Orange County, California
Hair Transplantation
Patients with loss of hair may experience a variety of psychological problems caused by alopecia (loss of hair) due to scaring or previous surgery. Hair transplantation usually performed for cosmetic improvement to areas.
Who’s a Candidate?
The best candidates for hair transplantation are patients that are troubled by areas of hair loss. Particial loss is easy to fix as some hair growth is already present.
What are the Risks of Hair Transplantation?
As with any surgery, there is always a possibility of complications, including bleeding, infection or reaction to anesthesia. Some patients develop small sores around the site of hair transplantation. Because the most coming procedure for hair restoration is micrografts from other locations, loss of some of these grafts can occur. In addition, hair growth may be delayed for an additional 3-4 months following transplantation.
Because grafts must be harvested from another location (usually the posterior scalp), scarring at these donor sites can occur. Multiple graft sittings may be required and a patchy appearance may occur – this is known as cobblestoning.
Preparing for Surgery
The surgeon will do a full history and physical examination. He or she will discuss the variables that may affect the procedure such as your age, other medical conditions, medications, etc.
Hair transplantation doesn’t usually require a blood transfusion.
A Typical Hair Transplantation Procedure
Hair transplantation is usually an outpatient procedure. The surgery usually takes two to four hours depending on the number of grafts utilized.
The surgery is usually performed under local anesthetic with some IV sedation. The hair grafts are obtained from the posterior scalp (usually) and the cut into fine 2-4 hair follicle grafts to be placed into the area to graft. A small scalpel is used to make a small incision where the hair follicles are then placed.
Postoperatively, avoiding washing the hair for 1-2 days allows the graft to stick. Again because the grafting procedure makes the follicle dormant, hair growth maynot be seen for 3-4 months.
After the Surgery
Following surgery, a lose dressing maybe applied or alternatively left open. You may feel some pain for first few days. Your physician may prescribe pain medication. The bandages will be removed a day or two after surgery. Usually the grafts are not held in place with any stitches.
©2009