FAQs
Most Frequently Asked Questions
The FUT hair transplant procedure involves surgically removing a thin strip of hair from the back of the head at the base of the neck, dividing the grafts, and relocating the hair follicles to the top and front of the head. The doctor performs this removal process. The hair at the back of the head is resistant to the chemical dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Because of this it is resistant to falling out of the scalp. This is why we often see men with only a wreath of hair at the back and sides of the head.
After the application of a local anesthetic, the doctor will proceed with hair transplant surgery. This starts with the removal of a small strip of hair at the back of the head from the “donor” area. The incision will be secured with sutures. The wound will quickly heal, and while it will leave a minor scar, this will be hidden by the hair at the back of the head which falls down over the scar area.
The doctor will then instruct his surgical team precisely how to divide the grafts. The strip is then dissected into very small follicular units or hair group grafts. These grafts may contain 1, 2, 3, 4 or more hairs. Each of these units is essentially an organ. They have a blood supply, are chemically regulated like other organs of the body and when transplanted will quickly return to homeostasis.
The doctor will then create small slits in the area in which the grafts will be transplanted. This involves both artistry and technical skill. The slits (or receptor sites) are created in such a way as to re-create the natural hair growth pattern. The specific depth, angle, direction, size and width are crucial to proper placement and growth of the transplanted hair. This is by far the most critical and time-consuming phase of the procedure.
Following this the doctor will supervise the placement and relocation of the grafts to the receptor area. It is important to note that the grafts can only be placed into the receptor site one way, similar to a square peg being fit into a square hole.
The relocation process is minimally invasive and is a minor surgical procedure, not much different from having a filling placed by the dentist. While there may be some discomfort during and after hair transplant surgery, there is rarely serious pain involved.
During the first 1 to 3 weeks, new hairs will appear to be growing quickly. This in actuality represents the beginning of a phase known as “shedding,” the time when the hair follicles actually go dormant.
Following transplant surgery, the hair follicles go into shock, or a dormant phase. This is normal, expected and predictable. This phase typically lasts 3 to 6 months so you will not begin to see new hair growth until the follicle moves out of this phase and onto the next growth phase. Many patients get anxious waiting to see if the transplant was successful. However, if you know that this “shedding” is typical and normal it sometimes eases anxiety.
Typically, hair growth starts within 2 to 4 months. Hair growth occurs in cycles, with each cycle starting a few days or weeks from the previous cycle. Initial hair growth produces a smaller than usual shaft. This changes as the hair reaches about 1/2 inch in length. Most men actually prefer this slower hair growth process because it makes any change subtle and less obvious.
By 6 months, most people can see the effect of the process, and by 12 months, the growth and bulk will have reached 90% of its total growth. Hair can, and sometimes does, continue to mature for as long as another 24 months following surgery. For this reason, we advise patients to not evaluate the results until a full year has passed.
Surgical healing is also fairly fast. Within 1 to 2 weeks the specific sites that received donor “hairs” have healed. However, it might take many months for the hair to regain full strength.
About half of our patients see results on the crown area within the first 1 to 2 weeks. And even when they do, the hair is just barely visible.
Are you looking for a permanent fix for hair loss? If so, FUE hair transplant might be for you. Although the results are different for different people, you can expect the results to last a long time. This is good news for those who no longer want to worry about hair loss. The results of the FUE transplant procedure will last a lifetime as long as the graft is chosen carefully from the permanent area. Also, hormonal changes should not affect the graft. Some patients may experience a depletion of their donor area as they age. In this case, the transplanted hair can experience the same phenomenon. However, this does not apply to all patients.
If you are considering an FUE hair transplant, you might be wondering if this procedure is safe. Of course, each procedure can be different, which means that some people can have an adverse reaction. However, most patients who undergo this surgery do not have permanent problems.
The method of removing individual hair units allows collection without leaving linear scars on the scalp. Immediately after the procedure, several small wounds appear in the area where the hair has been removed. After about 3 to 5 days the wounds close and the resulting small scabies disappear after the first week. In the next week, it will be challenging to determine where the graft has been removed.
When performed by an experienced and qualified hair restoration doctor, the result must look so natural that others cannot say that the hair has been transplanted. To see our latest results before and after hair transplantation, visit our “Before and After Photos” page to get our latest, real patient results.
Patients usually report almost no pain during or after the procedure. Sedation is given at the beginning of the procedure, followed by periodic subcutaneous local anaesthesia. In rare cases, patients may experience mild discomfort, itching and swelling after the procedure, which resolves within a few days. We provide patients with pain relief medications after the procedure. However, medication can usually keep the pain under control.
Shortly after an FUE hair transplant, new hair looks more like a beard on the head. Transplanted hair can grow very gradually and then enter the active telogen phase and most likely fall out. The transplanted hair grows again when entering the anagen phase. Once the hair is in the Anagen growth phase, it grows normally.
For most women with hair loss, the most come type is androgenetic alopecia which is often referred to as female pattern baldness. This type of hair loss refers to hair thinning predominately over the top and sides of the head. Over one third of all susceptible women are affected by it. While it is most often seen after menopause, it can begin even in the early stages of puberty. On a daily basis women lost 100-125 strands of hair per day. This is a normal amount of hair loss and these hairs are replaced. Hair loss occurs when the hairs are not regrown or when the normal amount of hair shedding exceeds the 125 hair strands. Genetically hair loss can come from either side of the family, and not just the mother’s side like some people have been told. There are two types of hair loss that are medically known as Anagen Effluvium and Telogen Effluvium. Anagen effluvium can occur because of medication such as chemotherapy that poisons the growing hair follicle. Telogen effluvium occurs when a large number of hair follicles enter into the resting stage of the hair growth cycle. Some of the more common causes of telogen effluvium are: Physical stress: illness, surgery, anemia, or rapid weight change. Emotional stress: death of a family member, mental illness. Thyroid abnormalities. Medications: High doses of Vitamin A, Blood pressure and Gout medications. Hormonal causes: pregnancy, birth control pills, menopause. When the above causes of telogen effluvium are reversed or altered normal hair growth should return.
One of the most common causes of female hair loss is from hormonal changes. Many women may not know or realize that hair loss can happen after a pregnancy or even after discontinuation of birth control pills. You should know that hair loss can be delayed as long as three months following any hormonal changes and an additional three months will be required for new hair to grow and be fully achieved.
Today you can find lots of shampoos on the market that claim to give you thicker and full hair. It is completely up to you if you want to try them and see for yourself if they do what they promises. Monixidil is an over-the-counter topical treatment that is widely used to promote hair growth in both men and women who suffer with androgenic alopecia. Finasteride, is used to treat male pattern baldness but is not approved for women that are of childbearing age due to the risk of birth defects in a developing fetus. However, it is sometimes given to menopausal or post-menopausal women off-script.