Hair Transplantation 101

Before we discuss what a hair transplant is, let's take a look at:

What Is Not Hair Transplantation -

1. A hair transplant is NOT the implantation of hair from another person. Doctors use your own hair when transplanting it. Although researchers have had isolated success is using donor hair from another person in some cases, your doctor will be using your own hair.

2. A hair transplant is NOT the implantation of artificial or prosthetic hair. This method has been banned by the FDA for numerous complications.

3. A hair transplant is NOT the implanting of "hair plugs." Hair plugs is an old term common in the 1970s and 80s to describe grafts which consisted of 10 to 50 hairs. This resulted in barbie doll or "corn row" appearance. These days are long gone and you would find it difficult today to find a doctor that will agree to give you these unnatural looking plugs.

Modern Hair Transplant Surgery

Now that we know what a hair transplant is not, let's review a basic hair transplant procedure.

A hair transplant is the transference of hair grafts from a donor region to another region affected by normal male pattern hair loss or female pattern hair loss.

This is done by removing a strip of hair bearing scalp from the back or sides of the head where hair growth is permanent and not affected by Dihydrotestosterone. (The most common donor area is from the back instead of the sides).

This strip of hair bearing scalp can vary greatly in size but as just an example: can measure 1-2 cm wide and 10 or more cm long. After it is removed, the doctor will suture this donor area back together. These stitches will need to be removed in approximately 7 days.

A doctor or medical staff member then divides (with a surgical tool under microscope or microscope-like "goggles") the hair bearing scalp into grafts. These grafts can vary in size but include: follicular (most common) micro, mini and sometimes even maxi size grafts.

Once divided into grafts, a doctor or staff member will prepare the recipient area of your hair loss affected region for graft implantion. Tiny incisions are made with a surgical instrustment in the recipient area which is where your scalp will "recieve" the grafts.

Often, a hair transplant team will work together - one making the recipient incision while the other implants the new graft.

Once your procedure is finished, your doctor will advise you on how to care for your newly implanted grafts over the next few days. Keep in mind, in all cases of hair transplantation, the newly infected grafts will "scab" as they heal. Eventually, in 7-21 days, these scabs will heal and these grafts will actually shed the transplanted hair.

Yes, the newly transplanted hair will fall out.

However, do not worry for in about 3-6 and sometimes up to 12 months later, new and permanent hair will grow in it's place.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hair Transplantation:

Is the procedure painful?

Most hair transplant procedures are performed in a doctor's office under local anesthia. The only time patients might feel pain or discomfort is when the local anesthia is administered in the donor area (to remove the donor scalp) and the recipient area where the new grafts are implanted.

Why aren't the newly implanted grafts affected by normal hair loss?

Have you ever looked closely at a man with severe hair loss? He still retains hair on the back (below the crown) and sides of his head. The hair follicles in this region are resistant to dihydrotestosterone (dht). As the new grafts from this dht resistant donor area are implanted, they retain their resistance to dht.