About Hair Transplantation Before and After

What is Hair Transplant Cosmetic Surgery?

Hair transplantation before and after is a surgical solution for men/women who are losing hair. It boosts the confidence and self esteem of a man/woman who is losing hair, however, as with any plastic surgery it is important to keep your expectations of the procedure realistic. As there is no such thing as true replacement, only hair transplantation (hence, hair replacement transplant), the procedure is not going to work well for you unless you have enough donor hair that can be moved to the bald areas. The best possible candidate for hair transplants is a victim of pattern balding. In other words you still have hair growing at the back, sides or around the “crop circle” (scalp flaps) at the top of your head. This hair can be used for transplantation.

What constitutes an affordable hair transplant depends on your financial position. The procedure is very intricate, same is true for permanent hair transplant, and consequently the cost can be significant. Each procedure can cost anywhere from $2000-$7000 and you may need more than one procedure depending on the amount of hair that needs to be transplanted. For an independent look at the hair transplant process as well as alternative treatments, you can check out providers like KTS, who do initial free consultations.

Hair-Transplantation-Before-and-After

Are You a Good Candidate for Hair Transplant?

You’re a good candidate for hair replacement if:

  • You’ve lost hair due to genetics
  • You’ve lost hair due to trauma or burns
  • You have healthy hair growth at the back and side of your head
  • You have a great deal of hair growing on your calf, thighs, chest, belly, back and forearms

Hair Transplant Surgery – Procedure

Until recently, plastic surgeons used a technique called hair plugs to try and replant hair on balding areas of the head. This consisted of patches of hair that was transplanted from another part of the body and then moved, like sprouting plants, to the top of the head. Although this procedure was sometimes successful, it was all too common for this hair to look like “cornrows”. The effect was not very natural looking and to make matters even worse, the hair plugs often fell out creating patches of baldness.

Today, most plastic surgeons recommend autografting follicular units as a hair transplant procedure. There are very few individuals who would not qualify as a good candidate for autografting follicular units however the procedure may not be for you if you have a serious disease, are going chemotherapy or any other process that could cause your hair to fall out. Individuals with AIDS or an autoimmune disorder are also not good candidates for a hair transplant as there is an increased danger of infection or the newly grafted hair being attacked by the body’s immune system.

Most hair autografted hair transplants are performed in an office setting under local anesthesia. After thoroughly cleaning the scalp, the plastic surgeon will remove hair from a donor area somewhere else on your body. Ideally this is a portion of scalp from the back of the head. A portion of the hairy scalp is then removed with a scalpel and set aside while the surgeon sews the cut scalp closed. Hair transplatation before and after.

After the scalp is sutured, small groups of hairs, or individual hairs are removed from the donor patch of scalp. The area to receive the donated hairs is then also numbed with a cleaned and numbed with a topical anesthetic. Tiny holes are made with needles in the bald area and healthy hairs are delicately transplanted into holes. During a single treatment session which can last anywhere from one to four hours, thousands of hairs may be painstakingly transplanted to the scalp.

Hair Transplant Surgery – Recovery

During the recovery period, the scalp is often very tender and may feel bruised. Sometimes the graft stings or feels very itchy. A surgical dressing that can be concealed by a cap or hat may be worn for a day or two, though some surgeons do not bandage the scalp after a transplant. It is also inadvisable to get your hair wet for a week or so after the transplants. You can also expect your doctor to prescribe antibiotics to prevent any infection from occurring, and anti-inflammatories and painkillers to deal with any physical discomfort.

Keep in mind too that it may take several treatments to achieve the lush head of hair that you desire. However the time and expense may be well worth it as the results are usually permanent and no long-term maintenance is required of hair transplants. However, one should research the latest hair transplant information on: hair transplant centers, hair transplant cost and surgeons before undergoing the procedure.

If you’re not happy with the color of your new, thicker hair, there are plenty of options of natural hair dyes that make for an easy fix. You’ll want to check out natural dark brown options like those offered by EarthDye