What is a hair transplant?

Hair transplant is a procedure which transplants grafts of hair follicles from one part of your body to a bald or balding part of your body, primarily used to treat male pattern baldness. The procedure can also be used to increase the amount of hair around your eyebrow, or chest areas. There are two types of hair transplant techniques – the follicular unit extraction (FUE) technique, and the follicular unit transplant (FUT) technique. Many patients prefer the FUE technique as it has a faster recovery period, there is no linear scar in the donor area, and there are no limitations on strenuous exercise post-procedure. Patients who prefer the FUT technique does so as the maximum follicular unit graft yield is higher, the graft is out of the body for a shorter period of time, and due to the cost factor – the FUT technique is generally cheaper.  Real life example of hair transplant transformation.

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) technique

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) is a procedure where hair is transplanted from the area on the back of your head, and sides of your scalp, where hair is more resistant to balding, to the balding areas of the scalp. An FUT procedure involves the surgeon removing a strip of tissue from the back of your head or the sides of your scalp, known as the donor strip. Once extracted, the donor strip is cut into many follicular units using microscopic dissection techniques. As these follicular unit grafts are being prepared, the doctor makes tiny holes in the scalp, where the grafts are placed. The arrangement and positioning of these follicular unit grafts determine the aesthetic qualities of a hair transplant, and so this arrangement must be decided on a case-by-case basis, depending on your history of hair loss and the likelihood of future hair loss.

There may also be some scarring left in the donor area after the procedure which looks like a narrow linear scar on the back of the head. Unless the patient’s hair is really short, the scar is not generally visible.

What happens during the surgery?

You will have an initial consultation with your surgeon to discuss the suitability of the procedure, to establish an appropriate donor site, and discuss the details of the procedure. Once all of the details are agreed upon and confirmed, a date for the procedure is set.

During the procedure, your scalp is first cleaned. The donor site where the hair is being harvested from will be injected with an anesthetic to numb the area before the strip of hair follicles are extracted. The extraction involves the surgeon removing a strip of tissue from the back of your head or the sides of your scalp, known as the donor strip. Once extracted, the donor strip is cut into many follicular units using microscopic dissection techniques. As these follicular unit grafts are being prepared, the doctor makes tiny holes in the scalp, where the grafts are placed. The arrangement and positioning of these follicular unit grafts determine the aesthetic qualities of a hair transplant, and so this arrangement must be decided on a case-by-case basis, depending on your history of hair loss and the likelihood of future hair loss.

The procedure usually takes 4-12 hours depending on the number of grafts of hair follicles transplanted. The higher the number of grafts of hair follicles, the longer the procedure would take. In some rare cases, an extra appointment may be necessary due to a large number of hair follicles needing to be transplanted.

It is common to experience itchiness, swelling, pain or numbness post-procedure. Most patients are able to be discharged post-procedure. Patients are advised to rest with their heads slightly raised. Patients are generally recommended to compliment their hair transplant procedure with some Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) treatments.

How do I find the right surgeon?

The best way is to speak to a few hair transplant surgeons and find out which surgeon you are most comfortable with. At Holiday Health, we can connect you to reputable and reliable hair transplant surgeons. We strongly suggest you take into consideration that the surgeon you choose:

• is reputable and trustworthy;
• has a proven track record;
• is registered with or accredited by their local government or the governing medical body or association – especially important in countries like Turkey and Thailand – View our guide to hair transplant in Turkey;
• has never been disqualified from practicing anywhere in the world;
• has never been found guilty of endangering a patient’s life; and
• has never been found guilty of malpractice.

You should also include any preferences you might have. For example, you might be more comfortable with someone who has more experience or someone who specializes in one technique over the other. You can have a look at our price guide for hair transplants to help you make the right decision.

The history of Follicular Unit Transplantation (strip method)

The fundamental idea behind hair transplant surgery originates from the permanency of some hair. While some hair on your scalp has a temporary life span, other hair tends to endure for a lifetime. It was found that permanent hair could be moved to any part of the body where it can continue to grow and behave as if it was still on its original site.

The principal of moving from the donor area and relocating them into the balding or thinning areas of the scalp (recipient area)  was originally discovered by Japanese dermatologist Dr. Okuda in 1939 and was used to treat severe burned patients. The Technology did have much advancement until 1990 where an innovative technique that provided natural results was firstly applied. This hair transplant procedure was known as the Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) Technique.
In the last 10 years that have been significant improvements using FUT  allowing for faster recovery times and minimal scarring at the donor area. With the naked eyes, it is almost impossible to distinguish the difference between the existing hair and transplanted hair. Due to the improvement of implant angles and density that contribute to your natural pattern of hair.

The main difference between this and follicular unit extraction (FUE) is that FUT involves removing a strip of follicular units via microscopic dissection; whereas FUE involves removing the actual follicular units directly from the donor site.

Important 

Before your procedure, you will have the opportunity to discuss your goals and the results you would like to achieve with your surgeon. Communication is vital in reaching your goals. Ensure you communicate your vision clearly to your surgeon and re-confirm the intended procedure to ensure there is no miscommunication. Your surgeon will work with you to reach an understanding about what you can expect from this procedure, and what long-term benefits and side-effects you may experience. Every patient is different, and your specialist will choose the surgical technique and treatment plan that is right for you.

Your surgeon will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and which vitamins and medications should be taken or avoided.

Please note. The information found on this website is purely for educational purposes only and should not be relied upon for its exactness or for its accuracy for your specific situation and/or for your specific procedure. The information provided is not a substitute for advice from your physician/surgeon as it may not contain all the known facts, risks and side effects of this procedure. Please consult with your physician/surgeon about your personal circumstances and about your personal procedure/treatment plan. We take no responsibility for any misinformation, inaccuracies, or for any loss or damage suffered by you in relation to the services we provide to you, or the information provided on our website.