Hair Transplant FAQs: Your Questions Answered
What is a hair transplant?
A hair transplant is a surgical procedure that moves hair follicles from a donor area (typically the back or sides of the scalp) to a bald or thinning area on the scalp. This allows for natural hair growth in the recipient area.
What is hair grafting?
Hair grafting is a specific technique used in hair transplants. It involves extracting individual follicular units (groups of 1-4 hairs) from the donor area and transplanting them to the recipient area. There are two main grafting techniques:
- Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT): A strip of scalp containing healthy hair follicles is removed, dissected into follicular units, and then transplanted.
- Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE): Individual follicular units are extracted directly from the donor area using a small punch tool.
What is the appropriate age for a hair transplant?
There's no single "appropriate" age for a hair transplant. Generally, patients should be in good overall health with a stable pattern of hair loss. Ideal candidates typically fall in the age range of 22-55, but some surgeons may perform procedures on younger or older patients depending on individual circumstances.
Is hair transplantation suitable for men and women?
Hair transplantation is a viable option for both men and women experiencing hair loss. However, the specific techniques and considerations might differ slightly.
Men often experience a receding hairline or male pattern baldness, while women may experience hair thinning or a diffused pattern of hair loss. During a consultation, your doctor will discuss your specific needs and recommend the most suitable approach.
How long does a hair transplant procedure take?
The length of the procedure depends on the extent of hair restoration needed. It can range from a few hours to multiple sessions over consecutive days.
Is a hair transplant painful?
Hair transplant procedures are usually performed with local anesthesia and occasionally with oral sedation. While the procedure itself is typically not very painful, there might be some discomfort during and immediately after.
How long does it take to see results from a hair transplant?
New hair growth typically starts around 3-4 months after the procedure. Gradual improvements will continue over the following months, with the final results visible at around 12-18 months.