Unfortunately, most people take their hair for granted. However, one must understand how important they are, especially when they begin to fall out. A bald head doesn’t only make one appear older but also affects an individual’s self-esteem. For these reasons, most people who have lost their hair are always looking for ways to treat their condition and return to their younger-looking, happy selves.
Fortunately, treatment options, such as hair transplants, help people grow back hair. While such treatment might be expensive for many people, it’s essential to understand it’s possible to get finance for a hair transplant; hence the cost shouldn’t stand in the way of having your hair grow back. If you’re looking forward to having a hair transplant procedure, continue reading to understand what to expect.
What’s A Hair Transplant?
A hair transplant is a surgical process involving removing hair from densely filled areas to those with thin or no hair. This treatment isn’t new since doctors have been practicing it since the 1950s. Nevertheless, with technological advancements, the techniques have also advanced in recent years.
Where’s The Procedure Done?
As already said, a hair transplant is a surgical process that professionals should only do. That said, this procedure is done by a trained doctor in a reputable clinic such as KSL, certified to perform such procedures.
What To Expect During The Procedure
Once you’re in the doctor’s office, the surgeon will clean your scalp and administer medicine to numb your head’s back. Then, after some examinations, the surgeon will choose whether to transplant hair through follicular unit strip surgery (FUSS) or follicular unit extraction (FUE).
During the FUSS treatment, the surgeon removes about a six to ten-inch strip of skin at the back of your head, then sews the scalp close. The area where the strip has been removed doesn’t necessarily show since the hair around hides it.
Once the strip is removed at the back of the head, the surgeon’s team divides it into 500 to 2,000 tiny grafts. Each graft must have an individual or several hairs. It’s important to mention that your hair type, size, color, and area where you need a hair transplant determines the amount and type of graft you get.
As for the FUE procedure, the surgeon team must shave part of your back scalp before the surgeon removes hair follicles individually. Due to the procedure’s nature, the area heals with tiny dots, which aren’t a big issue since the existing hair covers them.
At this point, both procedures are similar in process. After your surgeon has prepared the grafts, they clean and numb the area where they should be placed. After that, they create holes or slits using a needle or scalpel and then place the grafts with the help of the surgeon team.
How Long Does The Procedure Last?
Generally, a hair transplant procedure lasts between four to eight hours, depending on the amount of hair to be transplanted. However, if you’re dealing with a large area, you might need to return to the doctor’s office for a few hours the following day. During the procedure, you’re likely to stay awake.
Is The Procedure Painful?
Before the procedure, your surgeon administers medication to numb the pain and make the process comfortable. Then after the surgery, they provide patients post-operative with medication to reduce the chance of experiencing pain. Nevertheless, as with other operations, hair transplant procedures can be somewhat uncomfortable once the medication wears off. However, it can’t be grouped into painful surgical procedures.
Cost
Hair transplant cost depends on the amount of hair to be transplanted. However, it might range from anywhere between USD$ 4,000 to USD$ 15,000. Unfortunately, most insurance plans don’t cover hair transplant procedures, so one must be prepared to pay for this kind of treatment out of one’s pocket.
Results And Recovery
After the procedure, your scalp is likely to be tender. For this reason, you might need to take pain medication for a few days. Your surgeon will also advise you to use bandages for a day or two and prescribe antibiotics to prevent infections. Many people return to work two to five days following the surgery.
After two to three weeks of surgery, the transplanted hair will begin falling out. Then you begin to notice new hair growth after a few months. Many patients report 60% of new hair growth six to nine months after the operation.
Risks
Like many surgical procedures, hair transplant, too, comes with several risks, including infection, scarring, bleeding, and abnormal hair growth. When the air starts growing, some patients report inflammation and infection around the hair follicles, a condition known as folliculitis. Fortunately, this condition is easily treated with antibiotics and compresses.
It’s vital to mention that a patient can experience a sudden loss of original hair in areas where new strands are ‘planted.’ This condition is referred to as shock loss. While this condition is commonly temporary, sometimes it can be permanent.
Ensure that you are following the medication prescribed after the surgery. If you think something is wrong in the affected area, it’s always best to consult your doctor for proper assessment and treatment.
Conclusion
A hair transplant procedure provides a new opportunity for individuals who have lost hair for one reason or another to experience heads full of hair. This procedure has been around for years, and it’s still gaining popularity. If you’re looking forward to regaining the self-esteem you’ve lost due to baldness, consider this procedure and get your confidence back.
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