A look at the Micro-follicular Unit Hair Transplant
Hair transplantation began in 1955 and over the years has improved to such an extent that it is practically undetectable and produces a perfectly natural result. Without doubt, it is a real option for permanent hair loss.
Hair transplantation involves harvesting the hair and follicles (grafts) from one area of the scalp (Donor Area) and skilfully transplanting them to the area in need of hair to achieve a permanent solution to hair-loss.
The doctor takes into consideration the amount and type of your donor hair, and your age and general health when evaluating your potential for an optimum outcome.
The main goal in hair transplantation is to achieve hair density while retaining complete naturalness of appearance. The challenge is to reach the ultimate goal with limited hair from the donor area. In other words, a person can add only as much hair to the bald area as can be provided by the donor area.
This is where the surgeon’s and the surgical assistants’ qualifications and experience play a major role. It is their artistic skill that will create the illusion of more hair than actually exists through the size and strategic placement of each graft, the angle of the hair and how closely the grafts are spaced amongst themselves.
Hair Transplant for Women:
For a woman to be a candidate for a hair transplant, the type of hair loss needs to be one or more of; androgenetic alopecia, scarring alopecia (only after it has “burnt out”), traction alopecia, alopecia due to cosmetic surgery gone wrong, or trauma from an accident. The limiting issue is whether the female candidate for a hair transplant has a good donor area from which to take the hair follicles.
Many women seeking a hair transplant are expecting to regain nothing less than a normal scalp hair density, but in many instances, this is not possible. Hair transplants just redistribute the hair follicles you already have, transplantation does not create new hair follicles. Because many women enter the hair transplant clinic with such high expectations, our consultant will spend a significant amount of time counselling, reassuring, and explaining the limitations of hair transplantation to a prospective female patient.
Women do have some advantages over men when it comes to hair transplantation. As androgenetic alopecia is usually a diffuse hair loss, it is relatively easy to fill in over the scalp with transplanted hair follicles to give a nice even density of very natural looking hair – because it is partially natural hair! Most women with androgenetic alopecia maintain their hair line (although a few do have hair line recession). This is a significant advantage compared to men who generally have a hair line recession with androgenetic alopecia development. The hair line is the most visible and most noticeable part of the scalp hair. It is also the most difficult part to reconstruct with a hair transplant. Some expertise is required on the part of the surgeon to get a hair line to look natural. It is much easier to transplant follicles behind a hair line to fill in and increase density than it is to create the hair line from scratch.
Also, a woman cannot forget about her existing hair prior to the hair transplant. She will need to use hair loss prevention program in order to maintain the hair healthy and strong.
New Hair Growth
Over the next several weeks to few months after surgery the average patient will see some results as new hair sprouts start to appear on the surface of the scalp. This new growth period varies from patient to patient, but on average it takes about three months. The new hair may not necessarily grow in evenly. The new hair will be thin and fine but will thicken with time.
During this time the patient may notice a pimple formation in the recipient area. This is quite common and is due to some of the new hairs trying to grow through the scalp. Sometimes, hair can become temporarily trapped under the skin like an ingrown hair but the condition will disappear. This is a positive sign of new growth!
The best way to diminish the pimples is to apply warm water. Once softened, the pimples can be carefully popped and then wiped with alcohol on a cotton ball.
Final Growth Phase
By the fifth or sixth month following the procedure the patient can expect to see substantial new growth. The new hair will be roughly 2-3 inches in length and the hair shaft will begin to thicken. Between eight and ten months, the patient will see the most remarkable results since undergoing the hair transplant procedure. The hair will be longer and much thicker and the overall appearance will be one of greater density. By the time a full year has passed, the patient will see the most results or changes. However improvements may take one year or more to materialize.
The hair that is now growing will continue to grow for the rest of the patient’s life and can be cut and styled in any manner the patient wishes. There is no special regimen required to care for the new hair. Standard shampoos and other hair products are perfectly safe. The patient can treat the new hair as they always have because it is their OWN hair that has simply been relocated!