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What Happens During Hair Transplant Surgery

By Yodle Local | Published on October 19, 2009 | 0 Comments

Hair Transplant Surgery—What Is It?

A hair transplant involves moving skin that is growing hair from one part of your scalp to another part of your scalp where hair is no longer growing. The process is similar to the type of grafting that is used to treat burns and other skin damage. In order to achieve the most natural-looking results, your surgeon will transplant the hair in naturally-occurring groups or “follicular units.” Once the hair-growing skin has been moved to the balding area of the scalp, the hair is expected to continue to grow.

Are You a Good Candidate?

Cosmetic surgeons agree that the best candidates for a hair transplant are individuals who have experienced noticeable hair loss on the top of the head while still maintaining healthy hair growth along the sides and back of the head. These are the areas from which your plastic surgeon will harvest the “donor” hair and move it to the area in which the hair loss has occurred.

Hair on the sides and back of the head tends to be more resistant to male pattern baldness and is more likely to grow through the entirety of a man’s life. By moving this hair to the top and front of the head, a surgeon can deliver not only hair that looks just like (because it is) your natural hair, but will also grow in a natural way.

Benefits

The latest hair transplant techniques offer extremely natural-looking results. Rather than the “hair plugs” that became easy fodder for sitcoms in the 80s and 90s, surgeons now use variable sizes of hair grafts applied with state-of-the-art precision instruments to mimic your hair’s natural growth patterns.

Hair loss, particularly when it occurs prematurely, can have a significant impact on your self-esteem. According to the American Hair Loss Association, most men who’ve experienced hair loss are extremely unhappy with their situation and would be willing to do almost anything to change it.  Hair loss can make men feel that they are perceived as less strong, less energetic, less successful and less attractive to women. Many believe that their lives would be better if they had more hair. A youthful hairline again can make you feel as though you’ve been given back your youth—you are likely to have more confidence in social situations, feel more attractive, and in general, experience an enhanced quality of life.

Hair restoration may also have some surprising social benefits as well. Studies show that hair loss is often associated with negative stereotypes. You may be perceived as weaker, less successful or older than you really are. Although attitudes toward baldness are changing, most men who undergo hair transplant surgery believe that they are perceived in a more positive light following the procedure.

Risks

Hair transplant surgery is generally safe, and, in most cases, is highly effective. However, the procedure is certainly not without risks. As with any type of surgery, there is a possibility of developing an infection. Infections are rare and most frequently occur when the patient doesn’t follow the doctor’s instructions for post-surgical home care. If an infection does occur, it can usually be treated with a course of antibiotics.

A less physically significant but still troublesome risk is the possibility of unexpectedly slow or sparse hair growth in response to the surgery. If this occurs, your surgeon will likely recommend repeating the procedure to see if he or she can achieve a better result. No one knows why some hair transplants fail in this way, but it is important to follow your doctor’s instructions for at-home follow-up treatment in order to give yourself the best possible chance for successful continued hair growth.

Scarring, though your surgeon will make an attempt to minimize it, can be an issue with hair transplant surgery. Whether or not you will have visible scars depends on a number of factors—the skill of the surgeon, the placement of the excision in the donor areas, and your own ability to heal.

Changes in pigmentation (darkening) in the area of the transplant are possible as well, and are more common in patients with darker skin. Because of this possibility, your doctor may advise you to take extra precautions with regard to sun exposure for some time after your procedure.

The Bottom Line

Hair transplant surgery has come a long way since the days of visible plugs and social stigma. Today’s surgical techniques make it possible to get a full, natural-looking hairline in a single procedure.

*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.

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