Overview | Types of hair transplant | Expected results | Side Effects | Self Care | Ideal candidates | Costing
We understand how stressful it is to lose excessive amounts of hair. According to Stanford Healthcare, one in five women and two out of three men suffer from hair loss due to multiple reasons. However, with the availability of the modern hair transplant treatments, you do not have to worry about hair loss anymore.
Hair transplants involve taking healthy hair from one part of your body and transplanting it to the scalp areas that are thinning or balding. There are different types of hair transplant procedures available for you to choose from. We, at the Bombay Skin Clinic, assess each individual patient’s medical history and physical condition to suggest the best line of treatment. And, our fantastic results speak for themselves.
Let’s take a look at some important information regarding hair transplants.
Types of treatment
The two notable transplant procedures available are Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT). In our clinic, these are performed by experienced medical professionals and hair specialists who work diligently to ensure the best results for our patients:
FUE Treatment
FUE treatment is performed by extracting individual hair follicles and transplanting them into the recipient scalp area. Since its introduction in 2003, FUE has improved over the years and become an effective and popular option. This is one of the most advanced hair transplant treatments because it can promote thick hair growth without leaving behind any linear scarring on your skin.
- Steps for FUE treatment – At The Bombay Skin Clinic, the treatment is very straightforward and offers superior results. To begin with, the doctor marks both the donor area from where the hair follicles are collected for transplant and the recipient area where the collected hair will be implanted. Local anesthesia is applied on the donor area and hair is collected using a punch device. 2,500 to 3,000 hairs can be collected within four hours, which makes a single session. After this, the follicular units are transferred to a solution where they remain fresh until the time of implantation.
Local anesthesia is then applied to the recipient area so micro holes can be made without causing any pain. The incisions are made using a micro blade to make sure that the hairs can be implanted according to your hair’s natural growth direction and angle. Implanter instruments are used to place the hair follicles one by one into the recipient area. Our treatment experts work carefully to ensure patients remain comfortable throughout the procedure. - Advantages of FUE treatment – Below is a list of benefits of FUE treatment.
- Minimal invasion: you can leave the clinic immediately after the procedure
- Local anesthesia: you can experience painless treatment
- Extraction with precise instruments: no noticeable scars are left behind
- No unnecessary hair loss: extraction procedures are performed by professionals who collect only the exact amount of hair required for transplantation
- Wider grafting variables: multiple donor areas can be considered
- No loss of skin sensitivity: after anesthesia wears off from the recipient area
- Natural-looking results: regrown hair looks seamless
FUT treatment
FUT is a hair transplant treatment that uses a surgical procedure to extract a strip of skin with hair from the sides or the back of your scalp. It is done in a manner that ensures a specific number of follicular units are collected. Once the strip is extracted, experienced technicians separate the hair follicles under an advanced microscope, and then the follicles, or live grafts, are transplanted into the targeted scalp areas.
FUT is an older form of treatment that has been overshadowed by the FUE treatment, because the former can involve some pain and cause scarring.
Expected results
Some people might feel soreness after the transplant. Do not worry if your transplanted hair starts to fall after about a month or two. New hair starts to grow in its place within a month.
Our patients have expressed delight at the results. They start to see new hair growth within eight to twelve months of the procedure. Do note that each person’s body is unique and so the outcome varies and depends on many factors.
Possible side effects
While there is little swelling and the pain is bearable, in our clinic we perform hair transplants with utmost care so you do not have to face any complications after the procedure. You might experience a few more minor side effects. The most common ones are bleeding, infection, itching, bruises around the eyes, numbness on the areas where hair has been transplanted, crust forming on the donor and recipient areas of the body, folliculitis or infection in the follicles, and temporary loss of transplanted hair.
Our clinic doctors may suggest medicines for managing any pain, and also antibiotics to make sure that there are no infections. Anti-inflammatory medication may be prescribed to control any swelling.
Self-care and other precautions for the future
After the transplant, we advise our patients to take extra care of their hair to enhance its quality and boost results. Generally, you can return to your daily activities a few days after the procedure.
According to the United Kingdom’s Nation Health Service, it is very important that you care for your transplanted hair for at least two weeks as the grafts require a little time to be secured. You also need to take certain precautions. For the first week, avoid any kind of stressful exercise to reduce chances of scarring. Light exercise is permitted after a couple of days. Alcohol must also be avoided. You can cut your hair after about two weeks, but you have to wait a month to dye your hair. You can go back to your normal hair care routine after ten days, including shampooing and mild brushing.
When is hair transplant suggested?
If you are constantly suffering from hair loss and there are signs of male or female pattern baldness, then we suggest hair transplant treatment as a permanent solution. A lot of advancements have been made to the treatment in the last few decades, and it can guarantee a more enduring result.
Ideal candidates for this treatment
Hair transplant procedures are effective and their results everlasting, but it might not work for everyone equally. Hair transplant works best for women with thinning hair, men with pattern baldness, and anyone who has lost hair due to an injury or burn. Our doctors thoroughly assess a patient’s hair loss condition before suggesting the right course of action.
When is the treatment not recommended?
For the hair transplant treatments to be successful, you need to have at least some donor hair on your back or side of the scalp. You should also not be completely bald. Depending on the severity of your condition or the reason for loss of hair, such as widespread hair loss or chemotherapy, the treatment might not be recommended. Hair transplant is also not recommended in active cases of alopecia areata.
Pre-treatment care before procedure
Two weeks pre-treatment, we advise our patients to stop using any topical hair treatment and start using the prescribed shampoo given by the doctor. We also recommend not taking any blood thinner medication at least two weeks before the procedure. Moreover, ask them to avoid smoking for a week and drinking alcohol. If you dye your light hair, it is recommended to dye it three days before the surgery.
Costing
The cost for hair transplant depends on multiple factors and will be different for every patient. The basic cost might be upwards of INR 45,000, and higher depending on the number of grafts required, the number of sessions needed, consultation fees, and so on.
Important information to share with your doctor
Before performing any hair transplant treatments, our doctors aim to gain a clear understanding about each patient’s current health and medical history. For example, if you are allergic to certain medicines or have a pre-existing condition that might affect the treatment, the doctor would need to be notified regarding the same. You must also notify the doctor about any hair loss treatments done in the past. The doctor must know all such details to guarantee the safety of your health, a smooth procedure, and optimum results.
Questions to ask the doctor
We encourage our patients to ask every question that occurs to them, because the more they know the better they will be prepared. Below are some sample questions you must ask your doctor.
- What is the reason for my hair loss?
- Is hair transplant a viable treatment for my condition?
- How much of donor hair is available on my body and scalp?
- What kind of graft will be used?
- How many experts are in the treatment team?
- How many sessions are required?
- What should the pre-treatment care involve?
- What post-treatment tips should I keep in mind?
- What changes should I make to my hair care routine?
Number of treatments or visits required
While some of our patients require no more than one transplant session, others require three to four. We recommend doing these sessions with a few months gap between them to allow for optimal efficacy from each.
Closing paragraph
Losing hair might lower your confidence and dent your self-esteem, but with the right hair transplant treatments you can get your head full of hair back in no time. Gone are the days when bald patches or thinning hair would stop you from living your life to the fullest. Book an appointment at The Bombay Skin Clinic today to restore naturally lively and healthy hair!
References
- Stanford Healthcare: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-treatments/h/hair-replacement-surgery.html
- National Health Service: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cosmetic-procedures/hair-transplant/
- Johns Hopkins Medicine: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/hair-replacement-surgery
