George K.
The loss of hair in anyone, man or woman, can be a very demoralizing realization that the body is fragile and so too is our self-esteem. There is no shame in understanding that a lot of our self-consciousness stems from our looks, and having a full head of hair has always been seen as a bodily status symbol for many.
Even though hair loss is very common in men, with male pattern baldness, and can occur in women, that doesn’t mean that there are no more options left once the hairs start to thin or the hairline starts to recede. Medical cosmetic technology has made great strides in alleviating this common concern, and one such effort to combat it is through hair transplants. So how do hair transplants work? Read on to find out more.
Figuring Out if You Qualify
Qualify might sound like an odd term because this isn’t a sweepstake, but a hair transplant isn’t for everyone. Sometimes you may not have enough follicles to transplant or your scalp condition may be too damaged or sensitive to go through with the procedure. The professionals from Gro Clinics say that the best option is to go in and receive a consultation so they can examine your scalp and follicles to figure out your donation sites and the ability to perform the procedure. This is a common step and can help you from heartbreak if you don’t qualify for this particular hair restoration effort.
What a Donation Site Is
The term donation site is something you will hear quite often throughout the process of getting a hair transplant, and to put it simply, it is where your “new” hair will come from. You aren’t receiving new hair in the sense that your head is going to be receiving a donation from someone with identical hair, like an organ donor, but it is a spot on the head with healthy follicles that will serve as the donation template. Oftentimes, it may be taken from the back of the head as this is where rich, strong hairs are found and one of the last areas of the head to go bald, compared to the crown or hairline.
Transplant Procedure
The actual procedure is quite simple and it is not as complex as many people imagine it. It is semi-non-invasive, but there will be some removal of a small strip or section of the follicles and the upper layer of the scalp. The doctor(s) will then remove the follicles carefully from this donation site that will be used to help repopulate the zones with hair loss or thinning hair. As mentioned, nothing is truly being cut out or off, and the strip that was removed will be regrown with hair and covered so you aren’t walking around with a bald spot on your head.
Recovery Phase
After the procedure is complete, it will take some time for the hair to fully grow in. In fact, the follicles will fall out, but they will be planted like seeds and the hair can begin growing back in naturally again. There may be some irritation of the scalp, soreness, and in some cases, minor bleeding around the donation site, but this takes about 2-3 weeks and your scalp will be okay, and many avoid these issues altogether. The total regrowth and recovery can take up to 6 months, which is normal, but your head will be fine in no time.
How to Prep for a Transplant
Those patients that go through the transplant process easily prep by massaging, moisturizing, and properly caring for their hair and scalp before the procedure. This helps make the scalp healthy for the removal of the follicles and helps prevent irritation, soreness, or other minor complications. It’s a good idea to hydrate and eat foods that help maintain the health of the scalp so that the doctor(s) can perform their duties easily.
Long-Term Outlook of a Hair Transplant
Hair transplants are a permanent procedure, but they don’t last forever, as confusing as it sounds. You will need to go back after a handful or so years to get your scalp evaluated and check the follicles to see how well they stay, and unfortunately, some people’s scalps don’t hold the follicles as well as others. All in all, the procedure is not one where you will be going back on a weekly basis, which makes it more attractive than some topical alternatives.
Reclaiming your self-esteem may be all about your hair, so naturally, you want to find ways to recover from thinning or hair loss. Hair transplants are a popular and growing procedure and this information may serve you well in feeling like yourself again.
