What is Hair Transplant?

A Hair Transplant is an invasive treatment for hair loss. In a typical hair transplant, hair from the sides and back of the head where they grow abundantly are taken and implanted on the areas where there are none. The donor's hair retains its resistance to thinning even after transplantation. There are two techniques for donor hair transplantation. One is the Follicular Unit Excision(FUE Method) and the other is Follicular Unit Transplantation(FUT Method). Both techniques give you natural-looking hair.

What Are The Causes Of Male Baldness?

Hair loss can be caused due to the following factors:

• Heredity: Also called male-pattern baldness, it is the most common cause of hair loss.

• Hormonal Changes: Hormonal changes due to pregnancy, menopause, childbirth and thyroid problems can cause permanent or temporary hair loss.

• Stress: A physical or emotional shock can cause general thinning of hair which can extend to several months.

• Medications and Supplements: Drugs used for cancer, depression, arthritis, heart problems, etc can cause hair loss as a side effect.

 Know more causes of hair loss>>

Stages of Male Baldness Pattern

There are 7 stages of male pattern baldness. They are as follows

• Stage 1: There is no much visible hair loss on the hairline in the initial stage.

• Stage 2: This stage shows the progression with the beginning of a receding hairline above the brow crease on the forehead.

• Stage 3: In this stage, hair starts receding in a particular fashion. In males, it starts on the side of the temples making an ‘M’ shape on the temple area of the head.

• Stage 4: The hair fall starts to deepen at the forehead in the temple areas. Crown area of the head might also show some thinning of the existing area.

• Stage 5: In this stage, severe hair loss occurs. The strip of hair between the hairline and the crown becomes thinner and narrower.

• Stage 6: Most of the frontal and crown hair are completely lost and a few sparse strands of hair are left.

• Stage 7: Just a few hairs remain on the backside of the scalp as this area is denser than the other.

Eligibility Criteria When Am I not a suitable candidate for a Hair Transplant?

Following persons are unsuitable for hair transplant:

• A person with thinning hair that is still reasonably dense is not suitable.
• A person with Diffuse Hair Loss condition will not be suitable.
• A person suffering from Alopecia Areata is unsuitable for hair transplants.
• A person with active cicatricial (scarring) alopecia is not suitable for hair transplants.

Indications for getting a Hair Transplant

• In males, Male pattern androgenic alopecia is the most common indication for hair transplant and the hair transplant is done when baldness appears over front or crown or both areas of the scalp.
• In females, Female pattern androgenic alopecia in which hairline is retained and hair growth become sparse over mid-frontal and crown area of the head.
• In scars after accident or burn injury.

 Advantages of Hair Transplant

The real benefits of having a hair transplant are

• Improved Appearance with Natural Looks: Hair transplant fills in balding areas with hair that grow naturally. This gives them confidence and makes them look attractive.

• No Balding: Hair transplant bids goodbye to the receding hairlines and bald patches. Thus it solves your balding problem.

• Low Maintenance: A hair transplant requires minimal maintenance on the affected areas after the surgery. Also, the procedure is a one- time process.

Why is Hair Transplant surgery done?

Hair transplant surgery is mainly done to restore hair if a patient is balding or thinning naturally. It is also done to those who have lost hair due to any injury or medical condition.

Types of Hair Transplant Surgeries

      1. Strip Harvesting in FUT

Strip harvesting is an old method of hair transplantation in which skin strip with decent hair growth is taken out from the donor area of scalp and suture are placed in the donor area. Now, grafts containing 1 to 4 hair are dissected from this strip and these grafts are planted on the balding areas. This technique is not performed commonly now.

      2.  Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

Follicular Unit Extraction is a hair transplant method in which the follicular units of hair from the donor area of the head are extracted one by one. The doctor uses a very special instrument called as "punch" and with the help of this punch, the surgeon makes a tiny incision around a hair follicle just before extraction. Each unit generally contains one to four hairs. These units (grafts) are then implanted into the balding areas of the head. This is the most popular and advanced method of hair transplant worldwide.

      3. Robotic hair restoration

It is the latest innovation in hair restoration surgery and it's not fully developed right now. Robotics is still lacking precision and quality in hair transplants. Lots of improvement is required in the field of robotic hair transplant.

Pre-Operative Care and Planning

You should discuss your hair transplant with your doctor in detail. If you are having any medical issues, inform your doctor on the first day of consultation. You will have to quit smoking, alcohol before going for a hair transplant. If you are taking supplements, you should stop it too one week before the transplantation. Few medicines like aspirin should be stopped one week prior to hair transplant surgery after the advice of your doctor.

Side Effects after Hair Transplant Surgery

Side effects of the surgery may include:

• Itching
• Bleeding
• Swelling of the scalp
• Numbness on the treated areas
• Infection of the hair follicles

Post-Operative Care

Once you have undergone hair transplantation, there are certain things that you should consider to maintain healthy hair growth post-surgery.

• After hair transplantation, avoid exposure to sun radiations for a couple of days.
• Avoid making contact with your grafted scalp.
• Avoid hair wash for two-three days and do not pour water on the planted follicles.
• Avoid the consumption of alcohol at least for a week after the procedure.
• Try not to smoke for the initial one-month post-surgery.
• Avoid playing sport for a few days.
• Avoid weight-lifting or any kind of rigorous activity for 10-15 days after the procedure.

Hair Transplant Before and After Treatment 

Cost of Hair transplant in India, Delhi?

In Delhi, the traditional FUT technique usually costs between 25 to 40 rupees per hair graft. The advanced stitch less procedure (FUT technique) can cost anywhere between 30 to 80 rupees per graft.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Question)

What is the success rate of a Hair Transplant?

The success rate of hair transplantation is around 95%. It is a permanent solution and promises great results.

Is a Hair Transplant Permanent?

Yes. This is the reason why it is considered the most effective option for hair restoration. However, autoimmune disorders which affect hair roots, you might lose hair in the future.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of FUT and FUE?

Advantages of FUE  

• High-density hair transplant is possible with FUE method
• Large bald areas can be covered efficiently
• Minimal pain after surgery
• Quick recovery
• Virtually invisible scars
• Natural-looking hairline
• Fewer side effects
• Hair can be taken from body areas like beard, chest etc
• Can keep short hair over donor area
• Less dependent on technicians
• Multiple future sessions can be done
• Involves maximum hair

Disadvantages of FUE    

• Only experienced doctors can perform FUE method perfectly
• The entire donor area is trimmed
• More expensive

Advantages of FUT

• Cost-effective

Disadvantages of FUT

• Creates linear scar
• Only small bald areas can be done
• More discomfort due to cutting of skin and sutures
• Multiple sessions can't be done
• Can't keep short hair of donor site
• More technician dependent procedure
• The strip of skin can provide up to 2500 grafts which are not sufficient to give high density
• Wastage of hair grafts is more