What you should know about hair transplants

Hair Transplant

There cannot be anything more worrying than seeing yourself every day in the mirror minus few hairs. Hair loss is fast becoming the biggest panic creator amongst the young population thanks to the changing lifestyles. Besides, heredity is one of the most common internal causes of hair loss. However, there is a solution in the form of hair transplantation.

Hair transplantation is a surgical technique that relocates resistant individual hair follicles from back of the head, called donor site, to the balding part on the top of the head, called recipient site.

It is also used to restore eyelashes, eyebrows, beard hair, chest hair, and pubic hair and to fill in the hairless scars caused by accidents or surgery or burns.

Method: — Donor hair can be harvested in two different ways: It could be done through strip harvesting or  follicular unit grafting. The latest method of closure is called ‘Trichophytic closure’, which results in a much finer scar at the donor area.

These follicular hair units are then transplanted, in the frontal or top of the head area, using very small micro blades or fine needles to puncture the sites for receiving the grafts, placing them in a predetermined density and pattern, and angling the wounds in such a fashion to promote a realistic hair pattern. The transplanted hair will grow in its new site for as long as it would have in its original one.

Procedure: For few days prior to surgery the patient is advised to refrain from using any medicines, which might result in intra operative bleeding and resultant poor “take” of the grafts. Alcohol and smoking can contribute to poor graft take and survival.

Procedure: The entire procedure is done under local anesthesia tumescent technique; be it grafts harvesting or graft transplanting. You can enjoy TV or music  while the grafts are being inserted. It involves about seven to eight hours. At the end a protective dressing is done which is removed after 48 hours.

The recovery time is immediate and the pain negligible. It is pertinent to note that hair transplant operations are performed on an outpatient basis. Postoperative antibiotics are prescribed to prevent wound or graft infections. Post-operative care

During the first six weeks, shafts of virtually all of the transplanted hairs will fall out leaving their bulbs behind. After two to three months new hair will begin to grow from the moved follicles. The patient’s hair will grow normally, and continue to thicken through the next six to nine months. Final result assessment is done at one year to understand the need for the second session.

Head wash is allowed from day 6. You are advised to wear a soft cap till the hair start growing. patient is advised to avoid direct exposure to sunlight till the hair growth starts, avoid Gym related activities for a month, refrain from smoking till the hair growth starts.

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