Things you should know about Hair Transplantation

Hair Transplantation is a surgical technique that involves moving individual hair follicles from one part of the body (the donor site) to bald or balding parts (the recipient site). The skill and techniques used by surgeons for hair transplantation vary widely as do their results.

When done right hair transplantation surgery gives lifelong results and they seem so natural that even hair stylists cannot make out the difference. But the question comes down to choosing the hair transplant procedure and the clinic is very important and critical.

There are many ways for this condition to be resolved or at least be covered for a longer period of time. One of the most popular ways to do this is to undergo hair transplant surgery. Anyone is eligible for this as long as there are parts of the scalp that is healthy enough to be a donor area.

Hair Transplant has evolved from plugs to micro follicular transplant. Since 1995 Bernstein published its first paper on micro follicular technique there is no turning back. The advancement since then is made in terms of technique to give best result and causing minimum trauma and more natural alignment.

There are two techniques which are more naturally followed.

1. Follicular unit strip method

2. Follicular unit extraction(FUE)

Nowadays with the availability of both technique and the advantage of both of both are taken another technique has come into use. This is a combination of both the technique in one patient to take out maximum number of follicular unit to give best result.

With the availability of follicular unit extraction methods and newer fine punches up to 0.7 mm in diameter the result are good and now the hairs can be taken from the different body areas.

Follicular unit strip method

A strip of skin along with the hair follicles is taken from the occipital area. The donor site is then closed. There is no donor site visible scar. It is placed in the hair area and no scar is visible. The follicles are then separated under magnification into follicular unit.

Follicular unit extraction

The follicular unit is directly taken out from the donor area by punch and then implanted into the recipient area. The holes are then left as such to heal.

The side effects of the surgery also cannot be ignored. Hair thinning which is also known as “shock loss” is a quite common side effect post surgery which is temporary. Bald patches are also common as one looses hair each day. Other side effects are swelling in areas like scalp or forehead which can be overcome by medication. Moreover itching can also be a problem as scratching the scalp will make it worse. Many years after the surgery hair loss can increase with transplanted patches staying as it is.