Hair Transplantation
Hair transplantation redistributes the patient's «live» hair bulbs to cover existing bald areas. Follicles, located in the cervical part of the head not effected by male hormones - androgens, are placed in the parietal part. For transplantation to be successful, the patient should have a good donor site (in the cervical part of the head).
Hair transplantation photos
 Hair Transplantation |
 Hair Transplantation |
The method of hair transplantation is based on three biological factors:
- The so-called «domineering donor effect», according to which each hair follicle, or bulb, preserves its genetic information after the transplantation;
- Complete preservation of hair bulb vitality despite brief anoxia, the result of temporary local blood supply loss in the course of the operation;
- Lack of reaction of cervical hair bulbs to androgens, unlike parietal hair.
Due to these biological differences, follicles, taken from a donor site and transferred to other parts of the head, preserve the ability to grow during the rest of the patient's life.
Many years of studies in this field have shown that, to achieve maximal aesthetic effect, major transplants must be divided into minor ones. Modern division techniques enable the transplantion of tissue of up to 0.8 mm in diameter. Such transplants contain from 1 to 5 hair bulbs and are called grafts (sometimes a transplant containing 1 or 2 bulbs is called a micrograft, a minigraft 3-5 bulbs).
Hair transplantation photos
 Hair Transplantation |
 Hair Transplantation |
Contra-indications are diabetes, blood coagulation difficulties, and active stages of skin disease. In some cases, it is possible to perform the combined procedure, which includes both implantation and transplantation of patient's hair.
Transplantation is performed as an outpatient treatment under local anesthesia, in comfortable surroundings.
In the course of the operation, a band 10-12mm wide of skin containing hair follicles, is removed from the cervical part of the head with the help of a special scalpel. The incision is then carefully stitched up to promote quick healing of the donor site. A thin scar (which will be completely covered by the hair growing directly underneath) will be all that remains.
Next, sections containing 4-5, sometimes 2-3 follicles are singled out. This stage of the operation requires laborious and exacting work and lasts several hours. The transplantation starts from the front line of hair growth. Grafts containing 1 or 2 follicles are usually used here. Grafts with a larger number of follicles are used as «fillers» in the zones situated above the hair front line. The operation usually lasts from 5-8 hours depending on the amount of transplants required.
Grafts assume the natural shape of the site in 4-6 hours, and the patient can wash his hair the next day. In 7-8 days the patient is examined in the clinic and the stitches in the donor site are removed. The general number of stages depends on the size of the bald area and can vary from 1 to 4.
The recovery time usually lasts 7 days. On the 1st day there may be some discomfort but this can be relieved with analgesics. 6 weeks after the operation, the transplanted hair falls out and in 3-4 months new permanent hair of donor quality begins to grow in this place. After 1.5-2 months adjacent zones can be operated on. One final operation on this zone is made 6-8 months later.
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