Hair transplantation is the surgical technique used to transfer hair follicles from a part of the body to a bald or bald area. Hair transplantation allows us to produce a natural and radical solution to the thinning areas of individuals with hair loss problems or to the condition known as baldness among people.
The hair transplant technique is primarily used to treat baldness in men. In the minimally invasive procedure, grafts with genetically resistant hair follicles (such as the back of the head) are transplanted into the skin where the hair is shed. Hair transplantation can also be used to regrow eyelashes, eyebrows, beard hair, chest hair or to cover scars caused by previous accidents/surgeries. Grafts in hair transplantation are different from skin tissue transplantation. These grafts contain almost all of the epidermis and dermis surrounding the hair follicle. During the hair transplantation process, many small grafts are transplanted rather than a single strip.
Since human hair naturally develops in groups of 1 to 4 hairs, “follicular units” are taken and transferred with hair transplantation techniques. Follicular units contain elements such as sebaceous glands, nerves, small muscles. At the end of all this process, the development and growth direction of the hair is repeated and a natural appearance is formed. This hair transplant procedure is called follicular unit transplant (FUT). Here, hair can be obtained in two different ways: hair strip removal and follicular unit extraction (FUE).
To Whom Hair Transplantation is Applied?
Hair transplantation can be applied for hair loss, which is usually seen in men. Male pattern hair loss develops with the effect of testosterone in people who are genetically predisposed to hair loss. The cells that produce hair around the hair follicles become lifeless over time with the effect of this hormone. For hair transplantation, you need two things: healthy hair that can be transplanted to the area that needs hair on your scalp, and the ability of your scalp to regenerate hair in the thinned area. Diffuse hair loss can be an obstacle to hair transplantation. Again, for example, hair transplantation should not be performed on a person with alopecia areata.
How is the Hair Transplant Procedure Applied?
Preoperative evaluation and planning are important.
At the initial consultation about hair transplantation, the surgeon analyzes the patient’s scalp, listens to their preferences and expectations, and advises on the best approach (eg, single or multiple sessions) and what results can reasonably be expected. Preoperative folliscopy will show the current hair density; This will enable the correct evaluation of the postoperative results of newly transplanted hair grafts. Some patients may benefit from topical minoxidil application and vitamins before surgery.
A few days before surgery, the patient refrains from using any medication that could result in intraoperative bleeding and ultimately inadequate vaccination. Alcohol and smoking can contribute to poor graft survival. Post-operative antibiotics are often prescribed to prevent wound or graft infections.
