The hair transplant or micrograft is a hair transplantation technique that involves adding hair to areas affected by baldness and alopecia through a surgical procedure. This technique has multiple benefits and properties for the physical and mental health of both men and women. Increasing hair density improves the patient’s quality of life.
Opinions on the results of the hair implant are very positive. Increasing the amount of hair brings well-being and satisfaction to the person undergoing this intervention. Both the surgeon and the patients themselves have similar opinions regarding the final result. It is worth having hair again. Moreover, this hair has a natural growth for life.
How hair transplant is performed
When you go to the hair clinic, you have a first consultation where the surgeon evaluates you. In this session, you discuss the reasons why you want to undergo a hair transplant and what results you expect. You also receive a clear and simple explanation of the entire procedure to repopulate the areas affected by baldness. Depending on the area or areas where you have experienced hair loss, the procedure may vary. After evaluating your case, a date for the intervention is proposed, as well as a type of hair transplant technique suitable for your case.
The hair transplant is a surgical procedure that offers a permanent solution to hair loss in the front hairline and crown. It is a hair transplantation technique to disguise alopecia. It has very good results. It increases hair density, gives a youthful appearance, and eliminates the bald part of the head. By extracting healthy hair follicles, it is possible to offer a solution for both men and women.
The hair transplant takes into account the size of the alopecic patches, the location of the bald or thinning areas (hairline, crown, scars, etc.), as well as the diagnosis of the causes of hair loss. It should be considered that in some cases it is not possible to perform the intervention. Therefore, an accurate diagnosis is essential.
Once the inherent circumstances of each patient are identified, the doctor recommends a type of surgery. He also informs about what can be expected from a hair transplant and what results are obtained. It is very important to define your expectations from the beginning and which of them will be achieved with the micrograft. Based on the real information you receive from the clinic team, the final satisfaction may vary.
In addition to what has been stated, it should be mentioned that the procedure is outpatient, that is, it does not require hospitalization, and you do not need to stay overnight at the clinic. The entire process is done in a few hours, and when it is finished, after resting for a while and regaining strength, you can go home and practically continue with your normal life. The advantage of current micrograft methods is that they are very minimally invasive to the scalp and practically no postoperative period is necessary. The recovery is very simple, and you only need to follow certain guidelines provided during the consultation.
Duration of the Surgery
Current techniques can perform a hair transplant of many follicular units in one session. However, the hair transplant can be performed in 1 or 2 sessions. The most common is to achieve the desired results in a single day, but some people need two or even more. This is not a problem, and spreading the duration of the intervention over several stages allows you to rest and the surgeon to stay fresh after a few hours. In any case, when studying your baldness situation, the number of sessions needed to achieve a successful hair transplant can be concluded.
The recommendation is from 250 micrografts up to 2500 per session and day. Keep in mind that from 1000 follicular units extracted and grafted, it is most advisable for two surgeons to work.
The steps to perform the hair transplant are:
- Extraction of hair follicles from the donor area.
- Procedure to graft the follicular units.
- Care and follow-up from home.
Postoperative Care for Hair Transplant
It is a relatively simple microsurgery technique with little risk to the patient’s health. Despite being a surgical intervention, the invasion of the scalp is very mild, so there are usually no complications or health risks. The postoperative period for the hair transplant is very simple.
- Do not wash your head during the first few days.
- After the initial period, wash your head with water and soap.
- Generally, it is not necessary to perform dressings, but if so, you will be explained how to do them at home.
After the intervention, your scalp will be inflamed and sore from the microinjections that implant each hair follicle. It is normal to need to take some type of analgesic that will be previously prescribed. There is usually no intense painful process, although it largely depends on your sensitivity to pain as well as the extent treated.
After two days, you will start to notice small scabs appearing on your head. This is the healing process and indicates that everything is going well. All the micrografts that have been performed are now healing properly. There may be some itching, but you should avoid scratching or touching the area to prevent infections.
After the first week, you can wash your head normally, although it is advisable to do so gently and without pressing on the scalp. It is best to use a mild and neutral shampoo.
In general, these are the necessary indications to cover the postoperative period of the hair transplant. If you notice any anomalies such as pain, bleeding, or pus, you should quickly go to the clinic so that the doctor can provide the appropriate treatment.
In some cases, it may be necessary to perform dressings. These are very simple and should not worry you. They will be explained, and you can do them comfortably at home.
Postoperative recommendations are:
- You should not wash your head during the first few days.
- You need to rest for the first week.
- Avoid physical exertion or intense sports activities.
- Do not scratch, touch, or manipulate your hair.
By following these recommendations, the success rate is very high.
Results
The hair transplant has very satisfactory results as it is a highly effective surgical procedure. It provides long-term benefits as the hair transplant makes the hair grow for a lifetime. It has a natural appearance, quality, and aesthetics. It is exactly the same as the rest of the hair on the head, and it is impossible to distinguish between them.
You will start to notice the final results after approximately 5 months. After the intervention, there is a healing period for the hair follicles that have been transplanted in the hair graft. Once they heal completely, the hair grows normally at a rate of 1 cm per month. So after several months, you will have a lush and spectacular head of hair again.
Is it Safe?
Thanks to tumescent local anesthesia, it is possible to avoid most of the bleeding during surgery. This helps the patient not to weaken and allows the entire process to proceed normally. The absence of bleeding during an intervention means that the risks decrease significantly. In general, this hair surgery procedure is considered very safe.
Risks
Although it is a procedure that does not pose significant health risks, there are some possible complications and risks associated with hair transplantation.
- Infection.
- Scalp pain.
- Allergy to anesthesia.
You should always consider the risks of any type of surgery, even minor ones. Reflecting on and being aware of them is the best way to respond promptly to potential infections or abnormal symptoms.
That being said, it is normal to feel slight swelling of the scalp and mild pain after the intervention, which can be treated with analgesics and local anti-inflammatories. It does not require special treatment, convalescence, or recovery beyond some discomfort that lasts two or three days. After this period, you will notice how these symptoms progressively diminish.
Who is it for?
For people with permanent hair loss and alopecia to varying degrees. The hair transplant for women and men can be combined with anti-hair loss therapies and treatments. Diffuse and temporary types of alopecia are generally not recommended, but a diagnosis is necessary to see your specific case. For this, you need to have an initial consultation.
Ideal patients are those with localized hair loss, meaning it affects a well-defined portion of the scalp.
What are the costs of a hair transplant?
The price ranges from €3,000 to €8,000, depending on the size of the bald patches, the area to be grafted, and the difficulty in achieving a natural result. The prices of hair transplants in Spain are generally in a medium range at any hair clinic.