HAIR RESTORATION TREATMENT

Hair restoration treatment is the redistribution/rearrangement of the existing hair follicles in a particular techniques so as to cover the bald areas of alopecia and give a goo cosmetic camouflage.

The concept of Donor Dominance heralded the modern era of hair transplantation.

INDICATIONS:

1)    Male Pattern Alopecia(Androgenetic Alopecia)

2)    Female Androgenetic Alopecia

3)    Cicatricial Alopecia

4)    Reconstruction of Eyebrows & Eyelashes

 

TECHNIQUES OF HAIR RESTORATION SURGERY:

1)    Punch Grafting

2)    Single Hair grafting

3)    Follicular Unit Grafting

4)    Strip Grafting

5)    Alopecia Reduction

6)    Alopecia Reduction with Tissue Expansion

7)    Transposition of Scalp flaps

8)    Combination of the above techniques

9)    Synthetic Hair Grafting

 

Depending on classification of Androgenetic Alopecia & patient selection criteria, an appropriate treatment modality is chosen which gives best possible result to the patient.

 

At  C POINT,  Hair restoration surgery is done electively by team of doctors specialized in treatment after thorough assessment of patient.

FAQ’s ABOUT HAIR RESTORATION SURGERY:

 

Why I need hair transplant i.e. surgery, when medication and other non-surgical means are available?

 

Medications:

 

Medication can thicken and lengthen (regrowth) hair in some and not in all who take them.

Medication is effective at the back (Vertex) and middle (Mid scalp) but almost ineffective in the front (esp. Hair line) where one needs the hair most.

Medication can work only until you keep taking if you stop taking medication the benefits achieved by medication soon start disappearing (because the hormones once again start working their ill effects). Medication although reasonably safe should be taken for lifetime –the idea normally puts off many.

Medications although fairly safe are not without any side effects.

 

Other Non- Surgical Means:

 

Wigs and Concealers are other possible solutions to baldness. Concealers are temporary hair cosmetics, good for thinning hair and as temporary solution such as before going to party. They require regular care and expense. They are not cheap either.

 

As for the wigs: 10 reasons why people don't choose wig!

 

·    It gives constant feeling of weight and discomfort in hot days.

Sweat cannot be cleaned properly and bad hygiene can lead to skin problems.

·    It’s fixing methods like weaving, bonding, pinning etc. can pull on the natural remaining hair and add to your hair loss and can even lead to scarring.

·    It gives same look all the time that looks and feels artificial and unnatural. You have fixed style all hours of use.

·    Its high level of detectability becomes a butt of jokes and teasing by the friends, colleagues and media.

·    It’s cost run from few hundred dollars to many thousand dollars depending upon quality.

·    You need regular maintenance every few weeks for the rest of your life.

·      Attachment may become loose- constant state of low-level paranoia and anxiety about his public discovery.

·    Long-term financial investment because of regular maintenance may be more than that of hair transplant. With life time maintenance & few monthly replacement & frequent visits to wig maker- it becomes very expensive

·    You need to change it every few months.

·    Not done by doctors.

 

Surgery by Follicular hair Transplant is better in many respects:

 

·    Transplanted Hair Looks and feels natural unlike wig and concealer.

·    Transplanted hair remain undetectable among the other hair.

·    Transplanted hair grows and keeps growing permanently unlike the hair of wig and the regrown hair by medication.

·    Do not require extra maintenance or care unlike wig, which require lifetime care.

·    The Transplanted hair can be cut, colored and styled as well.

·    Transplantation normally has one time expense unlike medication or wig which require lifetime expense.

·    It is a One day Procedure performed by numbing your skin so you can talk with doctor, watch TV, listen to music, read, take a nap, have lunch and juice and even go to toilet.

·    No bandages at the end.

·    You can take shoulder bath from same day and can shampoo your hair from 3rd day.

·    You can even do light office work from second day. 

 

What is the guarantee that the implanted hair will grow? Why don't they too fall under the effect of hormones like other hair?

 

The Common Baldness or Pattern baldness in males and females is programmed by heredity or genes i.e. the hair in the top middle part of scalp become susceptible to the effect of the hormones and the fringe of hair at the side and back remain genetically immune to the effect of hormones. These hairs grow permanently or at least till late age and they also maintain their quality unlike the susceptible hair of middle, which shorten and thin out in caliber as well. These hairs are called permanent hair. If we remove the roots from permanent area and graft them in front or any other part of scalp or body they keep growing like they used to do in their native area. The hormones even in new area don't affect them. Over 90% of the implanted are destined to survive with modern techniques of transplanting.

 

Do I have to wait till all my hair fall out or can I under go the procedure to increase my density?

 

Like any medical problem, one should not wait till the last stage of manifestation of deformity of baldness. As the density of hairs gets down, one can safely plant the follicles in-between existing hairs, to compensate for the loss, without looking bald.

 

Can girls and women have this procedure?

 

Yes, girls and women can take benefit of this procedure for the correct indications.

 

Can it be done if there is no hair on head?

 

Usually the procedure is refused if there is no hair on the scalp. Body hair transplant can be an inferior possibility.

 

Can it be done for eyebrow, moustache, eyelashes or other body areas?

 

Thinning, total or partial loss of eyebrow, eyelashes, moustache or beard or sideburns since birth or due to other causes like injury or burns can be corrected cosmetically by Hair Transplant .

 

At what age one can have Hair Transplantation? Can a child undergo Hair Transplantation? Can a 70 years old person undergo Hair Transplantation?

 

Age is no bar for Scarring baldness. For pattern baldness unusually surgery is refused before 20 years and if the quality of donor hair is good even at late age transplant can be done .

 

Do I have to undergo tests before the procedure?

 

Yes usually they are 1. Complete blood count 2. HbSAg (Australian Antigen) 3. P.T & APTT 4. Blood Sugar (Fasting and Post prandial) 5. H.I.V.

 

What care do I take before Hair Transplantation?

 

 Pre operative Care Before Procedure:

 

In order for us to provide you with the highest quality medical care; the following instructions are important for you to follow:

Medications: Do not take aspirin & other blood thinning agents, Betablockers (for Blood Pressure), anti-inflammatory (like Ibuprofen, etc), Tricyclic Anti depressants & MAO inhibitors, multivitamins including vitamin B, a week prior to your procedure.

Avoid Alcohol for a days prior, & tea or coffee on the day of operation- that may increase bleeding

Don't smoke at least 24 hours prior to operation –that will reduce healing

The morning of your procedure take a bath or shower and wash your hair thoroughly using regular shampoo. After shampooing, please rinse thoroughly and use a fresh clean towel to dry your hair. Do not apply sprays or gels to your hair. If you wear a wig, please make sure it is removed prior to your morning shower and not replaced before your procedure. Wear cap after shampoo to keep the hair free of dust.

Eat light breakfast the morning of your procedure

Wear comfortable clothing the day of your procedure avoid T shirt or thermal. Wear simple shirt.

You may be receiving medications during the procedure that can make you drowsy. Because of this we strongly recommend not to drive home the day of your procedure.

 

 

Can HT be done if I am Diabetic or if I have Blood Pressure or other medical problems?

 

Medical problems under good control by medication do not stop you from undergoing the procedure.

 

What are the side effects and complications?

 

It is one of the safest procedures devised by medical science and leaves you with hardly any long-term problems. Discomfort, swelling of forehead, numbness at the back trouble you only for a while. Serious complication in competent hand is unheard of.

 

Can hair from other parts of my body be transplanted?

 

Technically that is possible but hair follicle from the other parts of the body when planted on the head, does maintain its genetic characteristics, and hence it does not look, feel and grow as good as scalp hair.

 

How many follicles will I require?

 

Number of follicles required is based on factors that vary among individuals.

 

Degree & Progress of hair loss

Hair characteristics

Area where coverage is desired

Expectation by patient

The total number of hair on the head remains the same as before or after Hair Transplantation. The hair root from ‘permanent hair growing area” from the back and side of the head (medically known as Hair Bank or Donor Area) is transferred to the front and /or top of the head. In Hair Transplantation no new hair is grown. Only the transplanted hair roots are arranged in such a way that head looks fuller with hair.

We have approximately 1,00,000 hair on head. In the last stage of baldness i.e. Stage 7 baldness; he is left with almost 25,000 hair on the back and side of his head (medically known as Hair Bank or Donor Area). From this area, we can harvest up to 60 % or 15000 hairs, without looking obvious. One sq. cm of Donor Area contains 100 follicles, but each follicle (Root) may have either 1.2.3 or 4 number of hair. If you have more follicles containing 3 or 4 hair, you will have more density than one having 1 or 2 hair in each follicles. On an average each hair follicle contains 1.5-to2 hairs. So, on an average 100 follicles will contain up to 200 hairs. 15,000 hair means up to about 7 500 follicles are available for transplant from your donor site. These follicles are planted in such an artistic and Staggered pattern to create what is called an Organized Disorder Pattern over the bald area that head looks full of hair. It is the combination of Art and Science both, which gives most natural result.

Normally, you have density of 100 -follicles/sq cm on the head. We do not see the bald skin until we lose up to 60% of hair in the area. So in view of the limited availability of longer lasting follicles in the bank, we should aim for the maximum density of up to 40% plus /Sq.cm esp. in vital areas like frontal forelock. You do not get the same density all over, as before but you can make it look like near normal density.

 

What density will I get?

 

Hair Density (mass or fullness) is more with

Length of each hair

Thickness of hair

Number of hairs per sq.cm. (Density)

Acuteness of angle of exit of hair from the skin. This factor depend on the artistic ability of surgeon

More perpendicular (coronal) direction of hair to the hole while inserting hair follicle. This factor depend on the artistic ability of surgeon

Number of Hair per follicle like, 3-4 hair per follicle give more density

Curliness of hair

Low Contrast between color of hair and color of scalp

Time: Hair starts growing after about 8 to 12 weeks from plantation and continues to grow at the rate of 1 cm per month. So, only with the passage of time, the hair mass will increase.

Normally, you have density of 100 -follicles/sq cm on the head. We do not see the bald skin until we lose up to 60% of hair in the area. So in view of the limited availability of longer lasting follicles in the bank, we should aim for the maximum density of up to 40% plus /Sq.cm esp. in vital areas like frontal forelock. You do not get the same density all over, as before but you can make it look like near normal density.

 

What time it takes?

 

Only a day that you have to spare. It takes 2-8 hours usually depending upon the number of the follicles to be implanted

 

Will there be any effect on my mind?

 

This is one of the safest surgeries devised and it limits itself to the skin your brain remains much deep beneath and safely protected in the natural helmet of your skull.

 

How do you implant the hair? Do I have cuts and stitches?

 

There are micro punctures done but there are no big cuts or stitches taken at the site of grafting.

 

What is the after care of Hair Transplantation?

Post-operative instructions

 

You will leave the clinic on the same day with no bandages on - but you should wear a cap for a week to protect grafted from dust, sun & heat

Take medications as directed. (Avoid Aspirin for 2 weeks)

Sleep in the position in which you’re most comfortable but sleep with the head on 2-3 pillows for a few nights.

Place wrapped ice pack on your forehead & eyes but not on the graft sites for 48 hours to avoid swelling. Swelling will go away in few days. These days swelling is uncommon due to medications taken post operatively.

 After 6 hours of the procedure shampoo the graft site & donor site gently without rubbing and wash the head with shower. Blow dry or dry without rubbing the graft site until all scabs fall out.

If bleeding occurs apply a light & steady pressure for 20-30 minutes with a clean cloth at the site of bleeding

Sutures in the donor area gets dissolved & need not be removed

Avoid Alcohol for 48 hours

Avoid smoking for as long as you can

No swimming in chlorinated water for 2 weeks

Rest for 1 day

Light work for a week

Heavy work, exercise or sex after 2 weeks

Visit your hair dresser for hair cut after 3 weeks & for hair styling after 6 weeks

Diet: Healthy nutritious diet with more proteins is beneficial. A diet that contains high quantities of animal fat can lead to an increase concentration of testosterone in the blood stream, increasing your risk of hair loss. High protein diet in pulses, milk, and white of egg, red meet and fish are good. Green vegetables and fruits are good source of minerals and antioxidants. A lot of water keeps your hair texture good.

 

How will it look?

 

Advantage of Follicular Hair Transplant is that the result is not only natural looking and natural feeling but it remains undetectable.

 

What time it takes to grow hair after Hair Transplantation?

 

The hair start sprouting by average 3-4 months and it takes 8-18 months for the hairs to grow in length and thickness.

 

What care will I have to take for the newly grown hair?

 

You don't need any special care for the newly grown hair after transplant, at least not more than your other hair.

 

What if the implanted hair falls?

 

Implanted hair fall within first month of transplant. The transplanted root form new hair in 3-4 months time. They become of combable length by 6-9 months and grow like any normal hair i.e. in cycle. So they may cyclically fall and in few weeks also start re-growth. The final result is achieved by 1 to 1 and a half year when the texture and thickness of transplanted hair becomes fully mature.

 

When can have my haircut? When can I shampoo, style, and colour my hair?

 

Haircut is possible after 3 weeks and colour and styling after 6 weeks of transplant.

 

Will I have bandages or dressing?

 

You leave the clinic with no bandage. But it would be wise to use baseball cape when outdoors, to protect from sun, dust and pollution for 2weeks

When can I work?

 

Usually from next day for the light work but heavy work is avoided for 7-10 days.

 

BY:

  DR CHETAN LALSETA

                                   M.D.(Skin & V .D)

    DERMATOLOGIST & COSMETOLOGIST

    “C POINT”—A UNIT OF MCSPL

     SHRADDHA HOSPITAL,INDIRA CIRCLE CHOWK,

     RAJKOT-360005

 

     www.cpoint.in

     www.mcspl.in

     www.drlalseta.blogspot.com

       09825199585