair follicles. Follicular groupings have four
to six hairs. Older “punch” grafts
contained 10 to 20 follicles.
Advantages of follicular grafts - Micro/mini
grafts produce delicate, fine hair that more
closely resembles your hair growth prior to balding.
Since the hairline is a true transition zone
from the forehead to denser hair further back,
the use of one to three hair grafts creates the
most natural appearing hairline.
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How is the procedure performed?
Hair restoration
surgery involves removing a small strip
of hair-bearing scalp from the back and sides
of your head. This donor region contains hair
that will grow throughout your lifetime. The
area from which the strip is taken is carefully
closed, usually resulting in a very fine line
completely hidden amongst the remaining hair.
Our skilled surgical team then microscopically
divides the harvest strip of hair-bearing scalp
for replacement in your balding areas. These
grafts may be processed into a variety of different
sizes, depending on your specific needs and scalp
conditions. The grafted hairs grow much like
normal hair and are virtually undetectable. Follicular
groupings containing more hairs will be
used to obtain more density behind the hairline.
With the use of local anesthesia and IV
sedation, any discomfort during the procedure
can be eliminated. To complete the restoration,
our staff carefully checks that your newly placed
hairs will grow together in specific directions
to form a hairline that is virtually undetectable
from the one that nature might have given you,
along with increased overall hair density.
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How much time is involved for treatment?
Multiple
sessions at various intervals are usually required.
Most patients can achieve a full, natural look
with a minimum of procedures. Most successful
candidates for micrografting and hair transplantation
require one to two appointments, usually several
months apart. Each office procedure lasts approximately
from three to four hours.
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What happens expect after the surgery?
- Most
patients can return to work 24 to 48
hours after their hair restoration.
- Hair is washed the morning after each procedure.
- Vigorous physical
activity should be limited for five
to seven days.
Medication is utilized to minimize swelling
which can occur. Some crusting or small
scabs may be present for seven to ten days, along
with some itching at the treatment sites. Any
numbness at the donor or recipient sites usually
disappears within several weeks to a few months.
Follow-up visits at four to six-month intervals
are scheduled in order to monitor progress and
assess results.
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What results can be expected?
Micrografts
leave virtually no scaring. They also conserve
much of the hair that will be needed for future
transplantations. The amount of coverage that
is achieved depends on the extent of your hair
loss, the density of your donor hair, as well as
the number of procedures.
Much of the transplanted hair will shed within
a month. Approximately three months later (90
to 100 days), new hair starts to grow and continues
to grow at a normal rate. About six months after
a hair transplant session, the transplanted hairs
begin to take on a natural appearance and will
continue to grow for a lifetime. The donor site
from which the hair was taken shrinks to a small,
barely noticeable incision line that is completely
hidden in the surrounding hair.
View our online hair transplant gallery of before and after pictures.
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Are there any complications from surgery?
As
with all surgical procedures, there is always
some risk. However, complications from the surgical
treatment of hair loss are rare and generally
minimal. Bleeding and/or infection are infrequent
and minor. In general you should avoid aspirin
or certain drugs or some herbal remedies before
surgery. If you have specific concerns please discuss
them with your physician.
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