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Hair Transplantation is a permanent solution for thinning hair leading to baldness and hair loss. Hair loss is primarily caused by a combination of aging, a change in hormones and heredity. Hair transplantation is a surgical procedure in which hair from the back and sides of the scalp is moved to the bald areas. This surgical procedure tends to be most popular among men and can restore a more youthful appearance. Some techniques may require multiple procedures over 18 months or more.

The Surgery

The surgery takes between 1-3 hours and is usually done on an outpatient basis. Hair transplantation is usually performed using a local anesthesia. The surgeon will fill in balding areas with a patient's own hair using a variety of techniques including scalp reduction, tissue expansion, strip grafts, scalp flaps, or clusters of punch grafts (plugs, miniplugs and microplugs). After the grafting session is complete, the scalp will be cleansed and covered with gauze. You may have to wear a pressure bandage for a day or two

The Recovery

After the surgery you may feel temporarily achy and your scalp may feel very tight. Usually your scalp will ache and throb where the surgery was done. Your surgeon can prescribe pain medication for relief. Patients should rest quietly for the first 24 hours and should not perform heavy activity or exercise for one week. Sun and excessive heat exposure should be avoided for at least three weeks. You may be able to go back to work in 2-5 days.

The Best Candidates for Hair Transplantation

The best candidates for Hair Transplantation have healthy hair on the sides and back of the head. Other factors, such as hair color, texture and waviness may also affect the cosmetic result. The best candidates are also in good psychological health and have a realistic expectation of what hair transplantation can do for them.

The Risks

As in any surgical procedure, infection may occur. Scarring on the graft sites is also possible, but most scars are small and are covered up by growing hair. Also, in transplant procedures, there is a risk that some of the grafts won't "take." Any disorder of your scalp skin must be treated before hair grafting or it will interfere with the healing of your grafts. Such disorders include psoriasis, eczema, seborrhea (dandruff), and acne in and around the scalp.

Background

By age 50, about 50% of American men—and a substantial number of women—are affected by hair loss, much of which is hereditary. Micro-hair transplantation is a state-of-the-art hair transplantation technique that has replaced "plugs" or larger grafts of hair.

Technique

Most micro-hair transplant procedures (individual hair micrograft restorations) use local anesthesia and are performed on an outpatient basis. Other procedures such as flap surgery, require general anesthesia and are performed in a surgical setting. After approximately six weeks, the transplanted hair will fall out and be replaced about three months later when the new hair grows in. To achieve sufficient density, several sessions may be required. Transplantation is a progressive process requiring hundreds of micro-grafts, each of which will generally contain from one to three hairs mini-grafted from a donor site on the side or back of the head. They are randomly implanted in the bald (or thinning) area so that they will grow in a natural pattern and produce an undetectable result.

Benefits

• Procedure is permanent. Once the transplant procedures are complete, there is no further necessity for surgery.
• Restores a natural, more youthful, and vigorous look, with potentially positive psychological effects, such as a boost in confidence.
• Less expensive than other hair-loss treatments, when factored over time.
  Other Considerations:
• Must have availability of healthy hair in donor areas of adequate density. May be combined with other surgical procedures in patients with larger areas of baldness.
• Time-consuming process that may require multiple sessions over 1 to 2 years.
• Procedure involves some degree of minor discomfort, bruising and swelling.
• There may be numbness around the donor or recipient site, which generally disappears within 2 to 3 months.
• Several days are required before normal activities can be resumed.
• Patient should not have unrealistic expectations about the nature and extent of transplanted hair growth. Individual hair characteristics, such as coarseness and curl, can affect the possible density of transplanted hair.
• Survival of transplanted hair is not always predictable.