Transplant Surgery for Hair Restoration

Definition. Hair transplant surgery is based on the principle of donor dominance, which means that hair from healthy donor sites will take root and grow normally when transplanted into balding, recipient sites. Hair transplantation involves:

• removing small strips of hair-bearing scalp from the back and sides of the head, known as the "donor region," which contains hair that will grow throughout a lifetime
• repairing the donor region, usually resulting in a very narrow scar which is hidden by overlying hair
• harvesting strips of hair-bearing scalp and dividing into grafts for placement in the balding areas

Hair transplantation is an operation that takes hair from the back of the head and moves it to the area of hair loss. The fringe (back and sides) of hair on a balding scalp is known as donor dominant hair which is the hair that will continue to grow throughout the life of most men. The transplantation of this hair to a bald area does not change its ability to grow. Donor dominance is the scientific basis for the success of hair transplantation.
The amount of coverage varies depending on the extent of baldness and the specific procedure performed. Within one month, much of the transplanted hair is shed. About two months later, hair starts to grow and continues to grow at a normal rate. After six months, the transplanted hairs begin to take on a natural appearance.

Is it right for me?
According to experts a very small percentage of women are candidates for hair transplant surgery.

They are:

Women who have suffered hair loss due to mechanical or traction alopecia (nonhormonal).

Women who have had previous cosmetic or plastic surgery and are concerned about hair loss around the incision sites.

Women who have a distinct pattern of baldness, similar to that of male pattern baldness. This includes hairline recession, vertex thinning (on the crown or top of the scalp), and a donor area that is not affected by androgenetic alopecia.

Women who suffer hair loss due to trauma, including burn victims, scarring from accidents, and chemical burns.

Women with alopecia marginalis, a condition that looks very similar to traction alopecia.

Candidates for hair transplant surgery are those individuals with hair loss that have sufficient donor hair from the fringe of the scalp to transplant to the balding area.

Advantages. Hair transplantation is also a procedure with a very high rate of success in meeting the expectations of patients.

Disadvantages. The side-effects of hair transplantation surgery are relatively minor consisting of mild pain and discomfort after the operation, swelling which may move down to the eyes, and the formation of scabs over the grafts which take approximately one week to resolve. Serious problems of bleeding, scarring, and infection are rare.

Results. Amazing results are consistently achieved by our hair transplant surgeons, who have raised the bar for standard-of-care expected by hair loss sufferers.