A Quick Look Into How Effective Are The Different Hair Transplant Methods. 

Why Go For Hair Transplants? 

To areas of the scalp with limited or absent growth, hair transplants aim to restore hair growth. They cannot stop future hair loss as they are effective treatments for many types of hair loss. People may need follow-up transplants for lasting results. 

They can also occur due to a medical condition or trauma to the scalp as hair loss and thinning hair is a normal part of aging. For cosmetic or reconstructive reasons, some people who experience hair loss may choose to have a hair transplant.

Types Of Hair Transplant

Choosing to have a hair transplant are some people who experience hair loss. 

Which they refer to as the donor area, during the hair transplant a surgeon removes follicles from a dense area of hair such as the back of the head. On the affected area of the scalp, they then implant the follicles into tiny slits. 

Two main types of hair transplants are observed: 

Follicular unit strip surgery (FUSS). 

Closing the incision with stitches, the surgeon will remove a strip of skin from the donor area. To separate the donor skin into tiny follicular units containing one or several hair follicles and inserting these units into the desired area, they will then use a microscope. 

Follicular unit extraction (FUE). 

Here it is found that removing the follicles from the donor area, the surgeon will then use a tiny punch tool. It may be less noticeable and the person will not usually require stitches although this procedure will still lead to some scarring. 

They can achieve different results in some cases as both techniques are effective. Stating that FUE now requires more skill taking longer than FUSS, whereas they also note that FUE produces great results in case the surgeon has plenty of experience in the technique according to the authors of the study

Surgeons thereby use the side or back of the head as the donor area in most of the cases. Proving effective is taking skin from the chin, back, or chest, however. For people who do not have thick hair on the back or sides of their head, using body hair may be helpful. 

Taking body or beard hair is more time-consuming and requires more skill than using scalp hair as some research suggests. The body and beard can be an excellent source of donor's hair for hair transplants is however another study reporting. 

Depending on how many follicles the surgeon implants and both involve a local anaesthetic, each procedure takes several hours. On the day of the treatment, usually, the person will be able to go home. 

Success Rates

For restoring hair growth following many causes of hair loss are hair transplants as effective procedures. On many factors including the skill and experience of the surgeon and the thickness of the person’s donor hair, the success rate of hair transplant depends. 

Hair transplantation can provide a modest change in hair fullness according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), people may wish to opt for skin flap surgery, tissue expansion, or scalp reduction techniques for dramatic changes. 

Listing specific hair transplant success rates, there are no large studies.

Providing some information about the effectiveness of these procedures are, however, several similar studies and articles. 

At an average follow-up of 2.9 years, one study found that the majority of the people who underwent FUE using body or beard hair combined with scalp hair were satisfied with the results. The mean overall score of satisfaction was 8.3 out of 10 among 79 participants. 

Increasing the success of FUE hair transplants is the findings of another study suggesting that using platelet-rich plasma therapy with FUE.

Having more than 75% of hair regrowth after 6 months is all of the participants in the PRP group. More than those in the non-PRP group, they had more rapid improvements in hair density and skin recovery. 

Do Hair Transplants Last?

A person will have thicker-looking hair after a successful hair transplant in most cases. Giving the hair an unnatural or patchy appearance, however, they may continue to experience hair thinning and loss after the procedure. People may require follow-up transplants for longer-lasting results. 

There is a chance that some of the transplanted hair follicles will not take according to the ASPS. No new hair grows in its place as these follicles die. 

They may need a touch-up procedure as the ASPS also warns people to expect it. Blending the follicles for the most natural look, this procedure can help by filling in any areas that are not thick enough. 

A person should follow their surgeon’s post-procedure instructions for the best results. Increasing their chances of a successful hair transplant is doing this. For several weeks, a person may need to avoid strenuous activity and exercise. Before washing their hair, they may also need to wait a few days. 

Side Effects

When a qualified experienced surgeon performs them, the ASPS say that hair transplants are generally safe. Some side effects can happen as however even with successful hair transplants. 

Infection or bleeding

Involving making cuts or incisions in the skin are hair transplants. They make tiny incisions on the scalp in which to place the follicles as a surgeon makes an incision to remove the donor follicles. There is a risk of infection or excessive bleeding with any incision. 

Scars

On both the donor area and the area of the transplant, there is also a risk of scarring. Before they decide to have the procedure, a person should speak with their surgeon about these risks. 

Where the surgeon removed a strip of the scalp, the FUSS method usually leaves a long, linear scar. As new hair grows around it, this scar may become camouflaged. However, it is observed to be visible when it becomes widened during healing with surrounding hair going thin, or in case the person wears it short in style. 

Where the surgeon removed the follicles with the punch tool, the FUE method may also leave some scars in the area. However, when compared to the scar for the FUSS, these scars may not be as large. 

A person may have raised bumps around the transplanted hair in some cases. It may hide these bumps as the hair grows back. 

Pain And Swelling

After the procedure, some people may experience pain as their skin heals. To help with this, their surgeon may provide them with pain relievers. As the skin heals, they may also have some swelling in the head and face. 

Summary

For people who have hair thinning and hair loss, hair transplant surgery may be a good option. For many people, it can help restore hair fullness and self-confidence even though it may not be a permanent solution to thinning hair.