What Is Hair Transplant Treatment?

A hair transplant is a procedure that transfers hair from a donor area of the scalp to hairless portions of the head. This procedure aims to improve your appearance and self-image. Discussing this procedure with your hair doctor can help you prepare for it. Read on to learn more about the hair transplant procedure.

An overview of the hair transplant procedure

Some patients suffer from pattern baldness. This condition may also result from stress, medications, diet, hormonal imbalance, and illness. A hair doctor can perform a hair transplant surgery to move healthy hair from a donor area to a hairless one. This treatment often takes place in a doctor’s office or hair restoration clinic under local anesthesia.

The procedure

The hair doctor will clean the patient’s scalp first. Using a small needle, the hair doctor will numb the scalp with a local anesthetic. The doctor will choose between FUT or FUE. Below are more facts about these two types of hair transplantation:

• FUT (follicular unit transplantation) uses a scalpel to cut out a strip of skin from the back of the patient’s head. The incision is usually inches long. The hair doctor will close the incision with stitches. Separating the hairless scalp comes next. Then, the harvested strips will go into the incised scalp. These healthy sections of hair will help the patient achieve natural-looking hair.
• FUE (follicular unit extraction) cuts out hair follicles from the back of the head. The hair doctor uses up to thousands of punch incisions. Placing healthy hairs in these holes comes next. A single treatment may result in the implantation of thousands of hairs. Bandages will cover the treated scalp for about three days. The hair doctor will remove the stitches after 10 days.

After the procedure

The patient will need several sessions and healing periods to complete the transplant. The patient’s scalp will most likely be sore. The hair doctor may prescribe medications to help the patient manage the discomfort. Antibiotics will help reduce scalp infection, and anti-inflammatories can keep the swelling at bay. The patient may return to normal activities a few days after the procedure.

The transplanted hair may fall out about two to three weeks after the procedure. The healthy roots will give way to new, healthy hair. Most patients will see some new hair growth about eight to 12 months after surgery. Many hair doctors will prescribe medications that can stop or slow down the future loss of hair.

Possible complications

The patient may experience minor side effects after the procedure. These negative effects are easily treatable. They can even clear up in just a few weeks. Below are some of the possible side effects the patient may experience:

• Infection or inflammation of the hair follicles (folliculitis)
• Unnatural-looking tufts of transplanted hair
• Bleeding
• Scalp swelling
• Infection
• Scalp itching
• Bruising around the eyes
• Temporary loss of transplanted hair
• Crusting in transplant sites
• Lack of sensation on the treated parts of the scalp

Before the procedure

Preparing for hair transplant surgery is important for its success. The patient must be realistic. There should be enough hair to transplant. Denser and thicker remaining hair can help grow thicker hair as well. Light or grey, thick hair gives thin, dark hair.

It can take about nine months before the new hair takes root or starts to fill in. Quitting smoking can help prevent complications. The patient may need continuing treatment after the procedure.

The use of flap surgery

An extensive hair transplant surgery may need flap surgery. The patient may need to stay in the hospital for this hair transplant procedure. General anesthesia may be necessary. Below are some of the steps involved in flap surgery:

1. The hair doctor will place tissue expanders under the donor area. The tissue expanders become inflated with saline solution over weeks. This enhances the area to grow more dermal cells
2. Two weeks later, the scalp will grow enough skin for the hair transplant surgery
3. The hair doctor will cut and remove the hairless scalp. New hair in the healthy scalp will transfer to the recipient area. The flap will have a good blood supply to sustain the new hair grafts

Hair transplant treatment can give your hair a new beginning

Getting this procedure can improve your look and self-esteem. It may take a while to get the final results, but the effort will be worthwhile. Your hair doctor must give a proper assessment of your hair before starting the hair transplant procedure. Following the proper after-care guidelines can help make the hair transplant procedure successful.

Get more information about Dillon Hair Restoration in Schaumburg at http://dillonhair.com.

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