Hair transplants are pretty straightforward procedures and several new techniques have sprung up over recent years.
There are different types of hair transplant procedures, and the most common are Scalp Reduction, Flap Surgery, and Hair Transplant Graft.
The first two surgeries are performed with local anaesthesia and grafting may take a couple of hours per session and may need more than one session.
General anaesthesia is preferred for Flap Surgery.
If you do decide to go in for hair transplant, you must prepare yourself for a long wait for the transplanted hair to take root and slowly fill in.
It could take up to nine months from surgery for your new hair to grow.
Do not expect a full head of hair overnight even though the commercials showing 'before' and 'after' pictures tend to convey the impression that you just have to walk in bald and walk out with lots of hair! But hair transplants are generally highly successful so if you have the money, the time, and the patience you should go for it.
There are some precautions you need to take before you go in for surgery.
The most important would be, if you are a smoker, to quit smoking as smokers fall into the high risk category for any surgery.
First, make sure you select a well-trained and experienced surgeon and ask to speak to his former patients or ask for their testimonials.
The hair transplant procedure is a very painstaking process and unless the surgeon has considerable experience and expertise, you might have a botched surgery on your hands.
Once you've decided on the surgeon, discuss with him your general health, any pre-existing illnesses for which you are on medication, any allergies to drugs in the past, etc.
This will alert the surgeon about any possible complications or drug reactions that may arise during the surgery.
Remember to inform the surgeon of even over the counter vitamin supplements that you might be taking.
The risks of surgery are just the same as any other interventional procedure but the occurrence of these complications is minuscule when compared to other surgeries.
There is, of course, the risk of fatality because of inappropriate anaesthesia which is extremely rare, and there is a chance of bleeding and infection, and red and itchy scars following surgery.
Also, the rare chance of the skin graft and tissues dying out cannot be completely ruled out.
Speak to your surgeon and the anaesthetist before the surgery and clear any doubts you may have.
Follow all pre-operative instructions.
Post-operatively, you could have some minor side effects like swelling, bruising, and scarring, which will settle down with time.
There may also be some discomfort with throbbing pain or numbness or a tight stretched feeling on the scalp.
As the scars heal, small scabs will start to form which is quite normal and you will be expected to wear a pressure bandage and dressings for a few days.
Again, follow the surgeon's instructions carefully throughout the post-operative period.
It is advisable to avoid all forms of strenuous exercise for at least ten days.
Do not be alarmed if you suddenly start shedding the transplanted hair as that is quite normal before it starts regenerating.
And if you are lucky, in about nine months your new hair should be showing active signs of growth and the scars should also be fully healed before the year is out.
There are different types of hair transplant procedures, and the most common are Scalp Reduction, Flap Surgery, and Hair Transplant Graft.
The first two surgeries are performed with local anaesthesia and grafting may take a couple of hours per session and may need more than one session.
General anaesthesia is preferred for Flap Surgery.
If you do decide to go in for hair transplant, you must prepare yourself for a long wait for the transplanted hair to take root and slowly fill in.
It could take up to nine months from surgery for your new hair to grow.
Do not expect a full head of hair overnight even though the commercials showing 'before' and 'after' pictures tend to convey the impression that you just have to walk in bald and walk out with lots of hair! But hair transplants are generally highly successful so if you have the money, the time, and the patience you should go for it.
There are some precautions you need to take before you go in for surgery.
The most important would be, if you are a smoker, to quit smoking as smokers fall into the high risk category for any surgery.
First, make sure you select a well-trained and experienced surgeon and ask to speak to his former patients or ask for their testimonials.
The hair transplant procedure is a very painstaking process and unless the surgeon has considerable experience and expertise, you might have a botched surgery on your hands.
Once you've decided on the surgeon, discuss with him your general health, any pre-existing illnesses for which you are on medication, any allergies to drugs in the past, etc.
This will alert the surgeon about any possible complications or drug reactions that may arise during the surgery.
Remember to inform the surgeon of even over the counter vitamin supplements that you might be taking.
The risks of surgery are just the same as any other interventional procedure but the occurrence of these complications is minuscule when compared to other surgeries.
There is, of course, the risk of fatality because of inappropriate anaesthesia which is extremely rare, and there is a chance of bleeding and infection, and red and itchy scars following surgery.
Also, the rare chance of the skin graft and tissues dying out cannot be completely ruled out.
Speak to your surgeon and the anaesthetist before the surgery and clear any doubts you may have.
Follow all pre-operative instructions.
Post-operatively, you could have some minor side effects like swelling, bruising, and scarring, which will settle down with time.
There may also be some discomfort with throbbing pain or numbness or a tight stretched feeling on the scalp.
As the scars heal, small scabs will start to form which is quite normal and you will be expected to wear a pressure bandage and dressings for a few days.
Again, follow the surgeon's instructions carefully throughout the post-operative period.
It is advisable to avoid all forms of strenuous exercise for at least ten days.
Do not be alarmed if you suddenly start shedding the transplanted hair as that is quite normal before it starts regenerating.
And if you are lucky, in about nine months your new hair should be showing active signs of growth and the scars should also be fully healed before the year is out.