Types of Hair Transplantation

1. FUSS(Follicular Unit Strip Surgery)

• In this procedure  a strip of hair is taken from donor site usually posterior scalp under local anaesthesia
• Graft are dissected from the strip and then harvested into the bald area.
•  Will leave a visible scar in the donor area , which can be  covered by patients hair
• There will be some pain / tenderness after the procedure .
• The recovery period is slight longer around 15 days as stitches / staples need to be removed

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2. FUE (follicular unit extraction )

• In this method individual follicular units are removed one by one under local anaethesia .
• Recovery period is less than 7 days as usually requires very small punches between 0.6-1mm in diameter so no closing or suturing required
• Painless minimally invasive procedure
• In FUE surgery body hair can also be used for transplant.
• But FUE is time consuming method , single long session or multiple small sessions are required for harvesting the hair follicle into bald area .

Procedure for Hair Transplantation 

Before procedure

During initial consultation the  physican  analyses the patients scalp, understands the expectations of the patient  discusses options and advices the best possible approach .

Overall health status of the patient considered  before procedure .

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 During procedure

Transplant procedure is a day procedure performed as outpatient .

• The scalp is shampooed and treated with anti bacterial agent prior to harvesting donor scalp
• Donor hair grafts can be extracted by different methods either by removing a single strip of skin and hair (FUSS)or removing the follicles individually (FUE)  proper extraction of hair follicle is important to maintain viability.
• After extraction the surgeon prepares the graft, cleans and numbs the recipient area and places each graft .
• The graft are placed according to their densities , the smallest grafts are placed in front and denser are placed behind.
• Depending on the size of transplant the process will take 4-8 hours .
• May involve a single session or more depending on the number of grafts .

After procedure

• The scalp may be tender
• You may have to wear bandage over scalp
• Initially adviced to  protect scalp from sun
• Post operative antibiotics are commonly prescribed to prevent wound or graft  infections .
• Shampooing is important to prevent scab formation around hair shaft which increase the chances of losing the transplanted hair follicle

Just as in natural hair cycle, within 2-3 weeks the transplanted hair will shed  but in a matter of few weeks new hair will begin to grow from transplanted follicles , this hair will continue to thicken and grow normally by 6-9 months .

Tests  for  Hair loss

It is adviced to consult a Dermatologist , generally male and female pattern hair loss do not require testing , few tests which help to evaluate diffuse hair loss are :

• The pull test –hair pulled from three different areas of scalp , generally less than 3 hair per area , if more than ten then positive test.
• The pluck test- conducted by pulling out hair with roots and then examined. Depending on phase we can interpret if there is hair loss.
• Scalp biopsy-helps differentiate between scarring and other forms.
• Trichoscopy- helps in examination of hair and scalp with help of dermoscope.

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 Diagnosis for Hair Transplantation

It is the treatment of choice where in there are no chances of re- growth of hair , example  in conditions like

• Androgenic alopecia
• Eyebrow transplant
• Receding frontal hair line

Complications of Hair Transplantation

Hair transplantation is a very safe procedure with no side effects but  as with every surgery some risks associated

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Scarring with FUSS transplantation
• Unnatural looking new hair growth
• Some may have inflammation of hair follicles called Folliculitis

Factors affecting cost of Hair Transplantation Surgery

The cost to the patient depends on a variety of factors like

• The hospital, the patient chooses.
• The cost of hair transplantation depends on the number of grafts and type of procedure choosen .FUE procedure is more costlier.
• Fee for the team of doctors.
• Medicines.
• Standard test and diagnostic procedures.
• Cost of the follow –up care required after the procedure.