Hair Restoration Surgery
Overview
Also known as hair transplant surgery, Hair Restoration surgery is a surgical technique performed to restore hair on the balding part of the patient. During the surgery, the doctors move the hair follicles from the ‘donor site’ and transfer them to the ‘recipient site’ or the bald area. The hair follicles are usually taken from the areas that are generally not vulnerable to balding such as the back of the head.
There are two types of surgery:
- Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT): In FUT, a strip of scalp is removed and then dissected into individual grafts.
- Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE): The other method, FUE involves taking the individual follicles by using specialised tools. However, the surgery procedure remains the same.
Before the hair restoration surgery, the doctors conduct several tests to ensure that the patient is fit for the surgery. Some of the tests conducted will be blood tests, allergy tests and liver function tests. The surgeon will also examine the hair area of the donor. Moreover, he would also advice the patient to follow certain pre-operative instructions to avoid any complication in the surgery.
During the Surgery
Before beginning the surgery, the surgeon cleans the scalp thoroughly. After the cleaning, the surgeon will use a local anaesthesia to numb the scalp. After which, some section of scalp that is covered with hair will be removed using a scalpel. Thereaftter, the area will be stitched properly.
Using a magnifying lens and a sharp surgical knife, the surgeon will separate the removed scalp into tiny sections which will later be placed into the bald area of the scalp. After the transplant, the surgeon will cover the area with bandages for healing. The whole surgery may take up to four or more hours.
Usually, it takes around ten days to remove the stitches. A person may have to go through the hair transplant surgery again depending on their hair fall. The patient will need to take regular medication to alleviate issues like pain, swelling and sore scalp. The medicines also help in reducing the risk of infection after the surgery. Further, medicines are also prescribed to improve the hair growth and stop future hair loss.
Normally, most of the people who go through the surgery return to their work several days after the session. Another thing that may trouble the patient is the fall of the transplanted hair. This is referred to as ‘shock loss’. However, it is a natural phenomenon as it makes way for the new hair growth. A noticeable and satisfactory hair growth is normally achieved after nine months of the surgery.
Here are the benefits that a patient can expect after a hair restoration surgery:
- Improved Appearance
- Improved Self-Esteem
- Reduction in Hair Maintenance Costs
Other Conditions & Treatments
- Baldness (Hair Fall)
- Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Lift Surgery)
- Body Functional Issues
- Breast Enlargement / Breast Implants Surgery
- Breast Lift Surgery
- Breast Reduction Surgery
- Eyebrow Lift / Forehead Lift Surgery
- Face Lift Surgery
- Facial Implants Surgery
- Gynecomastia
- Lip Augmentation
- Lymphedema (Lymphatic Obstruction)
- Mastectomy
- Nose Related Problems
- Obesity and Overweight Surgery
- Thigh Lift Surgery (Thighplasty)
- Tummy Tuck/ Fat Removal Surgery (Abdominoplasty)