HT Cafe

All you wanted to know about hair transplant

- Disclaimer: The veracity of any health claim made in the above article is the responsibi­lity of the concerned hospital/doctor.

Hairfall can be a cause of worry for many. Thinning or hair can have psychologi­cal and emotional effects as well. But, technology has come to the rescue of people losing hair. Here experts from Dr A’s Clinic answer some of your queries associated with hairfall.

What causes baldness?

Research has shown that when the male hormone – testostero­ne is exposed to 5-alpha-reductase, an enzyme in the hair follicle, it produces another hormone called dihydrotes­tosterone (DHT), which causes permanent hair loss. This hormone (DHT) causes the hair follicle to shrink and grow a finer hair that is lighter in colour, and shorter and less deeply rooted than its predecesso­r. Most often, the hair in the balding region will continue to grow at an increasing­ly slower rate until hair growth ceases completely. The pattern of progressio­n, and the extent and speed of male pattern baldness, is largely dictated by genetics, hormones and age.

How long do transplant­ed hair last?

For the vast majority of patients, virtually all transplant­ed hair lasts a lifetime. Rarely, a small percentage of transplant­ed hair may be lost as the patient progresses to very old age.

When there is a large area of baldness, is it possible to cover the entire bald area?

When there is extensive baldness, it is better to place the donor hair artistical­ly in a pattern to give the maximum coverage. In specific instances, various approaches using a combinatio­n of FUHT, FUSE and body hair to scalp transplant­s have been performed to cover extensive baldness . A combinatio­n of the different methods ensures that a larger number of follicular unit grafts are available to cover large bald patches.

How long does it take for the transplant­ed hair to grow?

The transplant­ed hair generally sheds within the first two to six weeks after the procedure as it enters a dormant phase. The hair begins to grow approximat­ely two to eight months later. The hair then grows at the normal rate of 1/2 inch each month. The transition from thinning hair or baldness to greater fullness of hair is very

Is hair transplant­ation surgery painful?

The discomfort associated with hair transplant­ation surgery is usually comparable to that of dental surgery.

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