Hair Transplant

What is a hair transplantation ?

A hair transplant is a procedure in which a plastic or dermatological surgeon moves hair to a bald area of the head. The surgeon usually moves hair from the back or side of the head to the front or top of the head.

What a hair transplant involves ?

A hair transplant is usually carried out under local anaesthetic and sedation, which means the patient will be awake but will not feel any pain.

What are the different types of hair transplant in Turkey?

Generally, there are three types of hair transplant.

Follicular unit transplantation (FUT, or strip method): this technique is not used any more in Turkey. It is very old technique (leaves a linear scar at the back of the scalp; too much bleeding; stitches…).
Follicular unit extraction FUE: this technique is modern and widely used in Turkey.

How FUE technique works?

– The back of the head is shaved

– Individual hairs ( graft ) are removed 1 by 1

– The grafts are placed into tiny cuts made in the scalp

– The patient will have lots of tiny scars, but fade by two three months and not very noticeable.

– DHI technique: suitable for both men and women, is the most effective way to transplant hair. It is completely safe and painless, avoiding unsightly scars and holes. DHI gives the doctors precise control over implantation and the design of completely natural looking results.

If a large area is being treated, patient may need to have two or more sessions a several months apart.

How to get ready for hair transplant procedure?

It is advised to stop aspirin and anti-inflammatory medication. These kind of medications can cause unnecessary bleeding or make it more difficult the wounds to heal after the surgery.
Patient should let the doctor know if he/she is taking beta-blockers, blood thinning pills or anti-depressants as they can also impact the healing process.
Patient may be asked to start taking Vitamin C tablets to help quicken his/her healing.
Patient should stop drinking alcohol: alcohol widens the blood vessels, therefore increasing swelling at the incision site. Some doctors may tell the patient that he/she can wait up to three days before the procedure to quit drinking, but the sooner patient can ditch the alcohol the better for his/her body.
Quitting smoking one week before the procedure: smoking makes it more difficult for the body to heal after an incision, as anything with nicotine can make it more difficult for oxygen to move through the blood. This can increase the chances of leaving scars on the incision site. Nicotine is also associated with the risk of infection.

What should the patient expect after a hair transplant procedure?

After the surgery, the scalp may be very tender. Surgeon will have patient wear bandages over his scalp for at least a day or two. Surgeon may prescribe pain-killer, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic medications to reduce swelling and prevent infections, for several days. Patient should be given a spray to use to help recovery and hair growth.

Within 2 to 3 weeks after surgery, the transplanted hair will fall out, but the patient should start to notice new growth within a few months. Most patient will see 60% of new hair growth after 6 to 9 months.

What are the risks of hair transplant surgery?