Hair Restoration

aka Hair Transplantation, Hair Grafting, Follicular Unit Transfer, FUT, FUH

Description
Hair restoration surgery uses your own hair to improve the hairline or restore density to areas of thinning. Hair replacement surgery can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon. It's important to understand that all hair replacement techniques use your existing hair. The goal of surgery is to find the most efficient uses for existing hair.

The Aging Process
Male pattern baldness (also known as 'androgenic alopecia') is by far the most common cause of hair loss in men, affecting 50% of men by age 50. Male pattern baldness typically affects the frontal hairline, temporal recessions and crown. Pattern hair loss affects 1 in 5 women. In women, hair loss is usually related to hormones and typically demonstrates a more diffuse pattern.

Hair loss is primarily caused by a combination of aging, a change in hormones, and a family history of baldness. Baldness is often blamed on poor circulation to the scalp, vitamin deficiencies, dandruff, and even excessive hat-wearing. All of these theories have been disproved.

Candidates for Hair Transplant Surgery
You may be a candidate for hair restoration surgery if you are concerned about the appearance of hairline recession or the development of balding or thinning of the hair.
Hair replacement candidates must have healthy hair growth at the back and sides of the head to serve as donor areas. Donor areas are the places on the head from which grafts and flaps are taken. Other factors, such as hair color, texture and waviness or curliness may also affect the cosmetic result. There are a number of techniques used in hair replacement surgery. Sometimes, two or more techniques are used to achieve the best results.

Hair Transplant Surgery
Hair replacement surgery using microfollicular grafting involves a team approach and is usually undertaken in the office setting. Donor hair is typically taken from the the back of the head. Donor hair is either harvested surgically as a 'strip' or is harvested as individual follicles (follicular unit harvest FUH). If taken surgically, the strip is then divided into several hundred grafts. These grafts are then inserted into tiny incisions in the scalp, and must be placed in such a way that hair all grows in the same, natural direction. Hair follicles are transplanted  to recipient sites in the same manner that hairs grow naturally. In other words, the natural grouping of hairs into follicular units is preserved. Individual follicular units are transplanted separately to restore the hairline or density to areas of concern. This technique produces a high rate of success and natural, undetectable results.

The procedure usually involves local anesthesia with oral sedation. The duration of the procedures ranges from a couple to several hours and depends upon the number of grafts transplanted.

Results
After approximately six weeks, the transplanted hair shafts will fall out, although the transplanted follicle itself survives. Approximately three months later, new hair begins to grows in. Results are entirely apparent by 9-12 months. To achieve sufficient density, several sessions may be required. Transplantation is a progressive process requiring hundreds of micro-grafts, each of which will generally contain from one to three hairs grafted from a donor site located on back of the head.

Benefits of Hair Replacement Surgery

• Transplanted hair is permanent
• Restores a natural, more youthful, and vigorous look, with potentially positive psychological effects, such as a boost in confidence.
• Less expensive than other hair-loss treatments, when factored over time.

Complementary Procedures
Medical treatment options for hair loss are available. Call for a consultation with Dr. Pearson to learn more about which options may be recommend in your case.

Recovery after Hair Transplants
Following hair replacement, you can expect a few days of swelling and soreness which is well controlled with oral pain medications. Swelling generally subsides by 5 days. Any sutures at the donor site are typically removed by day 7. You can resume most normal activities after a few days, except for intense exercise, which may be resumed at about 3 weeks. Most people are able to return to work within days, but may choose to return in a week. The donor site scar is concealed by the hair. Recipient sites are usually not noticeable after about a week.