How Does Hair Transplant Surgery Work?

A hair transplant involves moving hair from one place on your head to another. There are several methods that this can be done, but graft extraction and implantation are the most common. For a successful transplant, you’ll need to have donor hair available that can survive an extraction and have the best chance at growing new hair. 

The treatment option is usually recommended for people who have tried other hair loss treatments and have not seen sufficient results. Here we will look at how a hair transplant works as well as what Hairy Hair can do to help you potentially tackle your hair loss.

Procedure details

There are a range of different ways that your surgeon can perform hair transplant surgery. These include grafting, scalp reduction, tissue expansion, and flap surgery. Hair grafting is the most commonly performed type of hair transplantation. This involves making tiny incisions on the scalp to isolate the healthy hairs. 

A small, round punch can be used to extract the skin in clusters of around 10 to 15 hairs. You are usually awake during this procedure but it is performed under local anaesthetic so you shouldn’t feel any pain. While some people will only need one session, several surgeries may be required to achieve the desired results which can depend on the severity of your hair loss. 

A scalp reduction works by removing a small patch of bald skin from the scalp and stitching nearby loosened skin to cover the bald area. This procedure is usually used to treat bald areas at the top and back of the head since there is typically skin with hair surrounding these areas. Scalp reduction may be combined with implants to create a fuller experience. 

Flap surgery may be performed if you are looking to cover large areas of baldness at the front of your scalp. It allows for a flap of skin to be stretched to cover areas without hair but it has to be done over a few weeks in several phases. It also requires general anaesthesia. Tissue expansion can help people have are bald due to burns. 

An implant is placed under the scalp and the expander gradually inflates to stretch the skin above it. This creates a surface area for hair to be implanted since a healthy recipient site is as important as having sufficient donor hair to extract. 

What are the risks and benefits of hair transplantation?

There are a range of risks associated with hair transplantation as it is a medical procedure. Potential risks include anaesthesia allergic reaction, excessive blood loss, failed or infected grafts or flaps, scarring, and loss of feeling on the scalp. These risks may be minimised based on the experience of the surgeon, the quality of the instrumentation and the reputation of the clinic. 

Side effects from the procedure are typically temporary and occur during the aftercare phase in the weeks following the transplant. These side effects include crusts or scabs, itching, tightness, swelling, pain or throbbing, and numbness. They can be experienced on the scalp at the donor site or the recipient site where new hair has been implanted. During the aftercare phase hair shedding can occur which can be concerning for patients. 

This is a common occurrence, however, and is caused by the hair cycle adapting to new hairs being implanted into the scalp. While new hairs fall out, they are making way for stronger hairs to grow in line with the rest of the hair on your scalp. 

The hair surrounding your hair transplant will continue to be affected by your hair loss condition which can create an unnatural appearance. Hair transplants are therefore usually recommended once your hair loss has stabilised and even then supplementary hair treatments like minoxidil or finasteride are sometimes recommended to prevent future hair loss as a result of ageing. 

Hair restoration has a range of benefits including providing a fuller head of hair with coverage for bald areas, improved confidence, and providing a long-term option for the treatment of hair loss.

What is the recovery from the procedure?

Your hair transplant surgery is likely to be an outpatient procedure meaning you can go home the same day as the treatment. The recovery from the transplant will differ depending on the type of hair restoration you have and how your body reacts to the surgery. 

You’ll need to be careful to follow instructions following the procedure to ensure that your grafts stay implanted. Initially, you will only be able to remove the bandages after the first day and wash your hair after two or three days. 

From there you should be able to return to work after three to five days while after 10 days any stitching will be removed and finally you can return to exercise or sports after 3 weeks.

How can Hairy Hair help with my hair loss?

If you’re looking for an alternative to hair transplant surgery, Hairy Hair offers a convenient and comprehensive treatment option. The unique formulation includes natural ingredients to help encourage hair growth and prevent hair loss. 

By providing a well-rounded treatment plan, you can give your hair the potential to regrow healthy and strong. 

Even if you have had a hair transplant, Hairy Hair’s treatment may work to aid in preventing future hair loss in non-transplanted areas of your scalp.

Conclusion

A hair transplant can be an effective treatment choice for those who have tried other treatments and whose hair loss has stabilised. It can be a significant commitment in terms of time and money so it may not be the first option to try if you’re facing hair loss. 

Contact Hairy Hair today if you are looking for a discreet treatment service that delivers your hair growth prescription straight to your door. 

All you have to do is fill in an online form and one of our qualified Australian GPs will give you a call to discuss your treatment plan as well as answer any questions you might have. Everyone’s hair loss is unique so your hair treatment should be tailored to your needs.