If you’ve been struggling with thinning hair for a while, the idea of getting a transplant may have always seemed a bit daunting. You may be wondering what it implies, how painful, time consuming or expensive it might be. In fact, you might be questioning whether it works at all. But as more and more people are taking this step all over the world, hopeful curiosity may have you searching for answers. And you’ve come to the perfect place to find out everything you ever wanted to know but were too afraid to ask about hair transplantation.

1. What is a hair transplant?

A hair transplant is a cosmetic surgical procedure which involves collecting some hair from an area on your head where it grows plentiful and implanting it in the thinning or balding spots on your scalp. It is a simple, minimally invasive operation which is normally done in a matter of hours.

2. Who is a hair transplant recommended for?

If you are struggling with hair loss or thinning hair, you may be able to benefit from a hair transplant. The best candidates are those who suffer from androgenetic alopecia (male/female pattern baldness), but also people who have lost their hair to aging, excessive styling, accidents etc.

However, this procedure is usually not suitable for alopecia areata (autoimmune, patchy hair loss) for areas with excessive scarring, or for baldness caused by medication such as chemotherapy.

FUE Hair Transplant [Image courtesy of Wimpole Clinic]

3. How are hair transplants performed?

The fastest, easiest and least expensive method to perform a hair transplant is called Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT). It involves cutting out a thin strip of scalp from your donor area (usually the back of your head), processing it to separate the hair follicles and then re-implanting each of them into very tiny holes made in your balding areas.

This is usually performed rather quickly, even as fast as 2 hours for a smaller number of grafts. However, you will have a bit of a scar left in the area from where the hair was harvested, so you might want to go with a different option if you plan to wear your hair short.

The second method takes longer and is more painstaking, but it is also favored by most patients because it offers exceptional accuracy and a youthful, natural look. It is called Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), and it is similar to FUT, but instead of collecting an entire strip of hair, the surgeon collects each follicle individually before re-implanting them.

And no need to worry, hair transplants don’t hurt at all, as you will be receiving local anesthesia and a mild sedative, for your added comfort.

4. What can I expect after the procedure?

After the surgery, you can go home immediately, with a simple after-care plan. You can expect to be back to work in a few days and should be completely healed in 1-2 weeks, depending on the type of the procedure you choose.

While you’re sure to be excited to admire your new mane, you will need to exercise patience, as it can take between 6-9 months and 1 year to see the full results.

5. Do hair transplants really work?

The numbers don’t lie. Studies show that 80% of patients remain satisfied with the outcome of their surgery even 3 years after the procedure. Moreover, it only takes most people a single transplant to achieve the desired result. These procedures do work and don’t only restore your hair, but also your youthfulness and confidence

6. How much do hair transplants cost?

This largely depends on the clinic, surgeon and type of procedure you opt for, as well as on the size of the transplant. However, to get an idea, you can expect to pay between £3000 to £9000 for a medium sized transplant (500-3000 hairs) at a good price-quality ratio clinic.

Source: https://wimpoleclinic.com/fue-hair-transplant/

Everything You Need to Know about Hair Transplants