A hair transplant is more than just a surgical procedure. For those people who are suffering from hair loss, hair transplant means getting back the youth, beauty and self-confidence that were deprived from them.
Almost 70% of the human population is at risk of developing this depressing and confidence-stealing condition called as alopecia (hair loss). Over the years, medical experts and scientists have studied the human hair to find out how to maintain its attractiveness and longevity.
Hair Loss
Hair loss is the principal reason why man invented hair transplants. Falling hair of up to 100 strands per day is considered as normal. But there are some cases, which are really more than just falling hair. Some people do experience having hair loss or alopecia. This condition is marked by the failure of the hair follicles to grow hair strands back, and therefore, it creates a hair-empty area on the scalp (balding).
Hair loss can be caused by several factors such as: stress, genetics, drugs, skin disorders, aging, menopause, iron-deficiency, childbirth and hormonal imbalances. Among these mentioned, the hormone imbalance on dihydro-testosterone (DHT) is the biggest contributor (around 95%) of hair loss for both sexes.
Medical experts and health engineers are using technological advances in the fight against hair loss. There are two ways to control hair loss. The first method is through medical interventions as like using medications to slow down the process of hair loss; specifically the production of dihydro-testosterone. The second intervention is the surgical one, in the form of hair transplants.
Hair Transplantation
A hair transplant is a general term that refers to all types of surgical procedures that deal with transplanting hair into the bald areas of the scalp. With much consideration given to its history, hair transplant may mean any of the invented techniques of men to surgically end hair loss. These include the very first accounts of hair transplants such as the use of grafts, scalp flaps, mini grafting, and mini-micro grafting up to the recent technique called as follicular unit transplantation.
In relation to the modern times, the accepted definition of hair transplant is that of follicular unit transplantation which states: hair transplant is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of healthy hair follicles from a normal part of the scalp (harvesting), and transferring these harvested hair follicles to the areas in the scalp affected by hair loss.
Hair transplantation is a broad subject that covers a lot of related subjects, from the history up to the risks and complications of the said procedure. Although much has been published about hair transplants, a comprehensive presentation on this topic is by far, rare to find.
This site shall provide its readers a wide range of information all pertaining to hair transplants. It divides the term into nine different sections that shall shed some light to this surgical procedure for the public to be fully informed. These nine sections, with their corresponding overviews, are enumerated as follows:
Hair Transplant History
Much like all surgical procedures and modern day health interventions, hair transplantation also boasts of a rich history. Tracing back to its roots in the 19th century, wherein the first free hair grafts were used, the modern day hair transplant is a sum of all years of research and technical advances that medical experts have conscientiously developed.
The first modern hair transplant procedure happened in Japan during the 1930’s. There is, by far, much to discover about the chronicles of hair transplantation. Knowing how this procedure has developed will enrich one’s mind further in understanding the current hair transplant method used.
What To Expect
Every patient, or potential patient who might want to subject him/herself to a hair transplant must be informed and oriented about the things that should be expected in a hair transplant.
Being well oriented to the general sequence of a hair transplant procedure (the expected results and the time involved), will greatly help a person in making a wise decision of whether to pursue this hair loss solution or not.
Usually, it is the responsibility of the hair expert or the hair transplant surgeon to inform his/her patient regarding these results or changes to expect. However, sometimes there are minute details that hair restoration surgeons may possibly forget to say. For those who would want to be more knowledgeable regarding hair transplants, reading more on what to expect from this surgery can be of great assistance.
Hair Transplant Surgery
The hair transplant surgery itself deserves an attention with regards to how it is conducted, how the grafts are harvested and how the grafts are implanted. There are many ways on how to do a hair transplant surgery; some are traditional, some modern. The hair surgeon is the one who decides what technique is suitable for a patient.
On the other hand, on the patient’s part, it is also important for him/her to be accustomed to these techniques so that he or she would be able to cooperate with the surgeon well.
Hair Transplant Types
Aside from scalp hair transplant, there are also other types of hair transplants. Body, eyebrow, eyelash, mustache, pubic, facial, and sideburns hair transplants are the other types of hair transplantation.
It is important for those people who are experiencing hair loss to know the other types of hair transplants because there is the possibility that their other body parts might also be affected by alopecia.
Post-operative Care
After the hair transplant surgery, there are certain considerations that a patient must follow to ensure that his or her surgery is a success. Post-operative care instructions from the medical care providers must be strictly adhered to by the patient to ensure that no complications will arise after the surgery.
There are a number of things that needs to be followed by patients post-hair transplant surgery, and being acquainted to these as early as prior to the said surgery itself is essential to acquire one’s understanding, cooperation and compliance.
Hair Transplant Cost
One of the most important matters that a person must consider before having the surgery is its cost. Generally, the cost of a single hair transplant surgery ranges from $4,000 – $20,000. However, these figures are not necessarily the same to all patients.
There are many factors that may contribute to the cost of the hair transplant such as the board certified hair surgeon’s fee, and the quality of the facility that shall be used. For patients who are to undergo a hair transplant, it is of great help if they would know more about how the hair transplant cost is determined so that they can do a prior assessment of their financial capacity.
Hair Transplant Facts
There is a huge chunk of information available to the public regarding matters about hair transplantation, but the problem is – are they fact, or fiction?
Delineating hair transplant facts from mere myths is important, so as not to confuse prospective patients about what a hair transplant is, and what it is not. Getting the facts straight from a reliable source, will give one a great advantage.
Hair Transplant Side Effects
All types of surgeries have potential side effects. A side effect is considered as any secondary response of the body to a particular operation or substance induced to it, as like what happens when one takes a medication. A side effect may either be desirable (positive) or undesirable (negative).
Hair transplantation has both good and bad effects to the body. It may also have an effect not only to the physical aspect of a patient but also to his/her mental, social, and emotional dimensions. Furthermore, these side effects may also be temporary or permanent. Patients must be well-informed about these side effects so that they can do something to counteract it.
Hair Transplant Risks and Complications
Similar to all other types of surgical operations, hair transplantation also entails risks and complications. It is important for patients to be able to familiarize themselves to these risks so that they would know what to do in order to actively collaborate with the surgeon on how to minimize these risks and prevent complications.
It is imperative that each concerned patient must be able to read these sections thoroughly so that he or she would gain pertinent information regarding hair transplants.
Indeed, a hair transplant is one of the most popular means used nowadays to correct issues of hair loss. Investing in this procedure is a good choice because a hair transplant can restore the beauty and confidence that hair loss takes away from a person.
