Types of Hair Transplantation

1. FUSS(Follicular Unit Strip Surgery)

• In this procedure, a piece of hair is taken from the donor site, usually the back of the scalp under local anesthesia.
• Grafts 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 the patient’s hair.
• There will be some pain/ tenderness after the procedure.
• The recovery period is slightly longer around 15 days as stitches/staples need to be removed.

2. FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction)

• In this method, individual follicular units are removed one by one under local anesthesia.
• The recovery period takes less than 7 days. It normally requires very tiny punches between 0.6 – 1 mm in diameter or more. Closing and stitching are not required.
• Painless minimally invasive procedure.
• Body hair can also be used in FUE surgery.
• A single long session or multiple short sessions are required to harvest the hair follicle from the blood area using FUSE.

Procedure for Hair Transplantation 

Before Procedure

• During the initial stage, the physician examines the patient’s scalp, understands the desires of the patient, discusses the options, and guides the most appropriate treatment.
• Complete health examinations are conducted on the patient before the procedure.

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 During Procedure

• Transplants can be performed as an outpatient in one day.
• A shampoo and antibacterial agent are applied to the donor’s scalp before it is harvested.
• Donor hair grafts can be removed by different techniques either by taking a single strip of skin and hair (FUSS) or taking the follicles individually (FUE). To maintain this possibility, the hair follicle must be removed completely.
• After removal, the surgeon prepares the graft, cleans and freezes the recipient area, and places each graft.
• The grafts are applied according to their density. The smallest grafts are placed in front, and the denser ones are behind.
• Depending on the size of the transplant the process will take 4 – 8 hours.
• Depending on the number of grafts, it may take one or more sessions.

After Procedure

• The scalp may be tender.
• You may have to wear bandages over your scalp.
• Initially, the scalp was advised to be protected from the sun.
• Post-operative antibiotics are commonly given to prevent wound or graft infections.
• Shampooing is critical to prevent scab formation around the hair shaft which increases the chances of losing the transplanted hair follicle.

Similarly, in the natural hair cycle, within 2 – 3 weeks the transplanted hair will fall down but after a few weeks, new hair will start to grow from the transplanted follicles. This hair will remain thick and grow normally for about 6 – 9 months.

Tests for Hair loss

• Consult a dermatologist, as male and female system hair loss does not require testing. Some tests that help to assess diffuse hair loss are:
• The pull test – Hair pulled from three different sites of the scalp, usually less than 3 hairs per area, if more than ten, then the test is positive.
• The pluck test – During this procedure, hair with roots is removed and examined. It depends on the stage of the patient’s hair loss.
• Scalp biopsy – It helps in the transformation between scarring and other forms.
• Trichoscopy – With the aid of a dermoscopy, the hair and scalp can be examined.

 Diagnosis for Hair Transplantation

It is an optional treatment where there is no possibility of regrowth of hair, in some cases like:

• Androgenic alopecia.
• Eyebrow transplant.
• Receding frontal hairline.

Complications of Hair Transplantation

Hair transplantation is a very effective procedure with no side effects but like every surgery, it has some risks associated with this surgery. It includes:

• Infection.
• Bleeding.
• Scarring after FUSS transplantation.
• Unnatural-looking new hair growth.
• Some may have swelling of hair follicles known as Folliculitis.

Factors Affecting Cost of Hair Transplantation Surgery

The cost of treatment depends on the patient and several factors. It includes:

• The hospital the patient chooses.
• The cost of hair transplantation is based on the number of grafts and the kind of procedure chosen. The FUE procedure is more expensive.
• There is a fee for the team of doctors.
• Medicines.
• Standard tests and diagnostic procedures.
• Cost of protection and care during and after surgery.