What is Hair Transplantation
Hair transplant
Hair transplantation techniques
The goal of hair transplants is to stimulate hair growth in bald or sparsely covered areas of the scalp. They work well as therapies for a variety of hair loss conditions, but they do not prevent further hair loss. People could require further transplants for long-lasting outcomes.
In addition to being a normal part of aging, hair loss and thinning can also be brought on by a medical condition or trauma to the scalp. When experiencing hair loss, some people decide to get a hair transplant for reconstructive or cosmetic purposes.
In this post, we look at the success rates of different forms of hair transplant, as well as how long they endure and their associated adverse effects.
Hair transplantation techniques
A surgeon performs a hair transplant by removing hair follicles from the donor area, which is a dense area of hair, usually the back of the head. The follicles are then inserted into teeny slits on the scalp's afflicted region.
There are two primary hair transplant procedures:
Strip follicular unit surgery (FUSS). A strip of skin from the donor area will be removed by the surgeon, who will then stitch up the wound. The donor skin will then be cut into tiny follicular units with one or more hair follicles using a microscope, and these units will be inserted into the appropriate location.
Hair follicle extraction (FUE). To remove follicles from the donor area, the surgeon will use a tiny punch tool. Although there will still be some scarring after this treatment, it may be less obvious, and there won't typically be any stitches needed.
Although both methods are efficient, they can provide distinct outcomes. FUE takes longer and requires more skill, according to the authors of a 2019 article, but it can also yield excellent results if the surgeon has a lot of experience with the method.
The side or rear of the head is typically used as the donor area by surgeons. But using skin from the breast, back, or chin can also be successful. For those who lack thick hair on the back or sides of their head, using body hair may be useful.
According to several studies, collecting hair from the body or beard takes more effort and skill than collecting hair from the scalp. The body and beard, on the other hand, are said to be a "great source" of donor hair for hair transplants, according to a different study.
Depending on how many follicles the surgeon implants, each treatment might take several hours and both require local anesthesia. A patient will often be able to go home the day of treatment.
% of successes
Hair transplants are successful treatments for reviving hair growth after a variety of hair loss causes. The expertise and experience of the surgeon as well as the thickness of the patient's donor hair are two important elements that affect the success rate of hair transplant surgery.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) claims that hair transplantation can very slightly alter hair fullness. People may choose scalp reduction procedures, tissue expansion, or skin flap surgery for more pronounced modifications.
There are no substantial studies that provide exact success rates for hair transplants. However, a number of smaller studies and papers offer some details regarding the efficacy of these methods.
According to one study, the majority of patients who underwent FUE using scalp hair in addition to body or beard hair were pleased with the outcomes after an average follow-up of 2.9 years. The mean overall satisfaction rating for the 79 participants was 8.3 out of 10.
According to the results of a different study, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy combined with FUE improves the outcome of FUE hair transplants. After 6 months, the PRP group's subjects had all had more than 75% hair regrowth. Compared to those in the non-PRP group, they experienced faster gains in skin repair and hair density.
Hair transplants: Do they last?
Hair transplant side effects
The majority of the time, a person with a successful hair transplant will have hair that looks thicker. After the surgery, however, people can still experience hair thinning and loss, which could make their hair look unnatural or spotty. People might need several transplants in the future for results that persist longer.
There is a possibility that some of the transplanted hair follicles won't "take," according to the ASPS. There is no new hair growth after these follicles die.
People are also cautioned by the ASPS to expect the possibility of a "touch-up" procedure. This technique can help by merging the follicles for the most natural appearance or filling in any places that are not thick enough.
Follow your surgeon's post-procedure recommendations for the best outcomes. They will have a better chance of having a successful hair transplant by doing this. For a few weeks, a person may need to refrain from exercise and severe activity. Additionally, they might have to hold off on washing their hair for a few days.
Take Away
For those who have hair thinning and hair loss, hair transplant surgery may be a viable choice. Although it might not be a long-term fix for thinning hair, it can often help many people regain their confidence and hair fullness.
