Hair Transplant Surgery: What You Need to Know

Learn about the factors that affect the cost of surgery

People who have balding and thinning hair can improve their self confidence through hair transplantation. During this procedure, hair is moved from the back and sides of a patient’s head to the front where it will be more visible. The hair that is transplanted can be virtually indistinguishable from non-transplanted hair. By filling in a receding hairline, hair transplants provide the appearance of a fuller head of hair.

Are You a Good Candidate?

If you have noticed that the hair on your scalp is thinning and are self-conscious about it, you may be an ideal candidate for hair transplant surgery. Thousands of patients have found this procedure to be the best solution to hair loss caused by aging, heredity, trauma, or medical conditions.

Unlike most cosmetic surgery procedures, the majority of patients choosing to undergo hair transplants are men. While most patients are 55 or older, this procedure has also helped thousands of younger patients looking for a fuller head of hair. The procedure works best on male pattern baldness and on patients whose hair is thinning but who still have some hair remaining to transplant, although there are hair transplant methods available for any type of hair loss you may be experiencing.

Another procedure to consider for individuals who feel their forehead is too large or hairline too high is hairline lowering. This  involves surgically bringing the scalp and hairline lower onto the forehead.

Types of Hair Transplants

Hair transplantation involves the insertion of hair strands into the scalp. Today, there are a number of different techniques used for those who want to get rid of their bald spots and add thickness to areas that are thinning. These techniques include scalp expansion, flaps, follicular unit hair transplantation, and mini grafts.

Each approach is tailored to a particular pattern of balding or thinning hair. For example, flaps tend to be preferred for those whose hair loss is concentrated on the front of the head, while those who don’t have enough healthy skin with living hair follicles often undergo scalp expansion to increase the area of scalp that is able to grow hair. Mini grafts are a popular method for those looking for fast, full results, while follicular unit hair transplantation is among the most popular and successful methods of hair transplantation to date. Discuss the options with your surgeon to determine the right approach for your situation.

Complications & Risks

While many people consider hair transplants to be less risky than other forms of cosmetic surgery, it’s not without the possibility of complications. As with any surgical procedure there are risks such as bleeding and infection. Small cysts can also develop in the donor location, although these are usually no larger than a small pimple and go away on their own within a few weeks. Scarring in the donor area, leading to rough ridges is also a possibility. During the hair transplant recovery, temporary numbness is possible in both the donor site and surrounding the transplanted hair due to surgical techniques that affect the nerves in each area. Finally, there is the risk that the transplanted hair may fail to grow in its new location and the procedure will need to be repeated with another graft of hair.

Choosing Your Surgeon

Only a board certified surgeons should perform your hair transplant graft surgery. While many people consider this to be a relatively minor surgical procedure, the importance of choosing a qualified surgeon should not be overlooked. It is important that you not make your decision solely based on the cost of hair transplants, but rather you choose the surgeon that has extensive experience and training so that you can achieve aesthetically pleasing and natural-looking results. Look for a surgeon who is willing to explain the various transplant methods available and has specific experience performing the type of hair transplant surgery you are seeking.