Hair transplantation

The gradual death of follicles occurs with age, due to diseases, disorders in the endocrine system and hormonal levels. Hair loss is often not only cosmetic, extensive baldness causes severe discomfort, difficulties in social adaptation, personal complexes. In medicine, baldness is called alopecia, unfortunately, it is not always possible to solve this problem with the help of lotions or vitamins. When all available methods are useless, they resort to artificial hair transplantation. Below is a detailed description of how this is done and whether there is any point in transplanting.

Description of the procedure

Hair transplantation today is not something exotic, such an operation is carried out in many large cities in Europe and Asia. Despite the fact that the procedure belongs to a number of cosmetic ones, it is quite complicated in terms of technique. It is prescribed only when other methods are powerless.

A direct indication for surgery is cicatricial or androgenetic alopecia. The first happens on those places of the skin where there is a scar, the second is caused by physiological and biochemical changes in the body. The main cause of androgenetic alopecia is the formation of dihydrotestosterone, an androgen that disrupts the functioning of the follicles.

Dihydrotestosterone is more often localized in the region of the crown and forehead, and therefore the hair most often falls out in these places. A similar problem is observed more in men than in women; among patients, 80% are in the stronger sex, approximately 25% in women, and another 5% are adolescents with a disturbed hormonal background. For the treatment of alopecia, a series of examinations is carried out in order to accurately establish its cause, then conservative therapy is used with pills, supplements, folk remedies. Cicatricial alopecia can be eliminated only by surgery.

Hair transplantation is prescribed when other means do not help and the patient is confident in his desire to return the old hair. A transplant involves the transfer of hair follicles from one area of ​​the skin to another. In this case, only the patient’s own hair or biosynthetic implants are used, other people’s hair is not transplanted, since they do not take root. The most common method of transplanting native hair, artificial implants are less popular due to the high cost and risk of rejection.

Hair can be implanted not only on the head, although this is the most popular procedure. Hair transplantation is also done for aesthetic purposes, for example, on a beard or eyebrows. Donor follicles are usually taken from the temples and the back of the head, where baldness is very rare. Hair from other parts of the body is not often taken, as it grows no more than 2 cm and creates curls, such material may be needed when transplanting to eyebrows, mustaches or beards.

According to the technique of execution, there are several methods of transplantation:

1. Flap transplant, or FUT method. A strip of skin with follicles stands out from the area where there is hair, then this strip is divided into parts. Tiny pieces of donor skin with bulbs are implanted into the baldness area.
2. Bulbous, or FUE method. Hairs are isolated from the hairline along with the bulb. In places of baldness, microscopic holes are made, where the withdrawn follicles are implanted one by one.
3. The combined method combines both the first method and the second. To cover an extensive area of ​​baldness, tissue flaps are taken, for additional volume, more hair is implanted using the FUE method.

The result of such interventions can be seen on the websites of clinics, where photos are presented before and after the operation. After the transplant, the density of the hair returns, and with it the patient’s self-confidence. Modern surgery and trichology continue to find new methods of transplantation that will allow hairline to be restored without surgical manipulations.

Indications for transplant

For adults, this procedure is recommended as a last resort. In many cases, only surgical manipulations can rehabilitate a beautiful hairstyle and appearance of the patient.

Transplantation is carried out in such cases:

• men – with age-related baldness in the crown and forehead;
• women – with alopecia in different parts of the head;
• in places of mechanical damage to the skin, burns and injuries;
• on the face (mustache, eyebrows, beard) for aesthetic purposes.

For children and adolescents, such a procedure can only be performed if the appearance is severely distorted due to skin injuries. In case of hair loss in young people, conservative treatment is prescribed with cosmetic and medical preparations, since the hormonal background changes in a young body and the operation may not bring any results.

In addition, the operation is not performed in the following situations:

• with systemic diseases: diabetes, hypertension, hemophilia;
• with diseases of the scalp: psoriasis, eczema, seborrhea;
• mental abnormalities in the patient;
• in old age after 60 years;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• with baldness from transferred radiation or chemotherapy.

To prescribe the procedure, the trichologist prescribes a series of studies that will establish the cause of alopecia and exclude contraindications. If the examination and tests did not reveal the exact cause of the disease, the operation is not prescribed.

Preparing for a transplant

Preparation is very important for future results, this stage will allow you to choose the appropriate type of transplant, eliminate contraindications, and provide a good basis for manipulation. Since implantation is used only as a last resort, the patient will have to undergo medication first. Within 5-6 months, medications are prescribed that help eliminate the cause of baldness.

Reviews show that such therapy sometimes completely eliminates the need for surgery.

If it is still needed, the patient is prepared for the upcoming event:

• for 2-3 weeks, an examination and tests are prescribed, a consultation with a surgeon, an endocrinologist;
• if artificial implants are implanted, a test is carried out: up to a hundred biosynthetic hairs are implanted in the patient and the reaction of the body is observed (if the “donors” have taken root normally within 3-4 weeks, a complete transplantation is prescribed);
• for 5-7 days, alcohol, smoking and drugs that reduce blood clotting are contraindicated;
• on the eve of the procedure, the area from which the material will be taken is cut short.

Emotional preparation is also important, the patient must be calm and confident in the qualifications of the doctor. Therefore, before coming to the procedure, you should find out the customer reviews about the clinic, the length of service of the staff, the status of the institution. You need to ask the doctor about the method by which the follicles will be transferred, what is the recovery period, are there any risks and complications. It is also worth clarifying how many sessions are needed for a good result. Perhaps, in one procedure, the doctor will not be able to fully perform the entire range of work.

Execution of the procedure

The surgical method of hair regeneration is considered to be less traumatic, well tolerated and almost always gives positive results. Modern techniques are accompanied by a rapid recovery of the patient, the accuracy of transplantation and a good cosmetic effect. Depending on the problem or the choice of the client himself, three methods of transplantation are used, which we discussed above. Hair transplantation is the same for men and women, the differences are only the method of transplantation.

patchwork method

Its popular name is FUT – Follicular Unit Transplantation. This method is used for extensive baldness, most often in men. Technique:

1. The part of the head where the material will be taken is cut short or shaved so that it is convenient to take a piece of fabric.
2. The head is treated with antiseptic agents. Perform local anesthesia.
3. A strip of skin with follicles is cut out from the area covered with hair. A cosmetic suture is applied to the wound.
4. In those parts where the hair will be implanted, microscopic indentations are made. Donor tissue is not divided into small pieces that contain several bulbs.
5. Parts of the skin are implanted into the recesses. After the operation, the head area is once again treated with an antiseptic, a bandage is applied to the wound.

After such a procedure, the patient remains in the ward of the clinic for at least another day, the operation itself lasts from 3 to 5 hours. After that, the doctor examines the work and discharges the patient if there are no complications. This technique is considered more traumatic, since it leaves a scar after it. But the consequences will be absolutely imperceptible if the hair length is more than 1,5 cm. At discharge, the doctor gives recommendations on caring for the scalp, appoints a date for the examination.

bulbous method

This method is better known as FUE or seamless plastic. It is less traumatic, since strips of skin are not cut from the scalp. Instead, follicles are taken one at a time using hand instruments. As a result, the patient does not have a scar, the places where the material is taken are not visible due to the hair that grows nearby. The technique is almost the same: hair is cut, donor follicles are collected, microscopic holes are made in the bald area, and hairs are implanted. However, such a process is more painstaking and takes at least 6 hours, and can stretch up to 9. The price for such a service will be higher than patchwork technology, as it requires more effort and time. In some cases, the FUE technique can be combined with patchwork, often this is necessary for a large amount of work.

Recovery after the procedure

The operation is painless, the patient remains conscious. In some cases, general anesthesia may be performed if the patient is too sensitive, afraid or worried. But in most cases there is no need for this. After the suture technique, they are discharged in half an hour, the suture requires observation. In order to control the recovery process and the results of hair transplantation, the doctor schedules a scheduled appointment at which he will examine the area of ​​work. Some clinics give care products during discharge: shampoos, lotions, balms. Depending on the cause of alopecia, the doctor will prescribe drugs for internal or external use.

Completely hairline is rehabilitated within 6-12 months. Under especially favorable conditions (lack of rejection, good blood circulation, the presence of vitamins in the body), the first results will be noticeable after 3 months of complex therapy. The transplanted follicles carry their own genetic information, so they do not fall out from the action of dihydrotestosterone. The new hair grows in the same way as all other hairs, they have the same thickness. Biosynthetic implants are also equipped with capsules with a substance for engraftment and growth.

It is very important to follow all the recommendations of the doctor for care. Mandatory of them are:

• choose a comb made of wood or with soft nozzles on the bristles. Hard or metal brushes will damage the scalp;
• use cosmetics recommended by the trichologist after the examination. Even if the reviews praise some remedy, in order to use it, you need to undergo a consultation;
• it is advisable to give up smoking and alcohol, as bad habits have a bad effect on the endocrine system and blood circulation;
• visit your doctor periodically (at least once a year);
• do not use hair dyes, as a last resort, consult a doctor.

Medications are also prescribed to prevent alopecia. Women are often prescribed the drug Minoxidil, men need more intensive therapy – Finasteride is added to Minoxidil. If the doctor has not prescribed pills, it is very dangerous to take them on your own.

Where to make a transplant

The choice of a clinic should be approached seriously, the result will depend on the experience and responsibility of the doctors. You can get a similar service in major cities of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Among Russian clinics, the most popular is Rial Trans Hayer (RTH), the level of service here is quite high, as well as the qualifications of surgeons. The price for such a procedure is an average of 200 rubles. The cost depends on the complexity of the work, the length of the transplanted hair, the type of procedure. For the same price, you can undergo transplantation in foreign clinics, according to reviews – excellent service and results are given by clinics in Turkey. In some European centers there is a significant plus: if the hair does not take root, the clinic returns the money.

Hair rehabilitation is a complex surgical process, but with a positive prognosis. Almost always, such a procedure gives a good result, restores self-confidence and one’s abilities. For everything to go well, you should definitely look for reviews about the chosen clinic, find a trusted doctor and follow his recommendations.