What Are The Different Techniques Used For A Hair Transplant?

There are two primary techniques for hair transplantation aka hair restoration currently in use - the FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) and the FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation).

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)
The FUT process removes a small strip of tissue from the back of the head, from which the donor hair follicles are extracted. The hair follicles are harvested from this strip by a skilled clinical team before being individually transplanted to the recipient areas. In cases of advanced hair loss, FUT is preferred because it allows for the greatest number of grafts to be transplanted in a single session.

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
In an FUE hair transplantation, each follicular unit is individually taken from the scalp and no strip of tissue is removed. Hair follicles are removed randomly which results in less density in the donor area that is not very noticeable. Since follicles are removed one at a time, fewer follicles can be harvested during a typical session.

What To Do Before A Hair Transplant Procedure?

• Avoid aspirin, advil, motrin, alcohol, vitamins, vitamin E, steroids, cortisone creams, green tea, and smoking. All of these can make you bleed more making the surgery much harder and possibly less successful.
• On the day of your capillary surgery, take a shower and wash your hair with a normal shampoo. Avoid using any type of hair spray or other lotions.
• Have a light breakfast, but don’t drink milk, white tea or coffee upto 12 hours before your surgery. This is because when you're under anaesthetic, your body's reflexes are temporarily stopped. If your stomach has food and drink in it, there's a risk of vomiting, or regurgitation (bringing up food into your throat).  If this happens, the regurgitated food can spill into your lungs and affect your breathing, as well as cause damage to your lungs.
• Arrange for a means of transportation. Do not drive on your own under the influence of valium (a medicine used for treating anxiety) or painkillers since they cause drowsiness.

What Is The Post-Operative Care For A Hair Transplant Procedure?

• The first day out from surgery, take a shower. Wash your body as you usually do. Then shampoo the donor area with your usual shampoo. 
• Be gentle, and just use your fingers with the hair. Avoid using combs or you might catch a stitch with the comb. It’s okay if water washes over the recipient area the first postop morning, but don’t shampoo it until the second day after the surgery.
• After surgery go home and rest.  Keep your head up about 45 degrees. A recliner will be helpful.
• A headwrap will be placed around your head for the first night. The next morning, take scissors and just cut the hea0dwrap and remove it. Don’t pull it off, or you might pull out some grafts. Don’t leave it on more than the first night either, your head will swell more later on if you do so. 

What Are The Realistic Expectations From A Hair Transplant Procedure?

• Hair restoration surgery or hair transplant can improve the way you look and give your hair a perfect original look. 
• During hair transplant, finite amount of hair can be planted from donor sites on your body to the affected area.
• Partial or full baldness or thin hair problems can be solved with the help of hair transplants. However, the patients have to understand that the hair fall problem can only be stopped with the help of medications, etc.
• The surgery may be done in one go using motorised FUE Devices, whereas manual transplant may require more than one appointments depending on how much hair is to be transplanted. Therefore, in this case it takes a longer duration to realise the final results of the procedure.

Who Should Avoid Undergoing Hair Transplant?

• As the procedure is mainly concerned with the scalp skin only, there is no danger to expecting mothers. So, pregnant women can safely undergo hair transplants. 
• This procedure is done under the effect of local anesthesia, so it does not directly interfere with the functioning of the heart, etc. But, there are always risks to the patients having serious heart diseases and they should consult with the surgeons before taking the treatment.
• Heavy drinkers and smokers are also not allowed to undergo the treatment because of the risk of internal and external bleeding. If they have to take the treatment, they have to abstain from their drinking and smoking habits at least a few weeks before the time of the procedure.

What Are The Alternatives To A Hair Transplant Procedure?

A hair transplant is used as a remedy for early balding patterns and excessive hair thinning. It cures loss of hair and restores hair of a person by transplanting it from a different part of the body to the head. It is a considerably invasive medical procedure.
Thus, many people may consider other affordable alternatives to the surgery. 

Medication 

Finasteride are oral medication which can be taken in the form of pills, aim at restoring old hair growth patterns. They must be taken daily in regular dosages and can only be purchased on a confidential prescription. Apart from oral medicines, one can even opt for Minoxidil, which is an ointment to be applied directly on the scalp for hair restoration. These can be attained without an official prescription. However, both of the above alternatives provide results after a considerable time and may not give permanent solutions. Besides, they may also cause severe side effects. 

Supplements and other things 

One may also choose from other medical options such as growth supplements and Spironolactone (particularly used by non childbearing women). New technological innovations including the Laser Light Comb, PRP/ACell, or Low Level Laser Therapy are also prospective solutions. However, these are still in experimental form and are not easily available. While wigs, hair sprays and hair extensions provide only a temporary solution, they can be used to provide a certain “fullness” to a hair thinning scalp.

Are There Any Post-procedure Scars?

The FUT strip extraction method typically results in a very narrow linear scar in the back of the head. Since the scar is very thin, it can be easily concealed by all but the shortest of haircut styles. Over time the scar will become less noticeable as it fades.

Since FUE procedures involve removing hairs individually from the scalp, there is no linear scar left behind. However, there will be tiny puncture marks that tend to heal by themselves after scabbing in the days following the procedure. These tiny wounds typically heal within three to seven days.

What Are The Temporary Side-Effects Of Hair Transplant?

• Patients generally experience temporary inflammation and itching after the surgery. The patient should not worry much as the inflammation generally goes away in a week in most cases. 

• Infection and severe bleeding can also occur in the inflamed areas of the scalp. Antibiotic medications or creams can be used to ease out the pain and reduce the infection.

• Another complication could be the swelling of the scalp and the numbness or lack of sensation in the treated area because of the severing of nerves while planting hair follicles. The swelling goes away but the numbness could persist till the nerves recover which may take upto 6 months or more.

• Sometimes, there is a risk of temporary loss of transplanted hair (known as shock loss). But, this loss is generally insignificant compared to the amount of hair transplanted.

How To Choose A Surgeon For A Hair Transplant Procedure?

Choosing a good surgeon can be a tricky task, since it is a matter of your safety and health. But, you can always take help from online medical tourism facilitators, patient forums, local doctors, etc to contact doctors before undergoing the procedure. Hair transplants, if done the right way can last for a long time. Therefore, one should select their surgeon very carefully.
 
The patient should look for a well-trained surgeon with enough experience in hair transplants. Ask the surgeon for records and testimonials of his patients to make yourself sure of his expertise in that procedure. It is necessary to check his educational qualifications and prior experience in performing the procedure.