You may have just started your research into hair loss or hair restoration. Or, maybe further down the line. Here is a condensed list of frequently asked questions submitted to our website. This can help you with your research. The most common questions we have been asked. Also available a glossary of words and phrases related to hair loss.
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Q. – Why does the hair grow after a hair transplant?
A. – Genetic hair loss affects men and woman. The hair around the sides and back of our head is the donor hair. This hair is immune from the male/female pattern baldness gene. These hair follicles can be moved to an area of hair loss or thinning. The transplanted hair retains its genetic properties. As a result, continues to regrow even when moved.
Q. – Will the hair always grow?
A. – The patient has a responsibility to care for the grafts post-op. Follow the instructions given by their Clinic. There are multiple points during a hair transplant that the hair can be damaged. It is important for the doctor and technicians are highly skilled in handling the hair grafts. From the extraction to checking under magnification. To the placement of the grafts. Poorly trained staff can affect the quality of the hair transplant result.
Q. – What do the hair transplant technicians do?
A. – The technicians play an important role in many areas of the hair transplant procedure. Feel free to ask how much full-time experience the staff have. The doctor is required to perform certain medical aspects of a hair transplant. Then oversee the technicians to ensure the quality and care is being taken. It is important you should be able to call on the doctor at any time during your procedure.
Q. – Is there any age limit for the operation?
A. – There is no upper age, health permitting. The younger the individual care needs to be taken regarding progressive hair loss. It can be hard to predict. Hair can change well into our twenties. It is prudent to wait as long as possible. Allow the hair loss pattern to become more obvious and mature.
Q. – Is a blood test required for a hair transplant?
A. – It is not always required but some Clinics. But you may be asked to provide a recent blood test. A blood test can isolate health conditions. On occasions help with the formulation of medications to be used during the hair transplant.
Q. – Which is the better hair transplant technique, FUT or FUE?
A. – Both are credible hair transplant techniques. There are pros and cons to each technique. It is important to have the opinion of multiple Clinics. This can help to reach a balanced view. As a result, which technique would be best suited to treat your hair loss.
Q. – Is there normally a waiting list before I can have my hair transplant?
A. – It is unusual to be able to schedule a hair transplant within a short time period. Most reputable Clinics will be booked up and to wait a month or sometimes longer is common. Very short notice can often mean the Clinic performs multiple procedures daily. Sometimes up to 10 to 15. Resulting in little personal care by the Doctor. The emphasis is more on the numbers as opposed to the individual.
Q. – Do I feel the pain after the operation?
A. – The effect of local anaesthesia lasts for a number of hours. During the procedure, there should be no pain. After that, reduce any discomfort with a mild painkiller.
Q. – Is there any scarring left by the operation?
A. – Any surgical procedure will leave scarring. Some scarring minimal and on occasions not obvious to the eye. FUT will leave a linear scar. Situated around the back and sides of the head. This will vary in length depending on the size of the procedure. FUE will leave small white dot scarring. Situated in a random manner around the sides and back. Some areas may appear as hairless areas or gaps. If a clinic infers a hair transplant does not scar. Or uses terms such as “scarless” or “seamless” they should not be believed.
Q. – Does the hair in the donor area change?
A. – The extraction method is different with FUT and FUE. FUT relies more on skin laxity to remove the strip. Over multiple procedures, the skin will become slightly tighter. FUE reduces the hair numbers around the donor. This hair does not regrow. Too much removed will result is visibly patchy hair growth. Varying hair density and often obvious visible scarring.
Q. – How much hair can be taken from the donor hair?
A. – This will vary from individual to individual dependent on the hair characteristics and the technique/s used. FUT on the right candidate and if required can move over 3000 grafts in a one-day procedure. FUE, most Clinics feel it is safe to remove between 1500-2000 grafts on the right candidate in a one-day procedure and 2500-3000 over two consecutive days.
Q. – What are follicular units, hairs, and grafts?
A. – Hairs are individual strands, they grow in natural groups from one to four hair groups called follicular units. On average more one and two hair follicular units are found around the sides of the head and more three and four hair follicular units are found around the back of the head. The term graft only relates to a piece of skin tissue and not the number of hairs per “graft”. Always ensure natural follicular units are used if they refer to grafts as there is a large difference in the result. 2000 grafts can equal only 2000 hairs but over 4400 hairs when follicular units are used.
Q. – When can I travel back home if my Clinic is abroad?
A. – Under normal circumstances and conditions, there is no problem medically to fly home the following day. There is often mild swelling around the forehead area after the procedure and if not traveling the day after it may be best to wait 4-5 days until the swelling has subdued, but this is simply a cosmetic issue, not medical.
Q. – When can I start to see the result?
A. – The transplanted hair falls out normally around thirty days after and then the follicles sleep. Two months later minor growth starts and then month on month more hair grows and matures. Normally by twelve months, the transplanted hair has fully grown but it may take a few more months for the hair to fully mature.
Q. – How many operations do I need to have?
A. – It depends on your age, the type of the hair loss, the size of the head, hair thickness, hair type, the density of the donor area and your expectations and wishes. With planning, this should be discussed at the first procedure.