How Is A Hair Transplant Done?
Wednesday, March 24th, 2010A hair transplant procedure involves the removal of skin that contains hair follicles from some part of the body, called the donor site, to a balding area of the head, called the recipient site. This procedure is most commonly performed to treat male baldness. However it is sometimes done to restore beard hair, eyebrows or eyelashes.
The surgery is also carried out to hide scars that may have been caused by plastic surgery, a previous hair transplant, or an accident. When the hair follicles are harvested, both the epidermis and the dermis encasing the follicle are taken. The procedure is basically mimicking nature.
The donor hair can be obtained via two methods, strip harvesting or FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) harvesting. During strip harvesting, the patient undergoes a local anesthetic and a piece of scalp is removed. This strip is cut into tiny pieces, called grafts, and transplanted into the area of balding. Recovery period is about 2 weeks, and the patient will have to have stitches removed.
During FUE harvesting, the patient also undergoes a local anesthetic. Single hair follicles are taken with the use of a micro device. Then, using a micro blade, they are inserted into the balding area. During this method no large amounts of tissue are extracted. Therefore there is no pain, scarring or stitches when the surgery is complete. Recovery period is about 7 days and the patient does not need any post-operative visits to the clinic.
If you are considering a hair transplant, you will first have to visit a surgeon. Your scalp will be analyzed and the surgeon will discuss your expectations and assess if they are realistic or not. You will not be allowed to take medications or drink alcohol for several days before your surgery to reduce the risk of bleeding or some of the grafts failing to take.
The procedures can be performed at an outpatient clinic and usually last for about four hours. The patient is given a topical anesthesia injection and, if necessary, a mild sedative may be included. Before the follicles are harvested, the entire scalp is thoroughly shampooed and a strong antibacterial solution is applied.
As soon as the follicles are harvested, the surgeon’s attending staff will cautiously remove fibrous or fatty tissue from each follicle, making every effort not to damage any cells. This exacting process is done under stereo microscopes. Finally, the follicles can be grafted onto your head. If you are in the hands of an expert surgeon, you should be pleased with your hair transplant.
See more on eyebrow hair transplant and on non surgical hair replacement for women
