Can I Have a Hair Transplant Done During COVID?
The coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic has significantly impacted our lives in every way – personally and professionally. However, each one of us looks forward to the rebound and return to normalcy. A number of our patients have contacted MAXIM Hair Restoration to have their hair transplant procedure done during this period. However, in compliance with stay-at-home orders and out of an abundance of precaution to protect our staff and patients, we suspended performing procedures and in-office consults in most locations until the government permits to re-open.
Hair Restoration & Transplant at MAXIM
Most patients are now demanding Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) which is the No Stitch, No Linear Scar hair transplant procedure. People do not want to go through a long recovery process associated with the Strip (FUT) procedure even though one can achieve a higher density with FUT. Coincidentally, FUE is a better procedure to perform in the time of this pandemic because it’s less invasive, involves minimal bleeding, and involves relatively less physical contact compared to FUT and other surgical procedures like (SMP) Scalp Micropigmentation .
How Does the Hair Transplant Procedure Work?
Hair transplant or transplantation is a minor surgical procedure that involves taking hair follicles from the back and sides of the head (donor area) and transplanting them to the thinning and balding areas known as the recipient site. The conventional procedure known as Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) involves taking a strip of hair from the back of the head, dissecting it into individual grafts or follicular units, and transplanting them to the recipient site. The donor area is then sutured by the hair transplant surgeon and stitches taken out a week to 10 days thereafter. With the newer and advanced Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) procedure, the hair transplant doctor extracts individual hair grafts, consisting of 1 to 3 hair follicles, from the donor area; then makes recipient sites in the thinning and balding areas, and technicians place the grafts into those sites. At MAXIM, the hair transplant surgeons and technicians use advanced FUE Technology for the harvesting of hair follicles.
Hair Transplant Procedures Scoring System During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Journal of the American College of Surgeons has published a scoring method to rate various medical procedures based on their safety. The FUE hair transplant procedure performs very well on this rating scale. Twenty-one factors were identified to rate elective procedures in the current climate of the COVID-19 pandemic. These factors fell into three general categories. A higher score for each factor is associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 transmission to the healthcare team, and/or increased hospital resource use.
Procedure Factors Score: 11
Amount of resources required during the length of the procedure in an operating room (O.R.). A hair transplant is an outpatient, office-based procedure that does not require an O.R. It is performed in a minor procedure room. It entails a minimal drain or impact on PPE and other resources.
Condition Factors Score: 23
Timing of the procedure and whether or not it is urgent. A higher score is generally indicative of less harm to the patient when the procedure is deferred. These factors gauge the impact of surgical deferment in order to integrate time-sensitivity into the prioritization process.
Patient Factors Score: 16
Known patient factors associated with higher incidences COVID-19 mortality. These may include age, predisposition to certain adverse reactions, the existence of certain medical conditions and disorders, asthma, cardiac or pulmonary issues, etc.
FUE Hair Transplant Total Score: 50
This is a great score. A higher score, which can range as high as 105, is associated with poorer patient outcomes, increased risk of COVID transmission to the team, and an increased strain on hospital resources. In a similar manner, a lower score can help preserve operation room capacity and the precious supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) for front line workers.
Patient and Staff Protection During Your Hair Transplant Procedure
When we reopen, we would ensure that all patients and visitors to the office are screened for temperature, travel history, and other medical ailments including cough and cold. We would limit the number of consults and procedures at any given time in the office. We have instituted social distancing in the clinic both between patients and staff in compliance with CDC guidelines. Patients and staff are required to wear masks, gloves, gowns, and other protective gear. We also strongly encourage Virtual consults via our HIPAA-compliant, encrypted TeleHealth platforms.
Your Hair Transplant Consultation at MAXIM
Virtual Consultations are now available for prospective MAXIM clients as well as existing patients who need follow-up care. These are available primarily through our HIPAA-compliant, encrypted Electronic Health Record (EHR) platform. This will enable prospective clients who live far away from our offices to have a virtual consultation and only have to travel to our office on the day of their hair transplant procedure.
Rapid Return
An FUE hair transplant procedure enables you to return to your normal working activities within a couple of days of the procedure. FUE is a minimally invasive procedure performed in an office setting under local anesthesia. Moreover, it is natural, permanent, and affordable. Here’s what you can expect in the days and weeks following the procedure:
- Return to normal activities and light exercise after a few days.
- More strenuous exercise can resume after 10 days.
- Avoid heavy lifting and excessive sweating.
- Resume all normal activities after two weeks.
Follow up care can be performed virtually or in-clinic depending upon the situation.
The Cost of a Hair Transplant
At MAXIM, prices are transparent just like our staff and physicians. Prices start at per graft for FUT and per graft for FUE. The minimum price is . Our prices are very competitive with other providers and there are no hidden costs or fees. Zero percent financing, over six months, is available through third-party finance companies. We currently work with Care Credit, Green Sky, United Medical Credit, Alphaeon, and others.
Next Steps
Schedule a FREE Virtual Consultation with one of our staff or physicians by visiting our web site / or calling the number on the home page or location page of the web site. You can also email us at [email protected] and SMS us from the web site. During your complimentary consultation, the physician/staff member will advise you if you are a good candidate for the hair transplant procedure and provide a graft+price estimate. Following this, you can make a deposit towards your hair transplant procedure, apply for financing (if needed), and schedule a procedure date. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a huge backlog of procedures. Therefore, you would want to plan ahead of time for your procedure. Rest assured, the MAXIM physicians and staff are ready to serve you and take care of your hair restoration & transplant needs in a compliant, safe, and effective manner without compromising on results or quality.
