10 Things to Remember While Considering for Hair Transplant

“With a nearly 25 to 30 percent growth rate of hair transplant procedures performed in just a few selected cities, India will be the core of the hair transplant industry in the near future. - Dr. Gaurav Garg”

Hair loss is one of the most prevailing problems that is affecting men and women equally. The problem is not restricted to a particular demographic area; rather, it is widespread, affecting people all around the world. The impact of the problem can be estimated by the fact that nearly one-third of the world’s population is struggling with hair loss or baldness. People who are affected lose more than a hundred hair strands every da,y which leads to hair thinning.

It is important to understand that hair fall is not hair loss. Hair fall is a normal natural phenomenon. Our hairs have a life cycle, and each hair strand sheds away at the end of the cycle and grows again. However, sometimes we could not grow as many hairs as we lose, which is termed as hair loss and can eventually result in baldness. Several factors can lead to hair loss which including genetics, improper diet, deficiency of vitamins and minerals, stress, medication, and pollution. Excessive use of hair products and excessive hair styling also make your hair weak and prone to loss. Men often wear caps or helmets for long hours, which also makes them fragile.

Thankfully, we are living in an age that is powered by technology. The amalgamation of technology with cosmetic procedures has revolutionized the industry. It has given solutions to almost every problem you might have, and hair loss is no different. One of the most popular and effective measures for hair loss is a hair transplant. It is a process of extracting hairs from one site on your scalp and implanting them into the locations that are hair-deprived.

Hair loss in India is increasingly affecting the younger lot. While a 58 percent prevalence rate is found among people in the age group 30 to 50 years, the problem is increasing exponentially in young people between 25 to 30 years of age. Although hair loss affects all genders equally, it is found to be prevalent in males. In a study conducted in Chennai alone, 50.4 percent of males were found to be affected by hair loss.

Awareness to take care of your looks, societal pressure, and the commanding influence of celebrities have made India a huge and constantly growing market for hair transplants. Lakhs of people choose to get hair transplants every year. Most of the Indian market share is occupied by the metro and tier I cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, etc. The collective growth rate of the hair transplant market in these cities is approximately 25 to 30 percent. This is aimed to answer all the questions that are often asked about the hair transplant, including the success rate, permanency of the results, cost, etc.

So, let’s know more about the 10 Things to remember while going for hair transplantation. If one catches your eye, feel free to skip: 

1. Is the hair that is transplanted, is it permanent?
2. What is the success rate of hair transplant surgery?
3. How to choose the best hair transplant surgeon for you?
4. Which solution is best for you?
5. Cost of a hair transplant?
6. What are the complications or risks of the surgery?
7. Does transplanted hair grow?: The science behind hair plantation
8. Is it normal to lose transplanted hair?
9. Will I need another hair transplant procedure in the future?
10. Is it a painful procedure?

Know all about it from the most trusted hair transplant surgeon, Dr. Gaurav Garg 

Let’s start with the most asked question by everyone: Is the hair that is transplanted permanent? 

Definitely yes is the answer to the question. The transplant procedure is a surgical replenishment of hair over the bald area with the hairs replanted by their roots or follicles. The procedure takes a few hours. Your surgeon and dermatologist extract the healthy hairs, mostly from the back of your scalp, known as the donor site. The extraction involved taking out the healthy hairs along with the hair follicles. This extraction can be done in the form of a strip or individual hairs. These are then preserved in a special solution and prepared for implantation. The team then marks and prepares the area that is to be treated. It is called the receiving site. Once the preparation is done, hairs are harvested at its new location. The harvesting is also done at the root level. As the root or follicles of hair are kept intact, the transplanted hairs can grow naturally and follow their life cycle at the new site. For that reason, the transplanted hairs stay and flourish permanently.

Here are some facts for you: What is the success rate of hair transplant surgery?

A hair transplant is an effective method to give you fuller and healthier hair naturally. The results are the procedure is enduring and gives you thicker hair for life. Several studies conducted in different parts of the world have lauded the effectiveness of the outcomes of hair transplants. The success rate of grafts implanted is more than 90 percent. According to several pieces of research, more than 85 percent of the candidates were greatly satisfied with the results, while many were moderately happy. With the advancement in techniques, the rate has even improved. The Dermalife clinic, one of the best in the field, uses highly sophisticated techniques that ensure enhanced accuracy in the procedure. In some cases, we can achieve a 100 percent success rate in graft implantation with all the grafts placed ultimately grow. A huge number of happily treated patients vouch for the success of the hair transplant treatment we offer.

The first step is always the most important thing to consider: How to choose the best hair transplant surgeon for you?

Struggling to find the best hair transplant surgeon? Are you confused by the numerous options you see on the Internet? Wondering about the results of a hair transplant? Well! Your worries are not all unjustified. A lot about the result depends on the proficiency and expertise of the practitioner who performs the transplant. You must choose, but less than the bes,t whether it is the clinic or the surgeon. The first thing to do is to find a certified practitioner who has sufficient experience in the procedure. You can ask your acquaintances for recommendations or find them through a web search. Also, understand that you are a unique individual and have specific personal requirements and expectations. Ask the surgeon about the experience and success rate in cases similar to yours. Check for the availability of the right equipment. At Dermalife, we comprehend a customized treatment plan for all our patients to ensure the best outcomes. Our team comprises members who are internationally trained and have performed transplants for people with diverse needs and expectations. Support from advanced technology makes our procedure more precise and ensures the highest-quality results.

Which solution is the best for you: Your available options?

So how do you know that you need a hair transplant and narrow down the treatment options? First, you need to understand the difference between hair fall and hair loss. Almost everyone experiences some amount of hair fall every day. If the number of hair falls is less, you can focus on your diet, or use some topical products to resolve the problem. Sometimes hair loss is attributed to conditions related to hormonal fluctuations or a disease. Such problems often get resolved by themselves as the underlying condition improves or is cured.

If you have an excess of hair fall that cannot be replenished automatically and has caused bald spots or noticeable thinning, you should go for a hair transplant. There is no specific age restriction, but the bracket 25 to 60 is considered ideal. Ensure that you are overall healthy, as good immunity reduces the risks and complications and aids in recovery. Having a sufficient number of hairs at the donor site is also important.

A hair transplant is fundamentally performed by two methods. The first is FUT (follicular unit transplantation). In this method, your surgeon takes a strip of hair from the donor site. It is a few inches long strip that can also stretch from ear to ear. It is then segmented into a couple of thousand fragments called grafts and planted at the bald site. The other method, called the FUE (Follicular unit extraction), involved the extraction of much smaller grafts by making tiny holes at the donor site. This method is preferred over FUT as it requires much lesser incisions and ensures a faster recovery. Boosted FUE is another method that further improves the outcomes by maximizing the graft survival rate.

Let’s talk some numbers: What is the cost of a hair transplant?

Your hair is precious, not just symbolically but literally. After all, you have to pay for every hair that is transplanted! So you should make every penny worth it. The cost of a hair transplant is subjective and depends on several factors. Some of the contributors are your location, facilities at the clinic, the surgeon’s experience, travel costs, and recovery costs. The extent of hair loss and the number of hairs needed to be transplanted are the key factors in determining the final cost of the procedure. General figures suggest that different clinics charge from 40 to over 140 bucks per graft.

The best way to optimize the cost is to choose a proficient practitioner who can design a customized plan for your transplant procedure. At Dermalife, we design customized plans to give just the right solution. This ensures that you pay exactly what you need and nothing else. Also, the proficient doctors perform procedures with utmost accuracy, ensuring minimum graft loss and post-surgery discomfort. This further brings the cost down.

Know about the risks: What are the complications and risks of the surgery?

Knowing the risks before taking up the procedure is important to make the final decision and prepare yourself for it. Every surgical procedure has some risks and complications associated with it, and hair transplant is no different. However, most of the complications observed by the patients are minor and fade away with time with little or no intervention.

Here are some common complications:-

Infection and bleeding

As explained earlier, the procedure requires the extraction and insertion of hair follicles, which need incisions to be made. It is important to take proper care of these wounds to avoid infection.

Scars

The incision made at both the donor and receiver sites can leave some scars behind. This can be reduced by an opting procedure that requires fewer incisions.

Pain and inflammation

You may experience pain and swelling after the transplant. Your doctor may prescribe you safe painkillers to manage the discomfort.

Associating with an expert surgeon can minimize the risk of these complications to a great extent. A skilled surgeon would ensure that there is are least bleeding and pain during and after the procedure. He/she can also ensure minimum scarring during extraction and implantation.

Does transplanted hair grow?: The science behind hair plantation

Yes, of course! To understand it better, let us understand the science behind hair transplantation. The transplant procedure involves taking out and planting hair follicles, and not just hair strands. For that reason, the transplanted hair follicles also go through their life cycle.

After the initial swelling and crusting phase is over, the transplanted hairs start shedding and go into the resting phase. The length of the resting phase may vary. During the second and fourth months after the operation, you will start noticing your new hair coming out. This is the beginning of the new cycle. The hair is initially thinner. It is after six months that you would notice some progress, and your hair will start growing. Eventually, in a year, you will get fuller and thicker hair.

The initial cycle takes time, but later your hairs grow normally as it used to. The implantation is the most critical for the growth of transplanted hair. Your surgeon will make sure that the follicles are not damaged in any way and are planted in the proper direction, spacing, and depth.

Is it normal to lose transplanted hair?: Everything you need to know about shock loss

Why would I lose hair after a transplant? The question is obvious, but it is normal to lose transplanted hairs. In terms of hair restoration, such hair shedding is called shock loss. Shock loss is the loss of hair as a response by your body to a trauma your scalp has been through.

It is typically of two types:-

Temporary shock loss

It refers to the loss of hair due to trauma temporarily. It can happen for many reasons, but these hairs grow back in time on their own.

Permanent shock loss

This is hair loss due to sustained trauma. A prolonged trauma damages the hair follicles and prohibits the regrowth of hair. This happens with the hairs that are already affected by Dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Your scalp goes through significant trauma during hair transplantation. The incisions were made both for extraction and harvesting. Also, some of the surrounding inhabitants are affected during the plantation. This causes shedding of hair post-surgery. It is normal and temporary, and hair grows back after some time.

Answering the most searched queries of hair transplant: Will I need another hair transplant procedure in the future?

What if I continue to lose hair after the transplant? Does that mean that I have to take another hair transplant? These are common apprehensions surfacing about hair transplants. If you understand the procedure, you would know that the results of hair transplants are permanent, and you would not generally need a second transplant.

But here it becomes a bit complicated. If you have any underlying medical conditions like Androgenetic alopecia or your hair is affected by DHT, you may experience continued hair loss after the treatment. Remember, a hair transplant replenishes the lost hair but does nothing about these medical conditions. You must take proper medication and make the necessary dietary and lifestyle changes to have sustained hair growth. It will be beneficial to manage these conditions before going for your first procedure. However, if the conditions are compelling, you can consult with your transplant surgeon to get a personalized opinion.

Is it a painful procedure? : Pain management plan

With the mere reference to the surgery, one would imagine the pain it would cause. Although the pain sensation is a highly individualized feeling, you need not worry much about the pain.

The surgery is performed under local anesthesia, or a numbing agent is used. This reduces the pain to a great extent. In the present day and age, highly sophisticated instruments and techniques are used, which further lessen the pain one would experience during the surgery. Tiny needles are used to puncture the hair follicles in the scalp, which are not very painful. The experience is similar to the experience in a dentist’s chair.

Many people face pain post-procedure. Your surgeon will give a pain management plan to minimize the postoperative discomfort. He/she may prescribe painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication for three to four days to soothe your pain and provide comfort. You will be relieved of all discomfort after a few days and can continue recovery without any medication.