Description

Hair Transplantation

Hair Transplantation

Overview

Hair development begins in the intra-uterine life and
continues throughout the life span of the person. Although hairs are thin and
light colored in the uterine life, they start thickening and darkening after
birth. There are about 100 thousand hair follicles in the scalp of an infant.

Our hair grows for a certain period of time and sheds,
but they are replaced by hair follicles. Although there are interpersonal
variations, 80 to 120 hair strands may shed every day and it is a result of the
ordinary life cycle of body hairs. Each hair strand progresses through growth,
resting and shedding phases.

Hair loss is considered, when hair gets thin, more
than usual hair sheds while combing and bathing, and when the front hairline
recesses.

Numerous factors play a role in hair loss, including
but not limited to genetic predisposition, exposure to chemicals, drugs,
psychological stress, skin diseases, systemic diseases, hormonal disorders, surgical
procedures, improper hair care and insufficient nutrition. One or more than one
of these factors may be responsible for the hair loss, although it is possible
to fail identifying an underlying cause.

Moreover, hair loss can be reversible or irreversible.
For irreversible cases, growth of hair may sustain after the underlying cause
(e.g. stress) is eliminated.

The type of hair loss is also important. Male type
(androgenetic) hair loss is the most common type of the hair loss in men and
women. This type of hair loss is a result of genetic and hormonal factors,
while trauma, medications and diseases has no role. This type of hair loss is
very rare in women.

Another type of hair loss is the development of patchy
bald areas on the scalp. An abnormality of immune system is accused in this
disorder, called “alopecia areata” in medical terminology. It may be
irreversible, but it is also possible for hair to grow again.

The other type of hair loss is generalized hair loss.
This condition is caused by a factor that damages the hair follicles throughout
the body (for example, drug, stress, thyroid gland diseases and other hormonal
disorders and insufficient nutrition as well as major surgeries).

Before Hair Transplantation

• Don’t use aspirin and B and E vitamins and other
  similar medicine 1 week before the operation
• If you drink alcohol, don’t drink Alcohol 3 days
  before the operation
• If you have allergy to drugs? Please inform your
  doctor at the consultation in hospital
• Do not smoke 24 hours before the operation if
  possible. Don’t forget that smoking willextend the convalescence time
• If you’re using medicine for chronical (diabetes,
  heart disease, blood pressure, tuberculosis, etc.) or acute illnesses it
  is necessary that you inform your doctor at the consultation in hospital
• Bring comfortable button front shirt and a sweat
  pants with you
• Before the operation do not use any gel or sprays
  after
• Please bring comfortable clothes with you. Button
  down front clothes should be worn for the hair transplant

Preparation

The preparation phase of hair transplantation rather
aims determining whether you are a good candidate of hair transplantation.

Your health history, medications (prescription and
over-the-counter) and all vitamins and food supplements are reviewed and blood
and urine tests are analyzed to investigate the underlying cause of hair loss.

The time elapsed since the onset of hair loss,
thickness of  hair, type of the hair loss (androgenetic, generalized,
alopecia areata), past history of hair loss and whether hair grew again, if
same condition developed in the past, and factors that grow hair and worsen the
hair loss are carefully addressed.

If your doctor deems necessary, the scalp is biopsied
and the scalp and hair follicles are examined under microscope.

After it is clearly determined that the hair
transplant is the best choice for your condition, you should inform your doctor
about all your expectations in order to avoid disappointment after the
procedure.

Risks

If you carefully follow recommendations and
instructions of the doctor who will perform the hair transplantation, the risk
of complication after hair transplantation is almost zero.

Surgery and early postoperative period

After the final decision of hair transplantation is
made, the donor area, where hair follicles are harvested, and the recipient
area, where hair follicles are transferred, are drawn and a plan is made,
before the procedure is initiated. Local anesthetic agent will be administered
to relieve or eliminate discomfort during hair transplantation.

Today, there are two hair transplant techniques,
namely FUE and FUT. However, Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is the most
commonly preferred technique. Follicular Unit Transfer (FUT) is the other
method that was more commonly used in the past, but it is not a common method
nowadays due to scar formation and requirement of stitching.

The FUE method has two subtypes, Conventional and No
Shave FUE, according to whether the area that hair follicles are transferred is
shaved or not. The only difference between No Shave FUE and conventional FUE is
that the donor and the recipient areas are not shaved or they are cut short. In
addition, if deemed appropriate, your doctor may recommended combining FUE
technique with PRP and / or hair mesotherapy.

In the FUE method, hair follicles can also be
harvested from other parts of the body, if the hair follicles on the scalp are
not sufficient for hair transplantation. On the other hand, FUE method produces
effective results in the treatment of hair loss in eyebrows, mustache and
beard.

In FUE technique, the donor and the recipient areas
are cleaned and prepped. After the scalp is drawn to plan the transplantation,
photos of the scalp are taken to make comparisons.

Hair follicles are harvested from the nape, where
hairs are genetically resistant to hair loss, using very special thin needles
measuring ≤1 mm in diameter. FUE technique does not require making incision on
the scalp, while hair follicles (graft) are collected, and therefore, no scar
tissue forms. The hair follicles are prepped to be transferred. Very tiny holes
are drilled at the recipient area using a device called micromotor. These
canals or holes are drilled at the direction of the growth of hair and thus,
your hair will look natural when they grow after hair transplantation. After
hair follicles are transferred in line with the pre-transplant plan and
drawings, the scalp is closed with bandage.

Hair transplant procedure takes about several hours.
If necessary, the procedure can be completed in the second session in the next
day.

You may feel mild redness and discomfort after the
procedure. Usually, these conditions do not require treatment, but your doctor
will inform you in detail about issues that require your attention and you will
also be given an information procedure. You should avoid strenuous activities
for 15 days and you should protect the scalp against traumas.

Your doctor will probably ask you to visit the
hospital one day after the procedure. The bandage will be removed in this visit.

If you experience warmth and remarkable pain at the
donor or the recipient site if you have a fever or any symptoms that you think
are due to the hair transplant after you are discharged, contact your doctor
immediately.

Results

Hair will grow, but it will shed quickly after the
hair transplant. You can see growth of hair by transferred hair follicles
approximately two months later. Your hair will normally grow and the baldness
will be completely eliminated approximately 6 months to one year later.