Hair transplants are a surgical procedure that restores natural-looking hair. The surgeon takes a thin strip of hair-bearing skin from the back or sides of your head. Depending on your needs, they may also use body and beard hair.
Wigs and extensions can help cover baldness, but they’re expensive, uncomfortable to wear, and require regular maintenance. Hair transplants are a more permanent solution.
Experience
Hair transplants are an effective treatment for baldness, but choosing the right surgeon is essential. It’s also important to understand what you can expect during the procedure.
During the procedure, your surgeon will remove hair from a dense area of your scalp—the donor area—and implant it in the bald spots where you lose hair. They’ll likely use two restoration techniques: follicular unit transplantation (FUT) or follicular unit extraction (FUE). Each method has its benefits and drawbacks.
After the surgery, you may experience pain or swelling as your skin heals. Your physician will prescribe painkillers to help you manage these symptoms.
Moreover, a hair transplant can be expensive, but comparing quotes from several providers is essential before deciding. Make sure to factor in other costs, like consultation fees and travel expenses.
It would help if you also considered the price of a facility’s operating or procedure room and any medications you need before, during, or after your surgery (like sedatives or painkillers). Also, remember that cosmetic surgeries typically don’t qualify for rebates from Medicare or private health insurance companies.
Reputation
Hair transplantation requires both excellent technical skills and a certain degree of artistry. A good hair surgeon understands how to use follicular units as individual strokes of a paintbrush to create natural-looking results that blend with your existing hair. They must also be able to balance the size and shape of each graft to ensure a seamless effect.
Finding a surgeon who can answer your questions and ensure you’re comfortable with your surgery is essential. If you feel pressured to schedule surgery or feel the surgeon is rushing you, this is a red flag.
A good doctor will have post-graduate training in plastic surgery or dermatology and extensive additional training in hair restoration. They should also be licensed to practice by the General Medical Council. Ensure the chosen clinic is registered with the Care Quality Commission and employs qualified doctors to perform cosmetic surgery.
Location
Your chosen surgeon’s location can significantly impact the cost of your treatment. This is because more experienced surgeons will likely charge more for their expertise. This may result in higher consultation fees (that may or may not be applied as a credit towards the cost of your procedure) and a more expensive overall approach.
During hair transplant surgery, the surgeon uses an anesthetic to numb the scalp. Then, they remove a narrow strip of hair growth from the back and sides of your head to serve as your donor area. These hair follicles are then moved to the thinning or balding areas of your scalp to increase thickness and fullness.
The surgeon may also use body and beard hair in your treatment if it is more appropriate for your condition. Consider the potential travel costs associated with this when calculating your treatment budget.
Cost
The cost of hair transplantation can vary depending on the size of the procedure, the number of follicular units required to achieve coverage, and the final design of your hairline. A qualified surgeon can provide you with a detailed quotation during your consultation.
The surgical technique involves moving healthy hair follicles from a section of the scalp with thicker hair (the donor area) to bald or thinning areas requiring coverage. The strands will then grow in their new location and restore fullness to the thinning or balding scalp, and you’ll enjoy a permanent solution to hair loss.
During a hair transplant, the surgeon cleans and numbs your head before making holes or slits in your skin, where they will plant the follicles. They may use a scalpel or needle for this. Alternatively, they may choose to use a robot for this process. A robot can provide the same results but requires fewer incisions and less blood. After placing the follicles, the surgeon will close and wash the incision site.
Recovery
A hair transplant involves surgically moving healthy hairs from one part of your head to another. It requires both technical skill and artistry. The surgeon has to create a realistic hairline that fits your face while considering the future balding pattern of the area you want to treat.
You may experience pain as the skin heals after surgery, but medication can usually control this. It’s also important to carefully follow your doctor’s aftercare instructions so your new follicles settle in and grow properly.
In a hair transplant, your surgeon will remove follicles from a dense part of your scalp, called the donor area, or a piece of hair-bearing skin on the back of your head. They will then implant the follicles into areas of your scalp with thinning or no hair.
The procedure takes between four and eight hours. A dermatologist will use local anesthetic and sedation during the operation so that you won’t feel any pain. The surgeon will make holes or slits in your scalp with a needle or scalpel and then place the follicles in those holes.
