A hair transplant provides an effective method of restoring hair to balding or thinning areas of the scalp. If you are considering undergoing a hair transplant, you must have healthy hair at the sides or back of the head to use as donor sites for the transplant, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Several hair transplant procedures may be needed, depending on the extent of your hair loss.
Identification
Small sections of hair and skin are cut from healthy areas of the scalp and grafted in place over balding areas during a hair transplant. Approximately one month after the transplant, the transplanted hair falls out, but new hair begins to grow in the formerly bald areas about two months later, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Hair transplants can be helpful in restoring hair in people who have well-defined baldness, such as male pattern baldness, or in people who have thinning hair or hair loss resulting from burns or scars on the scalp. Transplants can be used for men and women. If hair loss is extreme, scalp reduction may be needed in conjunction with a hair transplant. During a scalp reduction, a few inches of skin in the balding area are removed and the remaining skin is stitched together, reducing the hairless area of the scalp.
Pre-Surgery Evaluation
During consultation, your surgeon will ask about your medical history and your family's experiences with hair loss. The consultation will also include an evaluation of your hair growth and density, questions about your lifestyle and a discussion about realistic expectations for the surgery. Your doctor will recommend a hair transplant procedure that will best address your hair loss and provide you with a written hair design plan and timeline. It is important to tell your doctor about any medical conditions you have, such as high blood pressure or blood-clotting disorders, so that appropriate steps can be taken to avoid any problems during surgery or recovery.
The Procedure
Before the hair transplant begins, you will be given local anesthetic to numb your head. While you won't feel pain, you may feel pulling or tugging when the donor plugs are removed. Depending on the amount of hair to be replaced, your doctor may remove large strips of hair containing up to 40 hairs, may remove small round punch grafts that contain up to 14 hairs or may remove hair in micro-grafts containing only one or two hairs. Grafts are removed with a scalpel or steel instrument used to punch small circular grafts from the scalp. After your doctor removes the grafts, he will stitch shut the incision sites and procedure to the grafting portion of the procedure. Grafts are inserted into the scalp through tiny incisions and are placed on the scalp in a pattern that mimics natural hair growth.
Recovery
Your head may feel tight and you may notice a throbbing sensation after the procedure. Prescription pain medication will help you handle pain or discomfort. Any bandages may be removed the next day, although stitches may remain in place for up to 10 days following your hair transplant. You must avoid strenuous activities and exercise for at least 10 days following the procedure to avoid bleeding caused by increased blood flow during vigorous activity. Your doctor will evaluate your progress during the weeks following the surgery and will discuss the timeline for the next procedure if more than one transplant is needed.
Warning
In some cases, newly grafted skin grafts may die, resulting in the need for an additional procedure. Infection at incision sites and excessive bleeding are risks of the surgery, particularly if you undergo a scalp reduction. You may notice small bumps on your scalp at the transplant sites. These bumps can usually be camouflaged with surrounding hair, according to the ASPS. While a hair transplant will help improve your appearance, it may not be possible to completely restore your hairline to its original state.
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