Hair Transplantation

Hair loss, which can occur in almost any age group and for many reasons, is one of the most common health problems. Today, this problem experienced by many people, regardless of men and women, to the extent that it limits the lack of self-confidence and social life of the person. This is because our hair directly affects our general appearance. For example, women or men with hair loss look much older compared to the same age group. Since one does not look very good aesthetically because of this problem, hair transplantation offers itself as a solution to it. Hair transplantation is a very effective procedure developed to eliminate these problems, achieving the final result in a very short time and restoring the lost hair. Since it is so effective, the details about it are also very interesting. Now let’s examine all the details about hair transplantation together.
Hair transplantation is basically performed with two methods, FUT and FUE method. FUT method is one of the oldest methods. Therefore, it naturally has some shortcomings. These shortcomings have been eliminated and the FUE method has been developed to minimize the negative effects. Therefore, the FUE method has become increasingly important. In the FUE method, the scar is minimized and as many hair follicles and hair transplants are performed as possible. Regardless of method preferred, the hair transplantation procedure is generally the same. Hair transplantation involves taking hair follicles from the donor area, with different methods for those who complain of baldness and hair continuity, and the hair follicles are transplanted into areas of baldness or sparseness. The rest of the details consist of specific stages.

Now let’s take a look at the rest of the article about the phases of hair transplantation, what to do during these phases and much more.

To whom can hair transplantation be applied?

The question of whom hair transplantation can be applied to is well researched for almost all people suffering from baldness and thinning hair. Hair transplantation is applied to male and female patients with this problem, regardless of gender. It is an operation that can be performed immediately if no obstacle is found during various tests and analysis before the patient’s hair transplant. For example, the patient is not allowed to undergo hair transplant procedure whilst receiving treatment against cancer. In addition, great caution is required when performing hair transplantation on diabetic patients. This is because the channels that are opened in the skin during the procedure and the bleeding that can occur when hair follicles are removed from the donor area can be a risk factor for the person. Therefore, if you have diabetes or suspect that you have diabetes, you should be examined beforehand and inform your doctor about it. At the same time, you should also think about your allergy before the hair transplantation. If you are allergic to the substances in the solution applied to the scalp, the hair transplant procedure will not be performed or will only be performed with greater caution. Therefore, it is important that you provide your doctor with all the details about your health condition before receiving the hair transplantation.

Hair transplantation methods

Basically, there are 2 methods in hair transplantation, namely FUT and FUE. If we consider these methods in detail, we will get enough information about the procedure to be applied. To eliminate uncertainties regarding the question “To whom can hair transplantation be applied?”, let’s examine all the details about the methods of hair transplantation together.

FUE hair transplantation (Follicular Unit Extraction): The FUE hair transplantation technique is based on the principle of extracting hair follicles with a special needle, without using a surgical knife during the procedure. In this technique, the posterior part of the hair is used as the donor area. The most obvious reason for this is that hair follicles in the back of the neck are much stronger than in other areas. However, if there is no hair in this area, hair follicles can be taken from other eligible parts of the body. They are taken one by one from the donor area with the help of 0.7 to 1 millimeter micromotors and transplanted into the sparse or completely bald area. No sutures are required with this procedure. Since it is a minimally invasive method, no visible scar remains in the donor area. No pain is felt during FUE treatment under local anesthesia. After the procedure, the patient can rest for a day and then return to his daily life without any problems.

FUT (Follicular Unite Transplantation) hair transplantation: The use of the FUT hair transplant technique, which was the preferred and most commonly used technique until the early 2000s, has declined with the development of new techniques in the field. In this technique, which is one of the oldest methods, the hair follicles to be used are taken from the neck area between the two ears by cutting the existing skin layer. After the extraction, the hair follicles in this area are taken by specialists and transplanted into the area of application. After the procedure is completed, the cut area is sutured. The healing process is much longer than with the FUE technique. The advantage of this method over other procedures is that the result is achieved faster, because the hair follicles are cut and removed as a whole. However, due to the long healing process and scarring, FUT hair transplantation is not used as often as it used to be.

How is hair transplantation performed?

The question “How is hair transplantation performed?” is often asked by people who want to undergo this procedure. Before the hair transplantation is performed, a preliminary examination is held with the patient. During this exam, the patient receives a hair analysis and some blood tests are performed. After these procedures, it is decided whether the patient is suitable for hair transplantation. During the hair transplantation stages, some drawings are made on the transplantation zone. Based on these drawings, it is determined how many grafts will be transplanted to which area. After these areas are determined, the patient is locally anesthetized and the graft removal is performed. Tiny channels are opened in the area to be grafted to facilitate the attachment of the grafts. These channels are large enough for the grafts to fit inside. This completes the procedure.

How long does a hair transplantation take?

One of the questions asked by those who want to have a hair transplant is: “How long does a hair transplant take?”. Although it is not a very long procedure, the examination and decision-making phase of this procedure takes longer than the procedure itself. On average, a hair transplant takes 5-6 hours. This time varies depending on the number of grafts and the hair transplant technique used.

Will I feel pain during the hair transplantation procedure?

One of the issues that those who want to undergo hair transplantation fear and research is the pain. The question “Will I feel pain during hair transplantation?” depends on the technique used. Since local anesthesia is used during the procedure, pain is almost not felt during hair transplantation. However, slight pain may occur when the effect of the local anesthesia wears off. You can minimize the pain with the painkillers you receive from your doctor.

What should be considered after a hair transplant?

The question of what to consider after hair transplantation is often asked by those who want to undergo the procedure or who have undergone it already. In addition to the correct application of the procedure, the details that need to be taken care of after the procedure itself are also very important in order to achieve the desired result. Since the things to be taken care of after the hair transplant procedure are the patient’s own responsibility, you should be aware of these details and the points you should pay attention to:

• In the first days after hair transplantation, the risk of infection is especially high. Therefore, you should be very careful in the first days to avoid the risk of infection. This includes taking prescribed antibiotics on a regular basis as well.
• If you are a smoker, you should cut the habit during this time and no alcohol should be consumed as well.
• Follow-up examinations or control times should not be neglected.
• The medicines prescribed by your doctor should be taken on time and completely.
• After the procedure, hair should be protected from strong wind, rain, sun and dust.
• The operated area should never be scratched.
• A well balanced diet should be followed.

When are you allowed to take a shower after the procedure?

The first few days after hair transplantation are very important. You should pay special attention to the area where the procedure was performed and postpone some things that you do in your daily routine. Among the situations you should pay attention to, showering is in the first place. You can get the clearest answer to the question “When can you shower after a hair transplant?” from your doctor. The later the water contact with the transplant area is, the more effective the result of the procedure will be. This is because the grafts are not yet suitable for contact with water. Patients who wish to take a bath can do so on the second day after the procedure. However, you should perform this procedure without your head coming into contact with water. Between the 3rd and 4th day, you can perform hair washing. Since you will get the most accurate information from your doctor and every patient has their own conditions, it is much better if you ask your doctor about the details you need to do after the procedure.

What is crusting after a hair transplant?

Crusting occurs during the first week after hair transplantation. The answer to the question “What is crusting after hair transplant?” is actually a part of the healing process. So do not be alarmed if crusting occurs in your hair. Our bodies pump much more blood than normal to help the healing process in the transplant area, where new channels are opened. This excessive pumping of blood causes the blood there to clot more quickly and look like a crusted wound. If you have observed crusting after a hair transplant, it means that you have entered the healing process.
However, you must be extremely careful when removing these crusts. You should not tear off these crusts with your hand and be as sensitive as possible. When you wash your hair, you should perform the washing process with gentle movements, without scratching the area with your nails.

When does the hair start to grow after a hair transplant?

The answer to the question “When does hair start to grow after hair transplantation?”, which is one of the most curious questions patients ask, varies from person to person. In hair transplantation, the grafts show up within the first week. However, this is not a very healthy growth for the new hair. Since the roots are prepared for healthier growth after the procedure, it takes time for your hair to grow. Therefore, the follicles of hair that show up first will break and fall out, causing a crusting. This breakage is called “the shock hair loss”. After this shock hair loss, healthy hair follicles start to grow as of the 2nd month. Therefore, you need to observe the process between the 2nd month and 6th month to see the hair transplant results after the procedure. By the end of the 6th month, you will achieve most of the desired results.