Hair Transplant

What is hair "replacement" or "transplant" surgery?

Hair replacement or hair transplant surgery is a procedure for both men and women to augment the areas of the scalp where there is a lack of hair. Usually hair transplant surgery involves taking hair from the posterior part of the scalp and transferring the hair, usually in small micrografts, to the front of the hair, to replace balding skin.

How is a hair transplant performed?

Each individual hair implant doctor may have his own procedure, but in general they're pretty much the same. Usually the hair bearing area of the scalp, usually in the back of the scalp, where there could be hundreds of thousands of hairs, is excised or removed to obtain hairs for transplant. That skin and scalp is then cut into very small pieces, one or two hairs in each graft for transplant. Then, all this being done under local anaesthesia, small slits are made in the front of the hairline and the small micrografts or minigrafts are transplanted to the front of the hairline, and it usually takes a couple of months for that hair transplant to grow.

Who should get a hair transplant?

Hair replacement surgery can be performed on both men and women, depending on the areas involved. It's not just for patients that have significant baldness, but for women or men that have small patches of baldness or alopecia. They may be a good candidate for hair transplant surgery. Most of us tend to think of the patients that really have a receding hairline that should undergo hair transplant procedures, but it can also be done on patients with small areas that they have concerns about.

Is a hair transplant painful?

Hair replacement, or hair transplant surgery, is usually done under local anesthetic, so in general it's not very painful. Your doctor will give you medications to take after the procedure. In general, with the appropriate amount of local anesthetic, hair transplant surgery should not be painful.

What are the risks and complications associated with a hair transplant?

One of the major concerns of hair transplant surgery is the patients that have that cobblestone or old transplant look where it looks like those hairs are either glued or stuck on. With today's technique, the hair transplant should look almost real, and by going to an appropriate hair transplant surgeon, they can give you the look that you want. Obviously that cobblestone or bad hair plug look is hopefully a thing of the past.

What incisions or scarring should I expect with a hair transplant?

The only incision that you'll have during hair transplant surgery is the one in the posterior part of the scalp where the hair-bearing area is removed for the transplants. That usually leaves a small, well-hidden incision in the back of the scalp. In terms of the front and where the transplants are, with today's technique for hair transplant surgery, there really shouldn't be that plug or cobble-stoning appearance.

What should I expect after hair transplant surgery?

Your doctor will determine what the appropriate post-op or post-procedure regimen is for hair transplant surgery. Each doctor will determine whether or not you can shampoo or wash your hair, but you may see initially some of those hairs fall out. Over the course of a few months, eventually you will see full hair growth for those areas that were transplanted.

Will I have to take time off from work after hair transplant surgery?

I would suggest taking a couple of days off from work after having hair transplant surgery. Hair transplant is really not very painful or uncomfortable, but your doctor may have a dressing or wrap on your hair, or even a hat which may make it difficult to go back to work after a hair transplant. Obviously, you'll be able to stay at home and do your work at home after the hair transplant if need be.

What are the costs associated with hair transplant surgery?

Hair transplant surgery is almost always done in a doctor's office under local anesthesia, so the cost is usually one lump sum paid to the doctor and to his office. Prices depend on either the doctor or on the amount of hair that's being transplanted. The cost can be anywhere from $5,000 up to $15,000, depending on the amount of hairs that are being transplanted.

Can I get other plastic surgery procedures at the same time as receiving hair transplant surgery?

Hair transplant is an operation that is not always just performed by plastic surgeons. Many times other surgeons and other cosmetic surgeons will perform hair transplant surgery. If you're going to have hair transplant surgery at the same time as other procedures, you'd like to make sure that your doctor is qualified to do those procedures. In general, can it be done? Yes. Is it done? Rarely.