Hair Transplant

    Hair Transplant is a medical procedure in which a plastic or dermatological surgeon transplants hair to a bald spot on the head. Hair is moved from the back or sides of the head to the front or top of the head by the surgeon.

Hair Transplant Procedures

    The operation is generally performed in the doctor's office. The surgeon begins by cleaning your scalp and injecting a numbing agent into the back of your skull. Your doctor will do the hair transplant using one of two procedures:

• Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)
• Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

1. Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)

    In follicular unit transplantation (FUT), the surgeon removes a piece of scalp skin from the back of the head with a blade. Usually, the incision is several inches long. This is then stitched shut. Using a magnifying lens and a sharp surgical knife, the surgeon divides the scalp into small parts. These pieces, if implanted, will aid in achieving natural-looking hair growth.

2. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

    In follicular unit extraction (FUE), hundreds to thousands of small punch incisions are used to remove hair follicles directly from the back of the head. The surgeon uses a blade or a needle to cut tiny holes in the area of your scalp where the hair transplant will be performed. Hairs are gently inserted into the holes. A surgeon may transplant hundreds or thousands of hairs during a single therapy session. For a few days, your scalp will be covered by the graft, gauze, or bandages.

    A hair transplant procedure can take up to four hours. About ten days after surgery, your stitches will be removed. To get the full head of hair you want, you might need three or four treatments. To allow each transplant to properly recover, sessions are spaced many months apart.

Hair Transplant Results

    The transplanted hair will fall out two to three weeks following surgery, but new growth should appear within a few months. After 5 to 10 months, most people will notice 50% new hair growth. To enhance hair development following transplantation, some surgeons administer minoxidil (Rogaine), a hair-growing medication.

Hair Transplant Before and After Photos

There are some photos of the people that have done hair transplants and share their experience with us:

What are the side effects of hair transplant?

    Hair transplant side effects are typically minimal and resolve within a few weeks. They may include the following:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Headache and swelling of the scalp
• Around the eyes, there is bruising
• A crust that develops on the scalp where hair has been removed or transplanted
• Itchiness
• The hair follicles are inflamed or infected
• Tufts of hair that don't look natural

Cost of Hair Transplant

    The cost of a hair transplant varies greatly depending on the amount of hair being transplanted, but it typically ranges from $3500 to $16,000. It is not covered by most insurance plans. Also, it depends on the quality of grafts.

Learn more about hair loss treatment.