Hair Loss and Hair Transplants

With half the men in the United States suffering from hair loss by age 50, it is no surprise that hair loss treatments using transplants have become the number one cosmetic procedure for men in the United States; however, hair loss is not exclusive to men. Many women also suffer from thinning hair or patterns of baldness. Each year there are more than 20,000 consultations and five million transplant procedures.

Although hair loss treatment doesn't work for everyone, hair transplants do offer permanent hair restoration for most patients. The goal is to give you the natural-looking appearance of healthy hair.

The Best Candidate

People typically seek hair transplantation to correct hair loss that has resulted from genetics, aging, a traumatic injury, or certain medical conditions. The ideal hair-transplantation candidate must have healthy existing hair on the back or sides of the head. The candidate must also be prepared to undergo treatment in multiple sessions that can take several hours.

The Hair Transplant Procedure

The location of the procedure is an outpatient surgery center, doctor's office, or hospital. The procedure can require several hours and multiple treatment sessions over the course of up to two years. Anesthesia options should be discussed with your surgeon and the anesthesiologist. The procedure is often performed under local anesthesia, though general anesthesia may be used for more extensive surgery.

During the transplant, segments of the scalp, or grafts, which contain hair from the donor area, are removed and then attached to the targeted balding or thinning area. There are several types of grafts that vary in size and shape. Mini-grafts contain up to four hairs. Slit grafts that are inserted into slits in the scalp have up to ten hairs. Round-shaped punch grafts have up to ten hairs. Strip grafts contain up to 40 hairs.

Several hair transplant sessions are usually needed in order to achieve optimum results.

The Recipient Site: The Right Fit

In any hair transplant procedure, the right fit of each graft or follicle is extremely important. Care must be given to ensure the strongest contact with existing tissue. The goal of the right fit is to offer the highest probability for speedy oxidation between existing tissue and the new graft. The wound size depends upon the specific graft treatment used by your doctor.
Aftercare

The doctor will supply a complete instruction list that must be followed to reduce the risk of complications. Normal activity may not be resumed for several days. The doctor may prescribe oral and topical medications to manage minimal discomfort, bruising, and swelling. The transplanted hair will often fall out within six weeks, but re-growth is expected to occur within three months.