Hair transplantation is a method of restoring hair, wherein hair from one area is removed and transplanted in the balding area. The success of this procedure depends on several factors, which are discussed here.
Hair transplantation is an important breakthrough in the field of hair restoration. Hair restoration typically involves the use of medications for restoring hair, or the surgical removal of hair from one part of the body to another part, where hair thinning is taking place. The later procedure, i.e., the surgical method is known as hair transplantation.
This procedure can provide significant benefits to men having male pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia, which is one of the most common causes of hair loss in men. Even an increasing number of women are opting for this procedure, although they usually suffer from hair thinning. Baldness is quite rare in women.
The Procedure
Before carrying out the surgical method of hair restoration, the scalp of the candidate is thoroughly analyzed by a surgeon to evaluate the density of hair in the donor site, i.e., the site from where the hair follicles are taken. The hair follicles taken from the donor site are then transplanted in the balding or the recipient site.
The actual hair transplant surgery involves the removal of the skin containing the hair follicles from the donor site, and then their transplantation in the balding area. The modern technique of hair transplantation is known as the ‘follicular unit transplantation’, wherein hair can be harvested in two ways – strip harvesting and FUE harvesting.
In strip harvesting, a strip of scalp is removed from the donor site and then cut into several small pieces. These pieces are called grafts, which are then inserted into the balding area. A local anesthesia is required for removing the strip of scalp from the donor site. The recovery time for this procedure is about 2 weeks.
On the other hand, FUE or follicular unit extraction harvesting involves the extraction of the individual hair follicles from the donor site with the help of some tiny punches, and then their insertion into the thinning or balding area.
Hair Transplant Surgery
Race or ethnicity does not have any major impact on the basic method of follicular hair transplantation. However, in black men, this procedure has shown some really promising results in giving a more natural look, as their hair is much denser.
African-American hair is usually curly and hence, looks denser than other types of hair. In other words, curliness creates an illusion of more density. Therefore, African-American hair transplant looks more natural, and they do well in hiding hair thinning.
The candidature of black men for hair transplantation is governed by several factors, of which the most important factors are, the density of hair in the donor site and the kind of look or hairstyle one prefers. Hair transplantation always does well in individuals having dense hair in the donor site and limited balding.
For black men, their curly hair occurring in layers, has been found to impart a fuller and more natural look. The transplanted hair fall out after a few days, but regrows within a year. Scarring is very common in strip harvesting, which however, can be avoided with the follicular unit extraction method.
The follicular unit extraction method is generally more expensive than the other types of hair transplantation. However, there has been a significant reduction in the cost of hair transplantation in the recent times. Depending on the extent of baldness, the whole transplantation procedure may require several sessions, which can also affect the total cost.
As far as the side effects are concerned, one can experience swelling of the scalp and the forehead, which can require the administration of certain medications. Apart from this, the transplanted hair can fall out within a few days after relocation, which is known as ‘shock loss’. This is very normal, and the lost hair usually grows back within a few months.
Before opting for hair transplantation, one should carefully do a complete research on the different methods and the various issues related with the procedures. Also important is to select an expert surgeon, as the success of the procedure depends to a great extent on the skills and experience of the surgeon.
