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Do different procedures of hair transplants work?

Hair transplants aim to restore permanent hair growth to areas of the head that have been subject to a receding hairline or bald patches with limited or absent growth. There are several effective treatments for many types of hair loss, but a hair transplant gives you the option of gaining a permanent solution through a one-time procedure. Hence it is almost natural that you may be skeptical about whether it works or not. Permanent hair loss and hair thinning are normal experiences of ageing, but they may also occur due to a medical disease or trauma to the scalp among younger ages as well. Some people who experience unending hair loss choose a hair transplant for cosmetic, reconstructive, or personal reasons. There are two main procedures for a hair transplant, costs vary depending on the procedure, and how much work you need to get done, one session can go on for hours, and sometimes you may need more than one session.

Types of hair transplants

During a hair transplant, the surgeon provides local anaesthesia to the scalp and safely extracts hair follicles from a denser, and thicker area of the scalp, such as the back of the head, the nape of your neck, or even from your beard, this is referred to as the donor area. These follicles are then implanted into the area with hair loss on the scalp. This is the main process, however, the way a surgeon performs it differs between the two procedures.

Follicular unit transplantation (FUT):

The surgeon carefully removes a thin strip of scalp skin that contains hair follicles from the donor area and closes the incision with stitches. The use of a microscope helps the surgeon separate the donor skin into small follicular units that may contain one or even several hair follicles and insert them into the desired area.

Follicular unit extraction (FUE):

The surgeon uses a small punch tool to extract the hair follicles from the donor area. This procedure still leads to some less noticeable scarring but the person will not usually require stitches, and the scars fade away with time. Both surgeries are effective, but the downside is that they can achieve different outcomes in some cases. The FUE surgery requires more expertise and takes longer but FUE also produces excellent results compared to FUT if the surgeon has plenty of experience in the technique, and gives very natural outcomes. Surgeons will use the side or back of the head to act as the donor area. Regardless, taking skin from the back, chin, or chest can also be an option if there is little to no hair left on the scalp to extract. It is also helpful for people who do not have thick hair left on their heads. Some researched sources suggest that taking body/beard hair is more time-consuming and delicate, requiring more skill than using scalp hair. On the other hand, another study states that the body and beard hair can be an “excellent source” of donor hair for transplants.

Both these procedures can take many hours, depending on how many follicles the surgeon extracts and implants. Mostly, the person will be able to go home on the same day of the treatment. A little pain and discomfort are felt after the surgery is over, but with the use of prescribed painkillers, it goes away very soon.

What are the success rates?

The success rate of a hair transplant surgery depends on many elements, including the expertise of the surgeon and the thickness of the donor's hair. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), hair transplantation provides a modest and subtle change in hair fullness. If someone wants a more dramatic change, they can opt for tissue expansion, skin flap surgery, or scalp reduction techniques. This is also why people get hair transplants more, everybody wants natural outcomes. There are no large-scale studies that list hair transplant success rates. However, various small-scale research and studies deliver information about the effectiveness and safety of these procedures.

One study found that most people who got FUE transplants using beard or body hair combined with their scalp hair were satisfied with the outcomes at a follow-up of 3 years on average. Among 79 participants, the mean overall satisfaction was rated an 8.3/10.

The findings of another study suggested that using platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP) with FUE further increases the success rate of FUE hair transplantation. All the participants in the PRP group reported more than 75% hair regrowth after 6 months. They even had more rapid enhancements in hair density and skin recovery.

Are there side effects?

According to the ASPS, hair transplants are generally safe when a qualified, experienced surgeon performs them, in a clean and hygienic environment. However, as a surgery and medical procedure, even with hair transplants, some side effects can occur. Swelling, pain and irritation: Experiencing swelling and pain after the anaesthesia wears off is a common side effect experienced by many, after hours of the procedure, it is only natural. Several people experience pain while their skin heals after the procedure. The surgeon provides them with pain relievers and medication to aid in this. As the skin heals, the swelling subsides.

Bleeding or infection

Hair transplants cannot be performed without making small cuts or incisions in the skin. The surgeon may make several incisions to remove donor follicles through tiny incisions on the scalp to place the follicles on the affected area. With these incisions, there could be excessive bleeding or a risk of infection. Scars There is a risk of scarring on both the area of the transplant and the donor area. Before surgery, a person should speak and consult with their surgeon about these risks before the procedure.

The FUT method tends to leave a long, linear scar exactly where the surgeon removes the strip from the scalp. This scar can become hidden as new hair growth covers it. It may still be visible if it becomes stretched during healing, or the surrounding hair is thin, or the person wears it short. On the other hand, the FUE method could also leave some noticeable scars where the surgeon extracted the hair follicles with the punch tool. But, these scars are not as large as the scar from an FUT surgery. In some cases, a person may have raised bumps around the transplanted hair. As the hair grows back, it may hide these bumps.

Conclusion:

The key to getting a good hair transplant is choosing a reputable hair transplant clinic. If it's natural outcomes you’re looking for, you’ll need to pick a clinic with a hygienic environment, friendly demeanour, and expert consultancy, so you can trust the procedure. A hair transplant surgery is a permanent option for permanent hair loss, making it a great option for people looking for a permanent solution without the need for maintenance. It may not be a permanent solution for individuals experiencing thinning hair, but for many, it helps restore hair fullness, self-confidence and esteem.