Hair Transplant Surgery

A technique developed for dealing with hair loss, especially in men, is hair transplant surgery using mini and micro grafts. This procedure thickens the existing hair in several stages, thus restoring hair growth. The surgeon uses hair grafts from the scruff of the neck. Mini grafts consist of 3 to 8 hair follicles and micro grafts consist of 1 to 2 hair follicles. These grafts are put into prepared sites. They have to be placed at a certain distance; therefore a second session is recommended. Only some of these planted hairs will continue to grow. Most of them will fall out, but new hairs will grow from the follicle. This process lasts several months.

The operation is performed under local anesthetic or general anesthetic if the patient wishes. It is a long procedure lasting up to several hours. Approximately 80% of the implanted grafts will grow successfully. The head is bandaged for 2 to 5 days. The treated area will most likely swell, but this resides in a few days. A short hospital stay is required and the convalescence period is short. The hair can be washed with shampoo after 7 days and cut 14 days after the procedure.