What is Hair Transplant?
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), 6 years of experience
What is the meaning of hair transplant?
Hair transplant is a minor surgical procedure where the plastic surgeon or the dermatological surgeon moves the hair from the back or side of the head to the front or top of the head or the bald areas of the head.
Hair transplantation can also be used to restore eyelashes, eyebrows, hair on beard, chest hair, pubic hair, etc. Modern day techniques of hair transplant help to achieve natural appearance by mimicking original hair orientation. Hair transplant procedure is generally done in a clinic or medical office, under local anesthesia.
The 2 different types of hair transplants are- Split grafts and Micrografts\
Let us tell you in detail about hair transplant through today’s article-
- What are the causes for hair transplant?
- Who should not get a hair transplant?
- What are the steps done before hair transplant?
- What is the procedure of hair transplant?
- What are the steps of care after hair transplant?
- What are the complications of hair transplant?
- What is the cost of hair transplant in India?
What are the causes for hair transplant?
There are multiple causes for hair loss which requires hair transplant, some of which are-
- Male pattern baldness
- Genetic or family history
- Improper diet
- Stress
- Long term illness
- Hormonal imbalance
- Medications
( Know more about- What is Hormonal Imbalance in Females? )
The following are the group of people who may benefit from hair transplant-
- Men who have male pattern baldness
- Women who have excessive hair loss or hair thinning problem
- People who have lost hair due to scalp burn or scalp injury
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Who should not get a hair transplant?
The following group of people might not benefit from hair transplant-
- People who lose their hair due to long term medications or people who are undergoing chemotherapy.
- Women who have a hair loss pattern which is widespread throughout the head or scalp.
- People who do not have enough hair from the donor site to remove from, for the transplant procedure.
- People who have thick fibrous keloid scars at the scalp after injury or surgery.
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What are the steps done before hair transplant?
- The hair transplant surgeon will check the patient’s scalp, discuss their expectations and preferences, give them the best advice and tell them the results of various methods.
- Folliscopy is done to access the hair density before the procedure, and also to know the results of the procedure after the transplant.
- Patients may be given topical minoxidil and vitamins, before the procedure to improve the hair transplant results.
- Medications that may cause bleeding episodes and cause graft failure, may be stopped ( only after the doctor consultation ).
- Alcohol and smoking must be stopped to prevent transplant failure.
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What is the procedure of hair transplant?
On the day of the procedure , the following steps are done-
- The scalp is thoroughly cleansed with disinfectant.
- Local anesthesia or numbing agent is given with a small needle, to numb the area of the head at which the hair transplant procedure is to be done.
- There are 2 main techniques to obtain the hair follicles for transplantation-
- Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)- In this procedure, the surgeon cuts out a strip of scalp skin from the back of the head and the incision is a few inches long. This site from where the scalp skin is taken is then closed with the stitches. Following this, the surgeon uses a magnifying lens and a sharp surgical knife to cut this removed portion of the scalp into small sections. These small sections are transplanted at the sites where the hair is missing. This helps to grow natural looking hair.
- Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)- The hair follicles are cut out from the back of the head, using tiny punch incisions ( which are hundreds to thousands in number). Next, tiny small holes are made with a blade or needle, at the site of the hair transplant. The hair is then placed in these tiny holes. In one session, hundreds to thousands of hairs are transplanted. Following the procedure, grafts or bandages are placed on the scalp for a few days for faster recovery and healing.
The entire procedure may take 4-6 hours, done in 3-4 sessions, over a span of several months. This is important to have full hair growth. The stitches are removed 10 days after the surgery.
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What are the steps of care after hair transplant?
- Following the hair transplant procedure, you will be given medications as the site of hair transplant is inflamed and might be painful for a few days. The medicines given are- pain killers, antibiotics, anti swelling ( anti- inflammatory ) medicines.
- Doctors may also prescribe medicines like minoxidil, finasteride, etc to improve the regrowth of hair. These medicines also will slow down or stop the future hair fall.
- Semi permeable dressing is placed, which allows easy seepage of blood and tissue fluids, which must be changed daily.
- The transplanted area must be protected from sun, and must be cleaned with shampoo regularly. This is done to prevent any scab formation.
- People usually return to work 3-4 days after the hair transplant surgery.
Important point to note is that the transplanted hair falls off 2-3 weeks after the surgery, which is known as shock loss. This will make way for the new hair growth, which takes place 8-12 months after the surgery.
( Know more about- Ways to grow new hair )
What are the complications of hair transplant?
The various complications associated with hair transplant are-
- Infections at the site
- Bleeding episodes
- Swelling of the scalp
- Bruising around the eyes
- Crusting at the site of the scalp from where hair was removed and where hair is transplanted.
- Numbness or reduced sensation at the site of transplantation
- Itching
- Folliculitis (infection/ inflammation of the hair follicles)
- Sudden loss of implanted hair
- Tufts of hair growing un-naturally
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What is the cost of hair transplant in India?
The total cost of hair transplant in India can range from around INR 50,000 to INR 90,000. However, the cost of the procedure may vary across different hospitals. There are many big hospitals and specialized doctors in India for hair transplant. The cost varies across different hospitals.
If you are coming from abroad, in addition to the expenses of hair transplant, there will be a cost of staying in a hotel, cost of living, and cost of local travel. Apart from this, after the procedure, the patient might be kept in the hospital for 1 day and in the hotel for 2-3 days for recovery. So, the total cost of hair transplant in India will be around INR 60,000 to INR 1,40,000.
We hope that all your questions regarding hair transplant have been answered through this article.
If you want to get more information about hair transplant, then immediately contact a Dermatologist.
We only aim to give you information through this article and do not recommend medication or treatment in any way. Only a doctor can give you the best advice and correct treatment plan.
