What Kind of Results Can You Expect from NeoGraft?
By Rob Alvarado | Published on February 8, 2011 | 0 Comments
Hair transplant surgery offers the only permanent solution to hair loss. But concerns about scarring and downtime keep many potential patients from seeking this kind of treatment. Recently, however, a new type of hair transplant procedure, called NeoGraft, has begun appearing in a handful of hair restoration centers around the country. This new method involves less pain and downtime than traditional hair transplant surgery and absolutely no visible scarring. But what kinds of results can you really expect from NeoGraft?
According to Rob Alvarado of Atlanta hair transplant center Follicle Transplantation Group, NeoGraft, especially in highly skilled hands, offers results that rival the most advanced hair transplantation techniques available today. The only difference, he says, is in the way the hair follicles are harvested. This is where the true benefits of NeoGraft technology are experienced.
Here, Alvarado explains what to expect during and after your NeoGraft treatment, and when you can expect to see real results.
How It Works
A hair transplant using NeoGraft takes several hours, says Alvarado. While the hair is being harvested from the donor site (usually the back of the head), the patient is asked to lie on his or her stomach. A local anesthetic is applied and, if the patient wishes, a mild sedative and relaxing music are used to aid in the patient’s comfort. Some people actually sleep through the procedure.
The extraction itself is performed using a technique called follicular unit extraction (FUE). During this process, a handheld device uses section to extract very small units of hair.
Once adequate hair has been extracted from the donor site, the patient is turned over onto his or her back. “We usually offer lunch at this point,” Alvarado says, “and then after lunch, we’ll begin the transplantation process.” This process also requires only local anesthetic, and the patient is free to return home immediately after the procedure is finished.
After Care
The patient’s after care responsibilities are minimal. Patients are usually advised to limit or avoid certain activities for about five days. While it’s fine to return to work right away, patients will want to avoid alcohol consumption, tobacco use, aspirin or other blood-thinning drugs, and strenuous exercise until the grafts have had a chance to begin the healing process. Patients may also be asked to sleep at a 45-degree angle for the three to five days following the procedure. Grafts should be cleaned very gently for several days as well.
Results
The results achieved with NeoGraft hair transplant surgery are permanent. Patients needn’t worry, Alvarado says, about the transplanted hair falling out again after the procedure. Because the new hair is the patient’s actual hair, once it grows in, it will look and feel exactly like the rest of the hair on the patient’s hair. Eventually, it will be virtually impossible to tell that any kind of procedure was ever performed.
In the first three to four weeks, the transplanted hair begins to shed due to hair’s natural growth cycle. The hair follicle remains behind, however, and goes into a sleeping phase that lasts two to three months. After this phase is complete, new hair begins to grow. Noticeable results appear within four to eight months, with the patient’s final results evident at about 12 months after the procedure.
“This is the least invasive procedure of its kind,” says Alvarado, “and we’re proud to be able to offer it to our Atlanta clients.”
*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.