HAIR TRANSPLANT BASICS – NATURAL RESULTS WITHOUT UNNATURAL HAIR PLUGS

What is a hair transplant?

Many people, both male, and female, suffer from thinning, balding and receding of their hairline. Hair transplantation aims at restoring your hair to a more youthful appearance. This procedure can be performed under local anesthesia to help address your specific concerns regarding your hair.

How is it performed?

When considering a hair transplant, it is important to know that the previous 4-millimeter “hair plugs” is no longer performed. This antiquated technique left patients with unnatural looking hair and it was frequently it was obvious that they had a procedure performed. Today, the gold standard is follicular unit transplants and follicular unit extractions. These are typically harvested in one of two ways – either by removing a strip of hair (the “strip technique”) along the back of the scalp and securing the opposing scalp regions back together with a suture. The other method is follicular unit extraction in which individual follicular units are removed using a small cored-out needle. These two methods both lead to great, natural-appearing results and the appropriate technique is tailored to the individual patient at the time of their consultation. The strip technique leaves a small scar at the back of the scalp, which is inconspicuous, especially with longer hairstyles.

The places where the harvested follicular units are going to be placed — the “recipient site”—has small puncture sites placed throughout the region to house the harvested follicular units. These are created directionally to mimic the direction of the naturally growing hair among these regions. The harvested grafts are processed under a microscope into individual follicular units. These are then individually implanted into the sites under magnification using small forceps.

How many hair transplant procedures are needed?

Some patients may only require one procedure. Others may elect to proceed with multiple transplants. This depends on the number of follicular units needed to obtain the desired results. For instance, a man that wants to address his raised hairline and areas of hairline recession may only need one procedure. However, other patients that want to address the hairline, as well as areas of balding along the back of their scalp, may need two or more sessions. The limiting factor is the number of grafts that are able to be obtained. Once the strip of hair is removed, we need to make sure that it can be closed with minimal tension to prevent visible scarring.

The other factor to consider is that patients may continue to have a recession of their hairline or balding as time goes on. If they would like this addressed, they may need additional procedures in the future. Other patients may be very happy with their results and want to increase the

density of their hair. This is tailored to each individual patient and it is an important discussion to have with your hair transplant surgeon during your consultation.

Are the hair transplants permanent?

Yes! The implanted hairs are typically permanent. This being said, patients’ existing, natural hair may continue to undergo the expected recession, thinning, and balding. This is another reason that some patients – especially younger patients – may elect to have more than one hair transplant procedure. These factors are extremely important to take into account, especially with younger patients, and emphasize the importance of consulting with a seasoned hair transplant surgeon.

Are medications available?

There are primarily two prescription medications used for hair – minoxidil (topical and oral) and finasteride (oral). Minoxidil was initially a blood pressure medication that was found to stimulate hair growth. The dosage used for hair restoration does not typically cause issues with blood pressure. The main side effect with this medication is that it causes ALL hair to grow. Therefore, if a woman has some degree of facial hair, it will stimulate this to grow. However, it will not cause new hair to appear – for example, it will not cause a woman to develop facial hair if she did not have it previously. Finasteride is only used in men. The main side effects with this medication are sexual – lack of libido, erection/ejaculation difficulties, etc. Only a small percentage of patients typically experience these side effects, however, it does discourage many male patients from attempting it. It takes multiple months to start seeing results from these medications. The biggest drawback is that once you stop taking the medications, you will lose the benefit that you have received over the past while taking the medicine.

What is the typical postoperative course like?

Patients go home the same day as the procedure. They are given detailed instructions on how to carefully wash their hair. We offer patients to come in the next day so that we can show them how to correctly (and gently) was their hair. The grafts are typically secured within a few days. The suture (if used for the strip technique) is usually removed after about 14 days. The important thing to know is that patients will oftentimes temporarily lose the implanted hairs – this is called telogen effluvium and it is due to the shock that the hair follicles experience associated with the procedure. New hairs will eventually grow – however, this takes months for the process to complete. This is a completely normal and expected process, but we understand that it can be concerning to patients – so we emphasize that this is an expected postoperative event. Therefore, it will oftentimes take close to 9-12 months to see the full results.

What should I do if I am considering a hair transplant?

If you are concerned about your hair, please contact our clinic to setup a consultation. At that time, we can discuss your issues and go over the various non-surgical and surgical options

available. We can arrange subsequent appointments to evaluate your progress and make adjustments as needed. Some patients may benefit from simply discussing their routine hair care. Others may see satisfactory results with medications or other non-invasive procedures – such as platelet rich plasma injections. Other patients may decide that a hair transplant procedure best aligns with their interests. We are here to discuss your various treatment options and help you make an informed decision to formulate the best treatment plan for you.

How much does a hair transplant cost?

The cost associated with the procedure is typically determined based on the number of follicular unit grafts you will need. This will vary based upon your goals for your hair restoration procedure. For example, the number and size of the locations that you would like to address as well as your desired hair density in these locations factor into the total number. After your consultation, we will discuss a variety of options that will help you make a decision that will best fit your desires.

Can you do hair transplants to other sites?

Yes! Some other places that we transplant hair are to the eyebrows as well as to help with facial hair density. We have performed transplants at these locations on many patients. The harvest method is relatively unchanged.

Am I a hair transplant candidate?

This question is difficult to answer. In some patients that have abnormal hair loss, sometimes we have to take a small biopsy to rule out various disease processes that may contribute to hair loss. These etiologies are important to diagnose because there are oftentimes medical treatments available to slow down or stop the hair loss. Additionally, some patients with underlying medical issues causing hair loss will have suboptimal outcomes from a hair transplant procedure. This further emphasizes the importance of visiting with an experienced hair transplant surgeon to discuss and fully investigate your concerns. Many of these conditions are rare, however, if they are present, it is imperative that we recognize them so that they can be appropriately addressed.

How can I arrange a consultation?

An in-person consultation can be arranged with our hair transplant surgeons. Additionally, we offer virtual consultations as well to discuss your concerns. To schedule an appointment, you can call 518-786-7000 and we will be excited to arrange an appointment.

Contact us for more information or to schedule a consultation to help your hair be thicker, fuller and more beautiful. We’re here for you!