A hair transplant: what is it?

A hair transplant is a surgical procedure used to restore hair to bald or thinning scalp regions. Often used by those who have tried other hair loss treatments, it is also known as hair restoration or hair replacement. Hair transplants are performed by dermatologists, medical professionals who specialize in skin conditions, or plastic surgeons, medical professionals who specialize in reconstructive surgery.

Read More: best hair transplant clinic in Delhi

How are hair transplants performed?

The medical professional removes skin grafts, or tiny pieces of skin, from parts of the body where there is healthy hair. Physicians refer to this region as the donor site. The thickest part of your hair is usually found on your head, near the back of your scalp. The grafts are moved to areas of the scalp without hair by the medical professional. The transplanted skin ought to keep growing hair after it heals.

What ailments is hair restoration surgery intended to treat?

There are numerous causes for hair loss. Hair loss can be permanent or only occur temporarily. When it comes to permanent hair loss brought on by:

An autoimmune condition called alopecia areata targets hair follicles.

pattern baldness, or androgenic alopecia.

hormonal abnormalities or thyroid disorders.

burns or other traumatic injuries.

Who qualifies for hair replacement surgery?

A hair replacement procedure might be right for you if you:

are well.

Set reasonable expectations for the outcomes of your hair replacement.

Still have patches of your scalp where thick hair is growing?

What kinds of hair transplant surgery are there?

Hair transplant surgery can be done in a number of ways, such as:

grafting.

decrease in scale.

flap replacement.

tissue growth.

How does grafting go about?

The most popular kind of hair transplant surgery is hair grafting. A medical professional makes tiny incisions in the healthy hair-containing scalp tissue. A tiny, round punch is occasionally used to remove skin that has between ten and fifteen hairs on it. These grafts were formerly referred to as “hair plugs.” One or two hairs can be found in micro-grafts.

Several hours may pass during the process. While most patients are asleep during the procedure, they are given medication to numb the scalp. Several procedures might be required, contingent on the amount of hair your provider needs to move. In between procedures, your scalp will need to heal for a few months.

How does one go about reducing the scalp?

Scalp reduction is also known as alopecia reduction by providers. A tiny patch of bald scalp skin is removed by the surgeon during this procedure. They pull the hair-covered skin over the bald spot after loosening it nearby. They sew it in place after that.

For bald spots on the back and top of the head, scalp reduction works best. Usually, skin with hair surrounds these areas. In order to achieve complete coverage, providers occasionally combine hair implants with scalp reduction. Similar to grafting, scalp reduction typically just necessitates topical numbing agents. This implies that general anesthesia is not necessary.

How is a flap operation carried out?

If you have large areas of baldness near the front of your scalp, your surgeon may suggest flap surgery to you. Over several weeks, flap surgery is performed in multiple stages. The donor site is surrounded by three superficial incisions made by the surgeon. The original blood supply is maintained on the fourth side, which is still attached. This method aids the surgeon in lifting the flap over areas of baldness and cutting it. During flap surgery, general anesthesia is needed.

How is an expansion of tissue carried out?

Your physician may perform tissue expansion surgery if you have burn scars or scalp baldness. General anesthesia is necessary for tissue expansion, which involves the following steps:

Where the hair still remains on the scalp, a reconstructive surgeon places an implant. They refer to this balloon-shaped device as a tissue expander.

The expander is gradually inflated over a few weeks in order to stretch the skin.

The stretched skin is used by the surgeon in a subsequent procedure to cover the bald spot.

How long do hair transplant results last?

Before you see the full effects of any hair transplant, it may take up to a year. As the flap or graft heals, the transplanted hair may start to fall out. This is typical. The hair ought to regrow. To get a natural-looking result, multiple “touch-up” hair transplant procedures might be required.

When should I schedule a hair transplant consultation with my doctor?

Following surgery, you will probably have multiple follow-up appointments with your healthcare provider. They will monitor the proper healing of your scalp. However, get in touch with your provider straight away if you encounter any of the following issues:

a persistent fever.

severe bleeding on your scalp.

extreme pain or redness on your scalp.

symptoms of infection, like pus that is leaking from your scalp wounds and is green or yellow in color.

Conclusion

If you were not successful with other hair growth treatments, you may consider hair transplant surgery. There are numerous approaches to hair transplantation. Thus, it’s critical to collaborate with a healthcare professional to select the procedure that will best achieve your objectives. Seek out a qualified expert with knowledge of both hair loss and hair restoration. They should be the only ones doing transplant surgery. The practical aspects of hair transplant surgery should also be taken into account. Consider the price and recovery period in between sessions.