There are numerous ways people choose to combat hair loss. It could be either by increasing the amount of protein they consume, taking vitamins like A, B, C, D, and E, or following a Mediterranean diet by eating lots of fruits and vegetables or even taking over - the counter hair loss medication. While all these options are good for combating hair loss or severe baldness, a hair transplant is the most effective way to restore back your youthful hair. 

Who invented hair transplant? 

Hair transplant dates back to 1822, when surgeon Johann Friedrich Dieffenbach, who is also known as the father of plastic surgery, gave the world the first solution for hair restoration surgery. He tried to poke holes in his arms and saw that hair was growing in the follicles he had transplanted from his scalp.

 

In 1959, dermatologist Dr. Norman Orentreich introduced the concept of donor dominance in androgenic alopecia, a common form of hair loss in both men and women. Today thanks to these two surgeons and advanced technology, we have 2 hair transplant procedures; Follicular Unit transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). 

What are the two hair transplant procedures? 

Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT) is one of the methods of hair transplant that is very common today. It involves removing a thin layer of skin from the back or side of the head that contains enough hair. The surgeon then divides it into sections and implants it into the bald section. Although the procedure might leave thin scars on the back or side of the head, it eventually fades away. During the procedure, most patients stay awake with local anaesthesia.  

 

The second hair transplant procedure is the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). Similar to FUT, under local anaesthesia, this procedure involves using a special instrument called a punch implanter, which takes the grafts from the donor section and transplants them into the bald section. Each hair donor unit contains 1 to 4 hair follicles, and depending on the degree of baldness, the surgeon can take and transplant 500 to 5000 grafts (hair units). 

Are hair transplant procedures effective? 

A hair transplant is the most effective way to restore back hair, especially if one's hair is extremely thin. Getting a successful hair transplant depends on many factors, including the skill and experience of the surgeon and the thickness of your donor's hair in case you opt for (FUE). Although some may continue to experience hair thinning and loss even after both procedures, it is recommended that they get a follow-up transplant. 

How long does a hair transplant last? 

Hair transplant, whether choosing FUT or FUE procedure, should last for your entire lifetime. The whole point of having a hair transplant is to have permanent hair forever. However, there is a small chance that the transplanted hair follicles sometimes die, and no new hair grows back. When this happens, doctors may suggest a touch-up procedure.  Although this is very rare, it's something patients seeking hair transplants should be aware of.

How long does the procedure take? 

The Follicular Unit Transplant procedure is faster than the Follicular Unit Extraction.  Depending on the size of the area and the number of grafts needed to be transplanted, a Follicular Unit Transplant can take anywhere from 4 to 8 hours. As for the Follicular Unit Extraction, it takes 8 to 10 hours because donor harvesting from the back of the scalp and the sides is more labor-intensive and time-consuming than strip harvesting.

Does a Hair transplant leave scars? 

Both hair transplant procedures leave different types of scarring. However, it eventually fades away. Follicular Unit hair Transplant leaves linear scars on your scalp. The length of these scars depends on the size of the hair strip that is extracted. Follicular Unit Extraction can result in small scars around each extracted hair follicle that are 1 millimeter in diameter or less. Depending on how many hair follicles your surgeon removes, the FUE can leave hundreds to thousands of tiny white scars on your scalp. 

Who can have a hair transplant? 

Anyone who is healthy and does not have chronic health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, or kidney failure, can have a hair transplant, whether it's  Follicular Unit Transplant or Follicular Unit Extraction. Moreover, men and women of all skin types and colours can have hair transplants. However, it’s important to mention that the patient should have enough healthy hair on the scalp in order to transplant it to the severe baldness area. As for the age, there is no specific age requirement, however, usually, doctors prefer the patients to be above the age of 21. Generally speaking, the ideal age to undergo a hair transplant among men and women is 30-40 years old.  

Is the hair transplant procedure painful?

Follicular Unit Transplant or Follicular Unit Extraction are both minimally invasive procedures, meaning only local anesthesia is needed. Patients undergoing FUT or FUE will most probably feel some level of discomfort at the beginning of the procedure, but nevertheless, once the scalp is numbed, patients will no longer feel pain. After the procedure, patients may feel discomfort, such as soreness for a couple of days or weeks. It usually depends on the number of grafts they have. Doctors may prescribe some post-operative pain medications to heal the pain. 

Dos and Don'ts after having a hair transplant. 

• Do not exercise for 14 days after having a hair transplant. Keep your physical activity to a minimal amount. 
• Do not wash your hair for the first 48 hours after having the transplant. 
• Do not dye your hair for at least two months after having the transplant. 
• Do not rub too hard when showering for the first time after having a hair transplant. Rub smoothly to remove the blood and scab off your skin. 
• Do not expose your scalp to sunlight for the first two weeks.
• Do elevate your head to around 45 degrees when trying to sleep at night. Keep doing this for a couple of days to reduce the amount of swelling. 
• Do stick to a balanced diet to keep your hair healthy and in good condition. 

To conclude, hair transplants have evolved significantly over the years. Today, the two most common hair transplant procedures are Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). These two procedures are known to be the safest and most effective options for men who have lost their hair due to male pattern baldness and for women who seek to have fuller, thicker, and healthier hair.