Patients that are considering hair loss treatment often opt for hair transplantation. But what exactly is Hair Transplantation, and how does it work? This and many other questions are often asked. Here are some informative answers about everything you need to know about hair transplantation.
Hair Transplantation is a fast and simple microsurgical procedure to restore hair growth in bald or thinning hair areas on the scalp that suffer from hair loss. During Hair Transplantation surgery, healthy hair follicles are grafted from the donor area (the back of the head) and transplanted to the recipient area. Thanks to harvesting one's natural hair, the re-growth on the concerned area also results in thick, natural-looking hair without using any additional chemical supplements.
Follicular Unit Transplantation or shortly, FUT, is one of the two most common and effective methods used in Hair Transplantation Surgery. FUT is an incisional procedure where a piece of scalp is removed. The donor area will be stitched, and the extracted scalp piece is stripped into hair grafts. These will be transplanted to the affected section of the scalp. The FUT method may leave a minuscule scar in the back of the head. FUT is suitable if you want a large number of grafting in one session.
Follicular Unit Extraction, also called the FUE method, is the second method used in Hair Transplantation. FUE, in contrast to FUT, is a non-incisional procedure preferred by surgeons and patients as it does not leave any scar since there is no skin extracted. The back of the head will provide individual hair follicles that will also be individually transplanted on the recipient area using a microneedle or scalpel.
As a Hair Transplant patient, you are able to decide which operational method you want to undergo, but your surgeon will recommend the most suitable method after considering your desires, but also your hair's condition.
FUE is recommended for patients that have smaller bald areas that need to be treated. Another important factor is the scalp elasticity and donor supply - if those are limited, FUE might be the better choice. FUE is ideal for patients that want to have a short hairstyle after transplantation.
FUT is suitable for patients that need transplantation in a larger area. If the back of the scalp lacks elasticity, FUT is also preferred in these patients. This method is excellent if the desired results are middle to longer hair.
One session of Hair Transplantation can take up to several hours, usually from 3-6 hours. It depends on how large the bald/thinning areas that act as recipients are and on the operation plan. The duration of a hair transplant also takes longer if the number of grafts needed for the area of coverage is higher. And it is also important to mention if the hair loss area is too large, several sessions may be required.
Not at all. Hair Transplantation is performed under local anesthesia; therefore, you will not feel pain. However, you may feel a slight sting from time-to-time during the procedure, but not experience any discomfort. Once the effects of the anesthesia wear off, you may feel very mild pain for a short while right after surgery. Generally speaking, hair transplant does not cause any pain, only a small discomfort for a very short time.
It can take about three or more months to see the first signs of new hair growth due to the hair's natural growth cycle. Yet you can notice increased density on the scalp that was affected by hair loss. It takes about 15 days for the scabs to fall out and make space for the newly implanted hair. The final results are visible after 12-15 months, depending on each individual.
After surgery, a special bandage is applied to the head to avoid any possible complications. The post-procedure pain is minimal, only a slight discomfort for a few hours. You will be given pain relievers before being discharged home on the same day.
Usually, patients are allowed to go back to work within a week after surgery. The total healing time is 8-10 days. Remember, you need to avoid any exercise and activity that requires active participation for a couple of days after hair transplantation. Follow the prescribed instructions from your surgeon and allow your scalp to recover efficiently.
For successful hair transplantation, the surgeon transplants hair follicles in the direction hair would normally grow to allow natural-looking long-lasting results. Hair Transplantation will prevent hair loss and restore hair growth, yet complete hair loss cannot be avoided, as hair loss comes with age. It is, however, possible to do a so-called 'touch up' surgery for patients that underwent hair loss treatment before to maintain the effects.
South Korea is the world's number one in Hair Transplantation Technology - continually developing and researching new techniques or advancing old ones. Not only operational methods, but as well as the devices used during surgery are of the latest modern technology, allowing for a smooth operation.
Also, the survival rate of transplanted hair follicles is 98% in South Korea, making hair transplantation a very successful procedure with guaranteed results. It is important to mention that the success rate of hair transplant surgery also depends on the skill and experience of the surgeon and the thickness of healthy hair follicles.
Board-certified surgeons in Korea are specially trained and devoted to hair restoration and the patient's satisfaction. They are not only highly experienced by performing countless hair transplants per year, but also give you the exact results you desire. Korean surgeons are considering and understanding the patients' final expectations and well being during the whole treatment time.
If you are considering a hair transplant in South Korea, you can schedule a free consultation through us with a highly skilled professional that can give you just the results you expect.