We usually take our locks for granted until they are gone. Hair transplant is gaining in popularity among people to reverse the trend of untimely hair fall, to alter the hairlines, or get a new look mane.
However, before you undergo the treatment, it is important to talk to your doctor about what the procedure is like and other details. There are some renowned doctors available for hair transplantation at the hair transplantation clinic in Saraswat Hospital.
What Is a Hair Transplant?
A hair transplant is a procedure in which a plastic surgeon moves hair that already exists in an area of the head to another area that has thin or no hair.
Since the 1950s, surgeons in the US have practiced hair transplants, but recently, they have significantly refined the technique. The procedure for hair transplant typically occurs in the doctor’s office under local anesthesia. The procedure consists of the surgeon cleaning the scalp and injecting a numbing medicine into the back of the head.
Types of Hair Transplant
There are two types of hair transplant procedures available – the Follicular unit strip surgery or FUSS/FUT and the Follicular unit extraction or FUE.
FUSS/FUT consists of the removal of a 6-10 inch long strip of skin from the back of the head and keeping it aside. First, the plastic surgeon sutures the stripped scalp with fine stitches, using a trichophytic closure technique to ensure the scar remains minimally visible and soon blends with the surrounding hair. Then, the surgeon divides the removed scalp strip into follicular units, each containing 1-4 hairs. The hair type, color, quality, and the size of the area for transplant determine the number and type of grafts available.
In FUE, the team performing the procedure shaves the back of the scalp and removes the hair follicles, one at a time. The small dots that remain in the areas are filled with the existing hair.
Then onwards, the steps are the same with both FUSS/FUT and FUE. After preparing the grafts, the surgeon cleans the area designated for hair growth and injects a numbing medicine. Then, using a needle or scalpel, the surgeon creates holes or slits in the area. Finally, the surgeon delicately places a single graft into each hole. Depending on the area requiring a hair transplant, the procedure takes between 4 to 8 hours. There may be a need for another hair transplant if the hair continues to thin or you decide on thicker hair.
Expectations and Recovery
Soon after undergoing a hair transplant, your scalp may become tender. Initially, the doctor prescribes pain-relieving medicine for a few days, and you must wear bandages over the donor area for one or two days. Additionally, the doctor prescribes antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medicine to take for several more days. Most people who have undergone a hair transplant in India can return to work in 2 to 5 days after the procedure.
The transplanted hair starts falling out within 2 to 3 weeks after surgery, and in its place, new hair growth takes place within a few months. In the majority of cases, people who have undergone a hair transplant will see new hair growth within 6 to 9 months.
Risks and Cost of Treatment
The cost of hair transplant depends mostly on the area of scalp hair that is being moved. Most insurance plans do not have coverage for hair transplants.
The risks involved with hair surgery include bleeding, infection, and scarring in certain cases. There are even instances of inflammation or infection taking place, called folliculitis, during the time new hair strands start appearing. Doctors can effectively treat the problems with antibiotics and compresses.
It is important to talk to your doctor about the expected outcome and the realistic expectations from the surgery. Get additional information on hair transplant and other details by booking an appointment at the best clinic for hair transplant in India, the Saraswat Hospital.
