A hair transplant is a surgical procedure that involves removing healthy hair follicles from one area of the scalp and transplanting them to areas where the hair is thinning or balding. The transplanted hairs are resistant to the effects of the hormone DHT, so they will stay in place. The amount and type of grafts you receive depends on the hair type, quality, colour and size of the area where you will have your transplant.
The healing process can take 6 to 12 months, but once it's complete, the transplanted follicles begin to grow hair that will fill the bald areas of the scalp. This is hair that will continue to grow naturally as you age. In most cases, a hair transplant will last a lifetime because healthy hair follicles are transplanted to thin or bald areas.
However, the lifespan of a hair transplant can be affected by factors such as the patient's hair type, lifestyle, age, and degree of hair loss. In these cases, the patient may need several procedures to obtain the desired results. Within 2 to 3 weeks after surgery, the transplanted hair will fall out, but you will start to notice new growth within a few months. Most people will see 60% of their new hair grow after 6 to 9 months.
Some surgeons prescribe the hair growth drug minoxidil (Rogaine) to improve hair growth after transplantation, but it's unclear how well it works. Before undergoing any hair transplant procedure, you should understand that there will be permanent scarring.
A hair transplant offers permanent results that will last a lifetime. If you're looking for long-lasting results, a hair transplant may be right for you. The team of surgeons will divide the removed scalp strip into 500 to 2000 tiny grafts, each with an individual or just a few hairs. After the hair follicles are grafted to areas where the hair is thinning, it takes time for the skin to heal.
If hair thinning continues, the hairline will not regress according to its previous "natural hair loss pattern". The hairs transplanted during surgery work like any other on the scalp and will fall out after two to four weeks. Many patients will get the results they're looking for after a hair transplant, and the implanted hair will continue to grow throughout their lives.
