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Learn about the latest techniques in Hair Transplant, which is mastered by Dr. Prashant Agrawal (Dermadent Clinic). This will help you decide when and how to go for the Hair Transplant and regain your confidence.
Preface: The field of hair restoration has a chequered history. From days of punch grafting to the present-day technique of follicular unit hair transplantation, the field has seen a new number of advances.
History Speaks:
Milestones in Follicular Unit Transplantation: Hair loss due to disease, scarring, and in particular androgenetic alopecia, seems to have troubled members of the human race since the dawn of the history.
Modern cosmetic hair transplant surgery dates from the work of New York Dermatologist Norman Orentreich in early 1950s. By 1970, the technique known as “punch grafting” was being performed by small number of dedicated practitioners in many countries of the world. Orentreich’s 4.0mm punch graft method remained basic procedure until 1975, although some surgeons used smaller grafts at times.
Hair Restoration Techniques: From the 1960s into the mid-1990s, transplanted hair appeared unnatural because surgeons used unnaturally large appearing hair grafts consisting of 10-25 hairs each. That era is over. Hair naturally grows in 1-4 hair follicular groupings/units.
Follicular Unit Transplantation is the redistribution of naturally occurring follicular groupings from the posterior scalp (donor region) into the region of thinning hair and in the mid-frontal scalp (recipient sites). The groupings are removed from the donor area by an elliptical excision, either or they are harvested by a small circular 0.8mm-0.9mm punch directly from the occipital region without making any minor incision or putting sutures
Follicular unit transplantation is also used to correct unnatural-appearing plug-like transplants, repair eyebrows, and redistribute hair in people with inactive scarring alopecia.
Key factors to consider in candidate selection include
Extent and rate of hair loss: In an era in which male and female pattern hair loss can be halted with minoxidil and/or finasteride (for men), transplantation should be performed in patients who have enough space between thinning existing hair.
The net perceived density of a hair transplant is equal to the number of hair follicles transplanted minus ongoing hair loss. All patients must understand that the hair loss will affect the perceived density of the transplant.
Observation |
FUT |
FUE |
| Pain after the procedure | Present | Minor |
| Percent of time the doctor operates on the patient | 10-30% | 80-90% |
| Stitches required | Yes | No |
| Extensive bleeding during or after the procedure | May Occur | No |
| Wearing hair style short in the donor area | Not Possible | Possible |
| Natural Results | Yes | Yes |
| Nerve damage, numbness | Possibly | Least Possible |
| Healing time: donor area | 2-3 weeks | Approx 4-5 days |
| Healing time: recipient area | Approx 10 days | Approx 10 days |
| Recovery time needed before exercise is possible | 2-3 weeks | 1-2 weeks |
| Amount of time after which patient may return to work | The day after | Usually the day after |
| Visible scarring with short hair at back | Visible | Microscopic (Only visible when the head is shaved) |
| Reaction to suture materials | Seen Rarely | Never a problem |
| Shaving of head | not needed | needed |
| Large areas | Possible | Difficult |
| Cost | Similar | Similar |
| Fatigue | Not tiring | Tiring |
Hair loss is one of the most frustrating experiences for people. The most common type of hair loss is known as Androgenetic Alopecia or a male pattern baldness, despite the fact women suffer from it as well. Despite advancements in medical management for the same, the patients are often helpless and remain bald. Since 2000, the techniques for harvesting donor tissue, preparing grafts, and improving hair survival of follicular units have improved dramatically.
The factors imperative for transplant are the precise calculation of the donor’s hair, accurate separation of follicular units, and prudent design of the transplant area to create an immediate cosmetic effect.
In the past 16 years, Dr. Prashant Agrawal has transformed the lives of more than 2,50,000 patients at The Dermadent Clinic