Balding or thinning of hair on the head is a condition that affects millions of people. If you’re one of them and are considering hair restoration methods, then you’ve likely come across hair transplantation. Here’s what to know about hair transplantation and how our board-certified plastic surgeons, Drs. Papel, Kontis, and , can help you achieve your aesthetic goals.
Hair Replacement Hair Restoration Surgery
Hair transplantation, sometimes called hair replacement surgery, is a surgical hair restoration procedure that moves follicles from a donor site to bald or thinning areas. The donor site is generally located on the back or sides of the scalp, where patients are more likely to retain healthy hair.
The transplanted individual hair follicles become established in their new locations and gradually produce new hair growth. Although patients may temporarily shed or lose hair following treatment, this is often a normal part of the growth cycle. It can take several months for noticeable hair restoration results to develop.
Hair transplantation may be appropriate for men with male pattern baldness, women with female pattern hair loss, and patients experiencing thinning hair caused by certain scars or injuries. Candidates must have enough stable donor hair available for transplantation. How well a hair transplant works depends on the patient’s hair characteristics, degree of hair loss, scalp health, and expectations.
What Are the Different Hair Transplant Techniques?
The two primary hair transplant techniques are Follicular Unit Transplantation and Follicular Unit Extraction. The appropriate approach depends on the patient’s hair restoration needs, scalp condition, preferences, and how much hair must be transplanted.
A FUT hair transplant, also known as the strip method, involves removing a narrow strip of hair-bearing scalp from the donor area. The strip is carefully divided into smaller hair grafts, which are then placed in areas affected by hair loss.
During a follicular unit extraction, FUE procedure, follicles are individually removed from the donor area in the back of the head or areas of the scalp with more hair using small specialized instruments. These follicles are then placed into the recipient area. This approach does not require the removal of a strip of scalp and leaves tiny, dispersed extraction marks.
Both approaches are generally performed using local anesthesia. Experienced hair transplant surgeons carefully plan the position and direction of each graft to support natural-looking growth. Hair restoration is a specialized area of plastic surgery and cutaneous and aesthetic surgery that requires close attention to the patient’s existing hairline and growth pattern.
Benefits of Hair Transplants
Hair transplantation can improve the appearance of a receding hairline, thinning crown, or scarring-related hair loss. Because the hair restoration surgery redistributes the patient’s existing follicles, the transplanted hair can look and grow like natural hair.
The earlier hair loss begins, the more likely it is that a patient’s pattern will continue progressing over time. For this reason, some patients may require more than one hair transplant surgery to maintain balanced coverage as their natural hair changes. Patients who have undergone previous hair transplants may also be candidates for additional treatment, depending on their remaining donor supply.
Hair transplantation can improve self-confidence, but results vary among patients. A consultation is necessary to evaluate the scalp, discuss treatment options, and determine whether transplantation can achieve the patient’s desired outcome.
What to Expect From a Hair Transplant Procedure
There is minimal downtime following your hair transplant treatment. You’ll have slight restrictions the following day, and scabs should disappear in one to two weeks. Your new, long-lasting hair typically takes three to four months to grow. You’ll see a noticeable difference within six to eight months, and hair growth can continue up to a year. Hair transplantation is best paired with other hair restoration medications and treatments, and your plastic surgeon can help you create a personalized treatment plan.
Schedule a Consultation
At the Aesthetic Center at Woodholme, our board-certified plastic surgeons perform hair transplants and can help you understand your best options for hair transplant surgery. To schedule a consultation and discuss your options with hair transplantation surgery, contact our Baltimore, MD office by calling or filling out our ONLINE FORM.
Dr. Ira D. Papel is certified in Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Papel earned his B.A. from Johns Hopkins University and his M.D. from Boston University of Medicine. He completed a residency at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and a fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Dr. Papel is considered an international expert in rhinoplasty, revision rhinoplasty, and facial aesthetic surgery.
