Questions You Should Ask Before You Get Hair Transplant Surgery
Hair transplant surgery is a procedure that moves hair follicles from areas of the body with healthy hair to areas that have little or no hair. The goal is to create a more natural look by moving hair from the back and sides of your head to the front.
The best candidates for hair transplant surgery are men and women who are in their 20s or 30s and have not begun going bald. Men should start thinking about having the surgery before they reach 40 years old, when more than 50 percent of men begin losing their hair. Women who go bald should consider it before age 35.
Hair transplant surgery is a procedure that moves hair from the back of your head to areas where hair has thinned or been lost. It can be used to treat male pattern baldness, or to fill in thinning hair in women and children.
The technique was developed in the 1940s and 1950s by Dr. Norman Orentreich, who pioneered the use of small punch grafts that were placed into the balding scalp. Since then, it’s become one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in the world — though it’s still controversial due to its cost and lack of long-term effectiveness.
Are you considering a hair transplant? If so, you may be overwhelmed with all the information out there. To make sure you get the best results from your procedure, it’s important to be as informed as possible about the process and what to expect during and after surgery.
Hair transplants come in two types: Follicular unit extraction (FUE) and follicular unit transplantation (FUT). FUE is a more advanced technique that uses tiny incisions to extract individual follicles from the donor area and implant them into the recipient area. FUT involves taking large grafts from one area and dissecting them into small grafts using microscopes or lasers before implanting them in another location. Follicular unit extraction is less invasive than FUT because it doesn’t require making large incisions on the scalp. However, this technique can result in more scarring and discomfort at the donor site since there are multiple incisions made and a greater chance of infection because there aren’t any stitches holding everything together.
Hair transplant surgery is a relatively simple procedure used to treat male and female pattern baldness. It involves the removal of hair follicles from one part of the head and their implantation into another area. The procedure can be performed in several ways, but the most common method involves harvesting hair from the back of the scalp, where it grows in naturally thickest, and transplanting it through small grafts onto balding sections.
The first step in hair restoration surgery is to remove a strip of scalp tissue from a donor site on the back of your head. This tissue contains thousands of tiny grafts known as follicular units. Each follicular unit contains one or more hairs. Once removed from your donor site, these follicular units are transplanted into small incisions made at your new location on the head (recipient site). The transplanted hairs are usually permanent since they have been taken from permanent zones on the scalp (permanent zone is defined as a section of skin that produces new hair at least once every two years).
Hair transplantation is a surgical technique that moves hair follicles from one part of the body to another. Surgeons can also use grafts to create new hair.
Hair transplantation is typically performed on people with male-pattern baldness or female-pattern hair loss. The procedure moves healthy hair follicles from the back and sides of the head to the top, leaving a natural-looking head of hair.
The most common type of hair transplantation uses Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) or Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). FUT uses a strip of skin with an attached group of hair follicles. FUE uses small punches or blades to remove individual follicles from the scalp and then transplants them elsewhere on the scalp.
Hair transplant surgery has several potential side effects. These include swelling, redness, pain and bleeding at the site of surgery; numbness or itching around the donor area; headaches; infection; scarring at donor sites; and scarring around incisions where grafts were removed from your scalp during surgery.
Hair transplant surgery is a popular and effective treatment for hair loss. During the procedure, small plugs of hair-bearing tissue are removed from the back of your scalp (donor site) and implanted into the balding areas. It’s possible to move as many as 4,000 hairs in one session.
Hair transplants can be performed on men or women who are experiencing thinning hair due to male pattern baldness, female pattern baldness, or other types of hair loss. The procedure offers a permanent solution to hair loss that some patients find more appealing than wearing wigs, caps or hats.
During a hair transplant operation, a surgeon will remove small plugs of skin containing hair follicles from an area near the back of your scalp — called the donor site — and place them into bald areas on your head — called the recipient sites. The donor area will be closed with stitches, while the recipient sites will be closed with staples or surgical glue (cyanoacrylate).
Am I a candidate for a hair transplant?
You should get a hair transplant if you have thinning hair in a noticeable area. Hair transplants can be used to repair thinning hair anywhere on the body, including the scalp, eyebrows, sideburns and top of the head. The best candidates for a hair transplant are men and women who are healthy and at least 18 years old. You also must have enough donor hair for a successful procedure — typically about 1 centimeter (0.4 inches) long — along with good growth potential from that donor area. It’s not uncommon for doctors to recommend waiting until your child reaches adulthood before considering this procedure because their genetic history may affect how much donor hair is available and how quickly it will grow back after treatment. Children with trichotillomania (compulsive pulling out of their own or others’ hairs) shouldn’t undergo surgery until they have stopped pulling their own or someone else’s hairs out for at least six months without relapsing into this habit again.
How many grafts would I need?
There are two main types of hair transplant surgery: Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). In an FUE procedure, the surgeon removes tiny grafts from the back and sides of your head, where there’s plenty of new growth potential. The donor area is closed with stitches that dissolve on their own. In an FUT procedure, the surgeon removes larger sections of scalp from the back or sides of your head and places them in micrografts or follicular unit grafts. These grafts are then implanted into bald patches on top of your head. Most surgeons prefer one method over another based on training and experience — but if you’re considering surgery with someone new to the field or who has little experience with transplants, make sure he or she explains why it’s best for you.
Will the procedure leave any scars?
Hair transplantation is an extremely precise, delicate and meticulous surgical procedure that is performed under local anaesthetic. The incisions are made in areas that are hidden from view and the hair follicles are transplanted into a new area of your scalp. The donor area heals with no visible scarring and the recipient area heals with minimal scaring. In some cases, if there is a large amount of grafts being transplanted into a small area, tiny skin stitches may be required to close the donor wounds.
How long will the results last?
Hair transplants are not permanent solutions. They simply add hair to areas of your scalp where there’s little or no hair growth. The transplanted hair has a lifespan of about 10 years before it needs to be replaced with new hair. In some cases, this can be extended by another 5 years with additional treatments such as laser therapy or medication. However, after 20 years or so, your natural hair will grow back in its original pattern and density, which may mean balding in areas where there was once plenty of coverage from transplanted hair.
What are the side effects of this procedure?
There are two types of hair transplant surgery. The first is known as Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and the second is known as Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). Both types of procedures can be performed with local anesthesia or general anesthesia. Before you decide on a type of procedure, you should consult with your doctor to determine which option is best for you. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks that you should consider before choosing one over the other. After the surgery, there will be some swelling and bruising around the scalp, but this should go away within a few weeks. Patients also may experience some numbness around their scalps for several months after the operation. You may have trouble styling your hair until it grows back fully because there will be no follicles left from which to pull strands out anymore. Another thing to consider when getting hair transplants is how much it’s going to cost you. Many people don’t realize just how expensive this procedure can be; however, costs vary depending on where you live and who performs the procedure on you. Asking about prices beforehand can help ensure that you get a fair deal for your money!
When can I start dying my hair again after the surgery?
The answer to this question depends on the type of surgery you had. If you had an FUE, or follicular unit extraction, the answer is right away. This is because FUE uses a punch that removes individual hairs and not a blade or scalpel that cuts out multiple hairs at once. FUE is also less invasive than strip surgery, so it’s less likely to cause noticeable scarring or leave indentations in your scalp where hair has been removed. If you had a strip procedure, however, your doctor may instruct you to wait six months before dying your hair again. That’s because dyeing your hair too soon could lead to infection and other complications from using chemicals on an open wound.
Why are you suggesting I have surgery?
Why are you considering a hair transplant? If the answer is “I’m balding,” then that’s not necessarily enough reason to get surgery. Hair transplantation isn’t magic, so it’s not going to make your hair grow back if you’re genetically predisposed to baldness. The only way to prevent baldness is by preventing hair loss altogether — which means you need a healthy diet, regular exercise and lots of sleep. If you’re balding, though, it’s still worth asking yourself this question: Is this something I can live with? If so, then maybe there are other ways you can cope with your condition. For example, if the answer is yes, then maybe your best bet would be to take some photos of yourself before getting any surgery done — because depending on how advanced your hair loss is, there may be other options available besides surgery that might work just as well (or better) than having an FUE procedure done by a doctor at all.
Are there other treatments for my hair loss?
There are many options available for treating hair loss, including medications, topical creams and laser therapy. If these treatments haven’t worked for you, then a hair transplant may be right for you. But if they have worked to some extent or if they’re working now but you’re concerned about how long they’ll last, then you may want to consider another type of treatment that doesn’t involve surgery first.
What is the best type of hair transplant for me?
The best way to find out the best type of hair transplant for you is to discuss your options with a qualified surgeon. There are many different types of hair transplants, and each one has its own benefits and drawbacks. The most common type of hair transplant is follicular unit extraction (FUE). In this procedure, follicles are harvested from the back and sides of your scalp and then transplanted into balding areas. FUE may be more cost-effective than other types of surgery since it doesn’t require a linear incision or scalp stitches. However, it can take longer to recover from FUE because it involves more harvesting sites than a traditional strip procedure. Another common type of hair transplant is follicular unit transplantation (FUT). In this procedure, donor grafts are removed from one part of the head and moved to another area where hair loss has occurred. The donor area heals quickly with minimal scarring, but recovery time after an FUT procedure can be longer than that of other techniques because most surgeons use general anesthesia during surgery to prevent pain at harvest sites during surgery.
How long will the operation take?
Hair transplants typically take between four and six hours, depending on the amount of hair required. You’ll be awake for the whole procedure but sedated with local anaesthetic and painkillers to make it as comfortable as possible. The surgeon will place individual follicles into small holes in your scalp, and then stitch them in place.
Will I need to take time off work?
Hair transplantation surgery usually takes around three hours to complete and it is one of those procedures that require an overnight stay at the clinic or hospital where it is performed in order to monitor any possible complications or side effects which may occur after the operation has been carried out successfully. However, most people choose to stay at home for about two days after having their FUE or FUT surgical procedure completed.
Will I have a scar on my head after surgery?
A hair transplant isn’t like getting a haircut where there’s no visible scarring. You’ll have one or more linear incisions along the donor area on the back of your scalp where the surgeon took out the donor hairs. The incisions will be closed with stitches or staples and covered with medical tape and gauze bandages until they heal completely — which can take up to two weeks or more, depending on how many grafts were transplanted.
Where will my hair be taken from and where will it be placed?
This is a big question for anyone considering hair transplant surgery. In fact, it’s the first question that should come to mind when you learn about this procedure. The answer is important because the donor area (where the hair is harvested) can’t be repaired or replaced with other methods if it’s damaged by the transplant process. The same goes for the recipient area (where the grafts are placed). It’s important to note that despite its name, hair transplant surgery doesn’t involve taking hairs directly from your head and placing them in thinned areas. Instead, small incisions are made in your scalp and tiny plugs of skin containing one to four hairs each are removed. These plugs are called follicular unit grafts (FUG) and they’re then placed into balding areas on your scalp through microsurgical techniques.
Will I need to rest in hospital after surgery?
The answer to this question will vary from patient to patient, and also depends on the type of surgery that is being performed. If you are having a scalp flap procedure, then you will likely need to stay in hospital for 24 hours after the surgery. However, if you are having a follicular unit extraction (FUE) procedure, then you can go home immediately after the procedure.
Can a hair transplant be done more than once?
If you’ve been balding for a long time, it may be tempting to get multiple hair transplants at once. However, most doctors recommend waiting at least one year between sessions. This is because the hair can fall out after the surgery and then grow back in a different pattern or color than what you had hoped for. Additionally, your hair might not grow back in the same area where it was taken from the first time around. That said, there are some situations where having multiple procedures done at once is appropriate. For example, if you’re not happy with how your donor area looks after a first session, it’s usually fine to have another one done if the first was performed by someone else (since they would have more information about your donor area). The same goes if there’s scarring or an infection caused by the first procedure — these issues might call for a second one right away or in six months or even longer. Another reason why getting multiple transplants done at once could work well is if your donor area has changed significantly since your last session — say, if you started going bald at age 18 but now are 35 years old and have a lot less hair than before — then having more transplants now could help fill in those gaps.
Will there be any pain?
There’s no need for general anesthesia during a FUE procedure, but local anesthesia will make you feel relaxed throughout the process. Some patients say that they experience some mild discomfort during the procedure; others report feeling nothing at all. Afterward, you may experience some swelling and bruising around the incisions where your scalp was penetrated by the doctor’s instruments. This will usually subside within two weeks after surgery, but it might take up to three months before you see results from your treatment.
Is scarring or bleeding involved?
Most patients experience only mild bruising after hair transplant surgery, but there’s always a risk of bleeding. Some doctors use cautery — burning tissue with an electrical current — to stop small blood vessels from bleeding. Other doctors use sutures to close tiny cuts made during the surgery and avoid cautery altogether. The type of anesthesia used can also affect how much bruising you experience.
How long will my new hair look natural?
Hair transplants typically last for at least eight months after the surgery and may need maintenance treatments every year or two to keep them looking full and natural. It’s important to find out how long your doctor expects your new ‘do will last so you know what to expect down the road and whether or not you’ll have to pay for maintenance treatments later on. Many doctors recommend having another treatment in three years if needed, although some people prefer to wait longer than that between treatments because of potential side effects such as scarring or poor growth results.
Can hair transplants thicken my existing hair?
Yes! Our team can use your own hair to create new follicles for existing balding areas or to fill in thinning hair at the temples and crown of your head. This process is called follicular unit extraction (FUE), because it involves removing individual follicles from your scalp and transplanting them into another part of your scalp where you need more coverage. In this way, we can help you grow more hair than ever before!
What is the success rate?
The success rate of hair transplant surgery can vary depending on several factors, including the experience of your surgeon and the amount of hair you have available to transplant (i.e., your donor area). The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has published an excellent guide on what to expect from a hair transplant procedure. It’s worth noting that while the procedure can be used to treat male pattern baldness, it’s not always successful — especially if you are suffering from advanced stages of balding.
What kind of results can I expect?
Your surgeon will be able to give you an idea of what to expect based on their experience and knowledge of what works best for their patients. The results will also depend on your hair type, the number of grafts you have, and how many sessions you need. Your doctor should be able to give you an estimate of how many sessions will be necessary to achieve your desired outcome.
How old do I need to be to get hair transplant surgery?
Most surgeons will not perform hair transplants on anyone under 18 years old because they don’t want to take responsibility for anyone who might regret the procedure later in life (for example, if they decide they don’t like how their hair looks). Most also won’t perform transplants on anyone over 60 because the results may not be worth the risks involved with surgery.
How many sessions do I need?
If you have a lot of hair, you may only need one session. If you need to cover a large area of baldness, you may need two sessions. The number of sessions depends on your hair type and how much coverage your doctor can achieve with each surgery. If you have fine hair, it’s harder for the surgeon to give the same results as someone with thick locks. Your doctor will also want to assess how much donor tissue is required for your procedure before giving an exact number of sessions. The donor area is where the follicles that are extracted from the back of your head will come from. If there aren’t enough follicles available in this area, then more grafts will need to be taken from another part of your scalp or body (called “donor sites”). This can lead to scarring since the grafts are placed under the skin and not above it like most tattoos. It’s important that your surgeon gives you an honest assessment about how many surgeries he thinks will be necessary for your desired outcome and what kind of results he thinks he can achieve with each session.
Can I have a hair transplant if I have scars on my scalp?
This depends on the type of scarring you have, as well as its severity. If your scarring isn’t too bad and hasn’t affected the structure of your scalp, then it shouldn’t affect your ability to undergo surgery. However, if there are deep scars that affect the skin’s elasticity or muscle tissue under your skin, this could cause problems during the procedure and make it more difficult for doctors to harvest healthy follicles from areas where they should be able to do so without causing more damage to those areas than necessary.
What is your smoking history?
Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for hair loss. In fact, research shows that smoking can lead to significant thinning of the scalp’s blood vessels. This is important, because these blood vessels are what supply your hair follicles with oxygen and nutrients needed for healthy growth. If you’re a smoker who’s considering a hair transplant, you may want to quit before undergoing surgery. If you don’t want to quit smoking, be sure to ask your doctor about the risks and benefits of smoking before proceeding with the procedure.
What is your alcohol intake?
Alcohol intake can affect the results of any cosmetic procedure, including hair transplants. Surgeons who drink heavily may not be able to perform the precision work required for this procedure because they do not have steady hands or good coordination. Ask about their alcohol consumption before deciding whether or not to go forward with surgery.
Will I lose all my hair before the procedure?
You might, but you don’t have to. It depends on what kind of procedure you’re having and how much hair you have left. If you’re getting a Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT), which involves taking skin from behind your ear or near your temple and using it to cover up bald spots, your doctor may take so much skin that it affects how much hair you have left on top of your head. That’s why doctors recommend doing an FUE at least two months after an FUT because it gives you time to regrow some more hairs before surgery. If possible, try not to schedule these procedures close together.
Is hair transplant safe?
Hair transplant is a surgical procedure that moves hair from one part of the head to another. It’s called “micrografting” when the transplanted hair is less than 1 mm wide and “miniaturization” if it’s more than 1 mm wide. The procedure has been performed since the early 1950s, and is now relatively common. It can be used to repair damage caused by chemotherapy or other medical treatments, or to create new hair on balding or thinning areas of the scalp. A typical session takes about four hours and involves placing anesthetic in your scalp before removing individual grafts (pieces of skin) containing hair follicles from the back of your head and placing them into balding areas on your head. The process is repeated until you have enough grafts to cover the bald spots on your scalp. Hair transplantation is generally considered safe if done by a qualified surgeon with proper training and experience. However, there are risks associated with any surgery, including infection, bleeding and scarring. The main risk factor for complications from hair transplants comes from having too many grafts placed in one session — this increases the risk of bleeding and infection.
Can a hair transplant be done on the same day?
Hair transplants are commonly done in one day, however scheduling is important. If you schedule your procedure for the same day as your consultation, you may have to wait several months before being able to get the procedure done. The reason for this is that the hair transplant surgeon will need to make sure that there is enough time between your consultation and surgery date so that they can give you their full attention. The surgery itself takes about six hours and it’s best if the doctor has time to take care of other patients’ needs beforehand. This way they can focus on answering any questions that you might have about hair restoration during our appointment, as well as prepping you for surgery and answering any post-op questions. If there is any type of surgery that can be done over multiple days (such as a knee replacement), then it would make sense why a hair transplant could be done on the same day as well.
Where are the donor and recipient areas?
Hair transplant surgery is a procedure that involves moving hair from an area with a lot of hair to an area with too little or no hair. It can be used to repair bald spots or fill in thinning areas, and it can also be used to give the illusion of a fuller head of hair. The process usually takes about four hours, but it’s important for you to consider a few things beforehand. This is one of the most important aspects of your consultation with your cosmetic surgeon. You’ll learn where he or she plans on placing the grafts and how many grafts will be placed in each area. You should also ask how much donor hair will be taken from each donor area — this depends on several factors, including the condition of your scalp and how many follicles there are in an area.
What is your experience with hair transplant surgery?
The best way to find out if a doctor is qualified to perform your procedure is by asking about his or her experience. A good doctor will be able to tell you how many procedures he or she has performed and where these procedures were performed (in-office versus an operating room). Also ask how long each procedure took, how many hours of training he or she received and what kind of results he or she has seen with patients like you.
Can you explain aftercare process?
After the procedure, there may be some swelling and bruising that lasts for a few days. You may be given pain medications for the first few days after surgery that will help manage any discomfort or pain. You’ll need to wear a wig or hat for two weeks or longer following your procedure because your scalp will be numb from the local anesthetic used during surgery and you will be at risk of infection if your stitches become exposed to air when you’re out in public. You’ll also need to avoid strenuous activity for several weeks because this could cause bleeding under the skin grafts in your scalp that could lead to scarring or infection. After two weeks, you’ll start growing new hair follicles at the back of your head (an area called the occipital zone) where they were taken during surgery.
What can be done to make the recovery process quicker?
In most cases, recovery from hair transplant surgery is fairly easy. However, some people experience more pain and discomfort than others. If this is the case, your doctor may recommend using pain medications or taking time off from work to recover fully. Your doctor will also likely advise you against strenuous activity for several weeks after your procedure.
Do hair follicles grow back once transplanted?
If you’re considering getting a hair transplant, you’ll want to make sure it’s right for your lifestyle and your budget. There are many things to consider before making this decision, like how much time you want to devote to maintaining your new look, how much money you’re willing to spend on upkeep, and whether or not the procedure will be successful for you.
How many years of growth is normal for a hair transplant?
Hair grows in three phases: Anagen, Catagen and Telogen phases. The Anagen phase is when healthy hair grows from the follicle at an average rate of 1 centimeter per month. During this phase, new hairs are formed while old ones fall out naturally as they’re replaced by new ones. The Catagen phase lasts two to three weeks and ends with the death of the root sheath cells and apoptosis — programmed cell death — that occurs in each follicle as it prepares for its resting period. The Telogen phase lasts four to six months and ends with the shedding of mature hair shafts that have reached their maximum length at which time new growth begins again in another Anagen phase.
Do I have to shave my head before the surgery?
This is a common question and the answer is no. If you are worried about the look of your bald spot, then it can be covered with a wig or hat before going for hair transplant surgery. But, if you want to make sure that there won’t be any scarring around your scalp, then shaving it off is a good idea. However, keep in mind that this will expose your scalp to infection if not cleaned properly after surgery.
Will I need any blood tests or special tests before I have this procedure?
Yes. You will need a full medical history check, including your blood pressure and heart rate. In addition, as part of the consultation process, you may be asked to undergo several tests to assess your suitability for treatment and to ensure that you do not have any underlying health problems that could affect the success of your treatment.
When will I see my new hairline?
The short answer is: whenever you want to! The hairline is the part of your scalp that’s exposed when your hair is combed or styled. After the surgery, your new hairline will look similar to how it was before the surgery. This means that if you had a natural receding hairline, then it will still look like a receding hairline after the procedure. However, this may not be what you’re expecting. In some cases, people are surprised by how different their new hairline looks from how it looked before their FUE procedure. In general, it takes about three months for enough hairs to grow back for us to tell how well each graft will perform in its new location.
When can I resume normal activities?
Hair transplant surgery is a surgical procedure that involves removing hair follicles from the back of the scalp, called the donor area, and placing them in areas with hair loss. The procedure can be performed on men and women with male pattern baldness, female pattern baldness or alopecia. You should expect to spend about two weeks recovering after a hair transplant procedure. You will probably need to wear a hat or scarf during that time because the transplanted hair falls out quickly and may leave scars in your scalp until it grows back. While in recovery mode you should avoid strenuous exercise or activities that could cause bleeding or further injury to your scalp. The amount of time you should take off from work depends on your employer’s policies regarding sick days and vacation days. Some companies allow employees to take paid time off for medical procedures while others require that employees use up their accrued sick days or vacation days before receiving compensation for missed workdays during recovery.
How soon can I wash my hair after surgery?
You should wait about 24 hours before washing your hair. It will be difficult to avoid washing your hair for this long, but there is a risk of scabs from the stitches coming loose if you wash too soon. If you do wash your hair too soon, gently pat dry with a towel and then cover the area with a light-weight bandage until it stops bleeding again.
Is there a guarantee on hair transplants?
If you’re concerned about losing your hair, you might be considering getting a hair transplant surgery. However, before you do so, you should find out what type of guarantee is offered by the doctor. Some surgeons will offer a money back guarantee if you are unhappy with their work, while others may not offer any type of guarantee at all.
How is the person’s general health?
If there are any underlying health conditions that may affect their recovery time after surgery or interfere with healing, these should be addressed before making an appointment with a doctor or clinic. For example, if someone has diabetes or high blood pressure and takes medication for these conditions every day, they should make sure that their doctor knows about them before scheduling an appointment so they can be properly monitored during recovery time after surgery.
Is hair transplantation permanent?
The good news is that once your transplanted hair has grown in, it will stay there permanently. There are many different techniques for hair restoration, but all involve removing healthy donor hairs from an area with a lot of growth and placing them into an area where there’s little or no growth. In most cases, these transplanted hairs will continue to grow just like they did before they were removed from the donor site.
