A hair transplants is a surgical procedure that moves hair follicles from one part of the body (often referred to as the “donor site”) to a bald or thinning part of the scalp (the “recipient site”). This procedure is typically used to treat male pattern baldness but can also be applied to women with thinning hair, people with hair loss due to trauma or burns, and even to restore eyebrows or beards.
There are two main methods for hair transplant:
- Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT):
- Involves removing a strip of skin from the donor area (usually the back of the scalp).
- The hair follicles are then extracted from the strip and transplanted into the thinning or bald areas.
- This method may leave a linear scar but can provide a large number of grafts in a single session.
- Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE):
- Involves removing individual hair follicles directly from the donor area.
- The surgeon makes tiny punch incisions to extract follicles and then implants them into the recipient area.
- FUE is less invasive than FUT and leaves minimal scarring, often resulting in quicker recovery.
Factors to Consider:
- Eligibility: Not everyone is an ideal candidate for hair transplants. Factors like the extent of hair loss, hair type, donor hair availability, and the overall health of the patient play a role.
- Cost: Hair transplants can be expensive and vary depending on the number of grafts needed and the clinic or surgeon.
- Results: While results can be natural and permanent, multiple sessions may be required to achieve the desired look.
- Recovery: Patients can experience swelling, discomfort, and scabbing after the surgery. Full results usually take several months to become visible.