During the hair implants procedure, follicles are taken from an area that has a dense amount of hair. This area, which is serving as a source of hair, is called the ‘donor site’. Then, these follicles are implanted into the area that is desired by the patient. The area in which the follicles are transplanted is called the ‘recipient site’. During the hair implant process, synthetic hair can also be used. In most cases, especially in male balding problems, hair from the back of the head is used. The follicles are transplanted into areas such as the scalp, which is very prone to balding. The whole procedure is done under local anesthesia, so only the area that the surgeon is working on is numbed. There are methods of hair implantation, designed for different cases and wants. The doctor will choose one of these methods according to the patient’s circumstances and desires.

Harvesting Methods 

The procedure of taking follicles from the donor site is called ‘harvesting’. There are two different methods that can be used during this procedure.

• Follicular Unit Strip Surgery (FUSS)

During this procedure, a unit of skin of the back of your head is removed. The size of the unit may vary, but usually, it is around 15-25 centimeters. The area is immediately sewed back together and is hidden by the hair around it. After this procedure, the part of skin is divided into many small units, which will be then implanted into the area the patient wants to. The amount of unit that is removed from the donor site depends on the amount of balding the patient has. Hair type and hair quality also affect the size of the unit. This procedure requires a great amount of attention and care from the medical staff since follicles are very fragile. The whole process must be carried out without any damage. This hair implanting method is mostly used in larger, linear balding areas or frontal hairline reconstruction.

• Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

During the Follicular Unit Extraction procedure, the back of the patient’s head will be shaved by the medical staff. Then, the surgeon will extract the follicles off this part and implant them into the bald area. The red dots caused during this process will be covered by the hair surrounding the area. This method of hair implantation either takes a very long time, a few days even, or the process can be carried out in smaller sessions spread out through a few weeks. FUE can lead to a very natural appearance since there will not be a linear scar. Every follicle is carefully placed, thus blends into the already existing hair surrounding.

Preparing for Hair Implantation Surgery

There are few things patients must do before undergoing the harvesting process. Blood thinning medications should be cut of one week before the procedure in order to prevent any bleeding. Alcohol and cigarettes should also be avoided. After the procedure, medication will be prescribed by the doctor in order to prevent infections, pain, itching, and sensitivity in the area. During the procedure, local anesthesia will be used on the patient to prevent any kind of discomfort. Hair implantation surgeries are out-patient surgeries, which means that the patient does not have to stay at the hospital. Patients will not be allowed to do certain things after the surgery, so it is best for them to prepare their circumstances. Showers, going out in sunlight, etc. are activities that patients have to avoid for a while. 

Aftercare

After the procedure, patients are advised to avoid standing under direct sunshine. The doctor will inform the patient on when to use shampoo again. Whereas some patients are recommended to use shampoo the day of the hair implantation procedure, others are recommended to wait a few days. Some of the hair follicles may fall out the week after the procedure which is referred to as ‘shock loss’. The patient can use medication to prevent this type of hair loss, or patients can continue with more hair implantation sessions. This way they can ensure that there will not be any more hair loss. However, patients should keep in mind that it is also very important to take great care. If any damage is done to the newly implanted follicles, the whole process may be lost. Thus, patients should allow every introduction that is recommended by their doctor. 

Patients should be able to return back to work after around 3-4 days after the procedure. It is strongly recommended to not use any kind of combs or brushes at all for about 3 weeks to one month after the surgery. Since the hair coming out of the follicles will still be weak in contrast to the other hair, it is very likely they will come out. Similarly, patients should as their doctors when it is safe for them to wear hats or any other gear that touches their hair. If there are any questions patients may have after the procedure, they should always consult their doctor. Taking wrong care after a hair implantation can lead to hair loss all over again and the whole process would be wasted. All the introductions should be followed. For more detailed information a professional should be consulted. 

Side effects

Shock loss is one of the negative effects of hair implantation that the patient can experience. It is also possible that some of the follicles cannot hold onto the skin and fall out. Bald places can appear caused by this side effect. Other side effects that can occur during any procedure can also be the case. These include infections, allergies caused by the anesthesia, blood cloths, etc. A hair transplant is considered a safe procedure when performed by a professional and experienced medical staff. However, complications can always occur during surgical processes since every patient is different. Reactions to the surgical process may vary from person to person. The medical staff should be consulted about existing health conditions. Precautions can be taken or the surgery can be canceled completely according to the health condition. For more information, the doctor can be contacted.