How Does the Hair Transplant Process Work?
Hair transplant is a procedure that both men and women often prefer today. The problem can be overcome by operating hair loss, which we can refer to as a permanent solution for the hair loss problem.
This procedure that is a hair transplant operation, can be defined as a microsurgical operation performed in a hospital setting. The reason for being called microsurgical operation is that a hair transplant is not performed like a normal operation, and a hair transplant is done with much less intervention.
Hair transplant operation is an effective and permanent solution for people who experience androgenetic alopecia, which is known as male pattern hair loss.
Moreover, those who suffer from various hair diseases, those with scars, and those who suffer from other types of hair loss can also benefit from a hair transplant.
Hair transplant operations, which have been applied all over the world since the 1950s, have been applied in our country at world standards, and in this field, we have clinics that serve worldwide, such as our hospital and doctors. Today, hair transplant is done with different methods.
FUE Hair Transplant Technique
In hair transplant processes dating back to the past, the closest one to its form today was started in the 1990s. Hair transplant operations, which were first made with the FUT technique, were replaced by the FUE technique after 2005.
Since then, the basic principles of the FUE hair transplant technique, which has developed within itself, continue to be maintained exactly and applied. Today, it continues to be applied as the most advanced hair transplant technique.
With the FUE technique or method, people who experience hair loss can easily achieve their most natural appearance with quite natural methods.
The difference of the FUE method, which is the most commonly used technique in hair transplant operations, is that it leaves fewer scars and heals fast. The materials used also have a big share in increasing the success percentage of the FUE method. There are some variants of this FUE method. It can be listed as follows:
- Micromotor FUE,
- Robotic FUE,
- Sapphire FUE,
- DHI hair transplant
Although the purpose and result are the same in all the methods, the differences between the FUE methods arise from the application and the materials used.
For example, sapphire tips have been developed in recent years, and it has begun to obtain more successful results.
The reason for this is that the sapphire tips are a much smoother material. Opened channels heal much faster and fewer scars remain.
Painless Hair Transplant With FUE
Local anesthesia is applied under the supervision of our anesthesiologists during FUE hair transplants. In this way, you will not feel any pain or ache. It offers you the opportunity to have a much more comfortable hair transplant experience.
While hair transplant procedures are already extremely painless and acheless, the FUE method performed with local anesthesia has reduced the pain felt to zero for our patients who have fear of needles.
Therefore, you will have the privilege to have your hair transplant done as if you are having hair care in a hairdresser or barber.
What Does Sedation Mean?
Sedation is a type of asleep state. With sedative drugs that can be adjusted especially for each person and scaled accordingly, the depth is adjusted in a controlled manner while all reflexes of the person are preserved.
Is Sedation Compulsory?
There is no hesitation about whether sedation is safe or not. It is safe enough to be used even in young children. It brings the level of pain to almost zero in hair transplants. But it is not compulsory.
We can perform our hair transplant procedures without sedation for our patients who want. We leave the preference completely to our patients.
What are The Main Steps in Hair Transplant?
Regardless of the method of hair transplant operations, there are basic principles. We can list them as follows:
- Collection of hair follicles,
- Opening the channels,
- Transplanting hair follicles.
Collection of Hair Roots
Hair follicles are the first phase of a hair transplant operation. At this point, the FUE method yields an aesthetic success considerably. This is the characteristic feature of the method.
This is the reason why the FUT method is already outdated. In the FUT method, a piece of skin was taken from the back of the head, and hair follicles were collected from this piece by being sliced.
However, in the FUE method, the hair is collected one by one using cylindrical needles. In this way, much less damage occurs in the area where the hair follicle is harvested.
In the FUE method, 0.7 mm to 0.8 mm sized needles are used to collect the hair follicles according to the size of the roots. The sharpness of the needles and being single use for each patient increase the success of the operation in terms of materials. In this way, hair follicles can be removed according to their angles. The roots are not damaged in any way.
For example, when trying to remove the hair follicle of a person with curly hair, the appropriate needle is used. Hair follicles can be collected without damaging their curly shape. All these details are planned by the doctor before the operation according to the condition of the patient.
Opening Channels
While opening the channels, steel slits are used in the classical FUE method. With these slits, an incision is made according to the natural direction of the hair. In this way, it is ensured that the transplanted hair grows naturally. The direction of the hair is adjusted when opening the channel.
However, the angle of the hair relative to the skin is a factor to be taken into consideration during the implanting phase. In the FUE method, the steel slides used to open the channels are replaced after several hundred channels are opened. In this way, the sharpness of the metal slits is maintained.
Our hospital uses sapphire tips with the advantage of having the most modern equipment. Sapphire tips are much smoother and much sharper. There is no obligation to be changed. Because the ends are not worn. A few different sapphire tips are sufficient for each patient depending on the thickness of the hair follicles. There is no problem if one tip is used for each patient.
Transplanting Hair Roots
The final stage of hair transplant is the transplant of the hair follicles. In this process, the hair follicles are placed one by one at an angle of 40-45 degrees into the channels opened in the right direction.
All three stages have their craftsmanship. Of course, the most important craftsmanship is experience. In our hospital, the FUE technique has been performed for a long time without leaving any scars or stitches. It is aimed to achieve a definitive result by developing personalized equipment and solutions.
Things to Know About Hair Transplant Operations
It is useful to state some basic information about hair transplant operation or hair transplant. All individuals with sufficient hair follicles in the donor area and who do not have health problems can have hair transplant operations and have the opportunity to have new bushy hair.
The person who will receive the operation must spare three days before the operation and three days after the operation. If they work, it is advantageous to ask for permission. Although the duration of the operation varies according to the amount of hair root, an average session of hair transplant operation takes about 6-8 hours.
It will be advantageous to undergo an operation in a fully equipped hospital so that it can be intervened in case of possible complications.
A team of four people including at least one doctor and three medical personnel are required to take part in the operation. It may take 6-18 months for the full results to show themselves after the operation. Therefore, the transplanted hair can continue to grow to the 18th month.
Hair Transplant Operation Process
We can specify the process of hair transplant operation in 7 titles:
- Consultation period: The operation plan and hairline are determined by your doctor.
- Preparation: It includes sterilization of the operation site and local anesthesia on the patient’s operation day.
- Hair root collection: It is the process of collecting from the person’s donor area.
- Channel opening: Channels are opened by the natural hair appearance in the area where the hair will be planted.
- Implanting: It is the implanting of the hair follicles at appropriate angles into the area to be transplanted.
- After the hair transplant operation: The day of the operation is the removal of the dressing in the recipient area, dressing, and applying PRP treatment to speed up the healing of the hair.
- Hair washing detail: It is the washing process that will be applied for 15 days after the 3rd day, considering the sensitivity of the recipient area. In this process, it provides that scabs shed and healing phase accelerates.
Laser-Assisted Hair Transplant
The application called low-level laser or cold laser is combined with the operation in laser-assisted hair transplant application. The purpose of using the laser after the operation is to accelerate the healing of the scars in the post-operative area and to quickly remove the side effects such as redness, bloating, and pain.
The aim is to try to achieve the aimed result much faster. Since heat is not generated in the laser-assisted system, there are no side effects in the treatment area.
We do our treatments with a low-density laser device in hair loss treatments in our hospital. If our devices are applied on the scalp twice a week with twenty minutes of sessions, it helps that the hair fall is stopped first. When it is used in the long term, it has a role in increasing hair thickness.
When a certain improvement is reached, it is aimed to continue the improvement by reducing it to a session once a week. The low-level lasers we use in our hospital have the most advanced technology. In previous scientific studies, it has been proved that it has a therapeutic effect on both male and female genetic hair loss.
It is a medical application and its mechanism of action increases metabolic activities in the cell and increases ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and nitric oxide levels. This strengthens the hair. It has also been proven that it reduces DHT (dihydrotestosterone) accumulation and reduces the factors effective in hair loss and hair thinning.
In laser-assisted treatments, the laser beam is sent to the scalp with therapeutic low energies. The nourishing laser lights stimulate the hair follicles, which are the root structure of the hair. The thinning effect of the hair decreases and the natural growth cycle is regained. A fuller and more intense hair growth is supported by the treatment we provide.
The laser hair treatment application performed is FDA approved. There are many scientific types of research and data about their effectiveness. Each of the laser treatment devices that we use in our hospital consists of many modules that energize 364 sources. Since it has many therapeutic frequencies, it can be regulated according to the patient’s specific situation.
Advantages of the FUE Method
FUE method, which is the most modern hair transplant method and the most used method all over the world, has many advantages. It can be listed as follows:
- FUE method can be used for the treatment of all hair loss types. Those with mild hair loss or those with advanced hair loss can also receive treatment with the FUE method.
- More natural-looking and more dense-looking hair can be transplanted easily.
- The patient’s comfort is also considered in this method. Procedures have been applied in such a way that patients will feel pain the least. They have been developed so as not to leave scars and marks after surgery. All this makes it a comfortable method.
- Patients can recover quickly after having a hair transplant with the FUE method. They can easily return to their everyday lives. They can travel on the next day of the operation.
- Almost 98% of the transplanted hair grows on the surface where it is implanted.
- If the operation is planned correctly, the hair follicles harvested from the donor area will not be damaged. Even if it has had several operations, no negative changes are observed in the person’s appearance.
Our hospital has been a world brand in hair transplant with the FUE method, and until today, there have been people who had operations in our arrival clinic from various countries from all around the world.
We have achieved success in all our operations and introduced our patients to their dream hair transplant and hair treatments.
With our experience and dynamic structure, we are progressing towards reaching better and better quality every day, and we continue to include larger masses in our privileged patient profile.
Factors Affecting Success in FUE Method
FUE method can be applied to almost everyone. However, some factors affect the success of the operation. We can list them with our experience and knowledge as follows:
Experience: The experience of both doctors and hospitals in the FUE method and other hair transplant methods have a great role in their success rates. As we mentioned at the beginning, managing the pre-operation, operative, and post-operative process requires experience. Since we have been able to do this for years, we draw attention and run from success to success. We serve our patients from all over the world and from all provinces of our country.
Expertise: Although hair transplant is a microsurgical procedure, expertise is also required in this area. The operations should be carried out by a physician who specialized in this field and has improved themselves. Moreover, just the expertise of the doctor is not sufficient.
Each operation requires at least three assistants. They should work in a team spirit, be able to perform the necessary examinations, and apply the treatments by making the most accurate diagnoses. Doctors are responsible not only for the results of hair transplants but also for the health of the person. This requires knowledge and dedication in all aspects.
Hairline: Hair transplant serves directly the purpose of aesthetics, unlike many other areas of medicine. Aesthetic concerns are more prominent in the application and operation. Therefore, the front hairline should be adjusted according to the face shape of the person and designed by the head structure. Being able to do these requires an artistic and aesthetic perspective.
Empathy: The starting point in hair transplant operations is examinations. Therefore, the needs of the patient should be analyzed correctly first. It is important to understand the patient to make the right planning. In our hospital, these principles are always taken into consideration, and planning is carried out accordingly.
Factors Increasing Success in a Hair Transplant Operation
For those who need hair transplants, the current conditions may not always meet the need. For example, the person may not have enough hair follicles in the nape area, which is accepted as the main donor area.
This will naturally decrease the chances of success of the hair transplant operation. At this point, hair roots that can be obtained from other parts of the body can be used for a more successful hair transplant operation.
Hair Transplant by Harvesting Grafts from Beard
Harvesting hair follicles from the beard is an alternative to a hair transplant. If the person’s nape area is insufficient as a donor site and the area to be transplanted is too large, the beard area can be preferred as a donor area. Beard roots, which can be in the growth phase for a long time, can be suitable as donors.
However, the beard hair becomes thicker than the hair. For this reason, the hairs taken from the beard area are used in the middle regions to increase the frequency, not in the front line during implanting.
Hair Transplant by Harvesting Grafts from Body Hair
In hair transplant operations, body hair in men is considered the third option. In case the hair follicles taken from the nape and beard are insufficient, chest hair alternatively is preferred. However, chest hair is not as durable as hair follicles from beard and nape and its elongation feature is low. For this reason, we do not prefer chest hair to achieve an effective result.