Stylendesigns
Glowing skin, a balanced diet, and good health are some of the things that many people strive for in life. Beautiful luscious locks are also part of these goals. However, people can sometimes take their hair for granted, that is until it thins out or is permanently lost. While many look for natural remedies to regain their locks, sometimes, only surgical procedures like hair transplants can be effective. On that note, here is a simple guide on what a hair transplant is and how it works.
- Hair Transplant Explained
A hair transplant is a surgical procedure that transfers hair from one area on your scalp unaffected by hair loss—dubbed as the donor area—to an area affected by thinning hair or baldness. The procedure requires the patient to already have existing hair on their head as balding people are ineligible for the procedure. If you are eligible, then the surgeon you choose to work with will perform one of two different methods: follicular unit transplantation (FUT) or follicular unit extraction (FUE), which will be discussed in further detail down below.
- The Important Details
Hair transplants are usually more successful than restoration products that you can get from shops. With hair transplants, 10 to 80 percent of the transferred hair will grow back within 3 to 4 months. However, it should be noted that like normal hair, the transplanted hair will gradually thin out over time. Moreover, the procedure may not be as successful with people who have dormant hair follicles. Individuals with baldness and widespread thinning, thick scalp scars, or hair loss due to treatments and medication are not eligible.
As for the cost, hair transplants in Canada can cost from $3,500 to $17,000, which depends on many factors. Medical professionals in Toronto state that there are 5 factors that affect the costs of the procedure. These are the location of the clinic, the procedure chosen, the number of hair transplant grafts needed, the number of sessions, and the clinic’s fee structure. The cost might also increase because of some recovery fees. Because this is a cosmetic procedure, insurance might not cover it as well.
- Procedure 1: Follicular Unit Transplantation
FUT, which is the abbreviation for Follicular unit transplantation, is also known as FUSS (a follicular unit strip surgery). It is a procedure that involves the doctor removing strips of the skin on the scalp from the donor area and then separating these strips into many smaller fragments called grafts. Some of the grafts might contain only one follicle. Afterward, using a blade or needle, small holes are made in the area receiving the treatment, with the grafts being carefully placed into them. The treated area will then be bandaged and will leave some light scarring. It’s important to note that the number of grafts needed is determined by four factors: the patient’s type of hair, size of transplant area, quality and thickness of hair, and the hair color.
- Procedure 2: Follicular Unit Extraction
The follicular unit extraction procedure (FUE) is a more modern hair transplant procedure that requires the surgeon to shave off the back of the patient’s head, extract individual hair follicles out of the donor area, and then make small holes on the area receiving treatment, filling them with the individual hair follicle grafts with a special micro surgical needle. The area is then bandaged. This procedure is a favorite amongst patients as it barely scars.
- The Recovery Process
Both hair transplant procedures may need either a few hours or days to fully end. This depends on the amount of work required. Patients will be allowed to go home on the same day of the procedure, and once the procedure is completely over, the doctor will remove your bandages. An injection might be needed if the area of treatment is swollen. It is highly likely that patients will feel soreness or pain in the donor and transplant areas. The surgeon will probably prescribe medication that stimulates hair growth as well as pain, anti-inflammatory, and antibiotic medications to relieve pain and swelling and prevent infection. Patients will need to take these medications for a few days. Moreover, some aftercare practices will be required to avoid procedure failure. It’s important to note that some hair might fall out, which is a normal process in the procedure. The treated area will take a few months before matching the rest of your head.
There you have it! These are the things you need to know about hair transplants. If you’re thinking of going for it, make sure to look for a surgeon you trust and try to understand the whole procedure and recovery process to ensure a safe hair regain journey.
