What is hair transplantation?
In hair transplantation (hair transplantation), the doctor removes healthy hair roots from the patient and reinserts them in a bald area of the body. Since the hair roots come from the patient himself, the procedure is also called an autologous hair transplant. This is a cosmetic procedure, there is usually no medical necessity.
An exception is eyelash or eyebrow transplantation: These hairs have the task of protecting the eye from dirt and sweat.
For an area of 50 square centimeters, the surgeon must transplant 500 to 1000 hairs. Exact figures cannot be given, because hair has individual structures and therefore looks differently “full” in each person.
Hair transplantation: FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction)
Human hair grows in natural bundles containing one to five hairs – so-called follicular units. In FUE, the doctor removes not only one hair root, but a complete FUE.
When is hair transplantation performed?
An autologous hair transplant can help patients with the following conditions:
- Hormonal hair loss in men and women
- Hereditary forms of hair loss
- @ Scarring hair loss (for example after accidents, burns, surgery or radiation)
Many of the above-mentioned conditions require hair transplantation to improve body image: receding hairline can be filled in again, a receding hairline can be moved forward. A beard transplant can help men who are affected by bald patches due to a burn, for example.
What is done during a hair transplant?
Under local anesthesia, an experienced surgical team can transplant about 500 to 2000 grafts per procedure. For a larger number of hairs, several sessions are necessary.
Hair transplantation with FUE
Before the operation, the entire hair crown area is shaved bald. Now the doctor cuts the skin around the hair root groups with hollow needles. Using two tweezers, the hair groups are exposed and then pulled out. The removal site usually does not need to be stitched during FUE; the wound left behind heals by itself.
Under the microscope, the grafts are kept moist in cooled solutions and prepared – because if they dry out, the hair roots die. Unsuitable hairs are sorted out. To insert the hair, the doctor uses a fine needle to create tiny channels in the skin, into which he places the hair follicles. They grow in by themselves and do not need to be fixed.
Hair transplantation with conventional technique (strip technique)
Since the strip technique results in a larger scar, nowadays FUE is preferred due to its better aesthetic result.
What are the risks of hair transplantation?
Women and men seeking hair transplantation must be informed about the possible dangers of the procedure. Although complications are rare when hair transplantation is performed properly by an experienced physician, bleeding can occur, for example, if the incisions are too deep. This often results in severe swelling in the first few days after hair transplantation, which can extend to the facial area. Especially swelling of the eyelids is annoying for the patient, but not dangerous.
The human scalp is very well supplied with blood. Since germs and bacteria settle mainly in rather poorly perfused areas, the risk of infection during scalp hair transplantation is low.
What do I have to pay attention to after a hair transplant?
After the hair transplantation, a scab will initially form, which will peel off after about five to seven days. Please do not scratch the scab off, even if it itches; by doing so, you will only disrupt the healing process and make it easier for bacteria to enter the tissue.
Depending on your doctor’s discretion, you may be given an antibiotic for about three days to prevent infection. This is especially appropriate for high-risk patients with poor circulation, such as diabetics. If necessary, your doctor will give you a painkiller; cooling the transplanted region will also relieve pain.
Keep the donor site, which is closed with a suture, dry until the wound has healed. Use special, waterproof shower plasters for washing. You can obtain these at the pharmacy, for example. The stitches are removed no earlier than two weeks after the operation.
Do not be alarmed if the hair you have just transplanted falls out. Since the skin was temporarily poorly supplied with oxygen by the operation, the hairs are initially rejected – but not the hair roots! New hair grows from these about eight to twelve weeks after the hair transplant. The final result can only be assessed after eight to ten months.