What is Hair Transplant?
It is a method of transplanting hair to the areas of hair loss in people who have lost their hair, by using their own healthy hairs. The hair follicles to be transplanted are selected from the ones that are genetically resistant to hair loss, particularly from those in the nape, and these follicles are relocated in the channels opened in bald or thinning areas of the scalp.
What causes hair loss?
Baldness is as old as mankind and is one of the aesthetic problems that make men unhappy.
Hair loss occurs due to different reasons for men and women. Androgenetic Alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss in men. Androgenetic alopecia occurs in people who are genetically susceptible to androgens, the male hormone. It usually starts in the 20s and 30s after the puberty, with the hairline in the forehead being drawn back. Then it continues with the thinning and opening of the crown area. Approximately half of men after puberty may experience androgenetic alopecia. Hair loss in women can be due to many reasons. Androgenetic Alopecia can occur in women at a rate of 20-30%, but the way it occurs is different. More frequently thyroid hormone problems, anemia due to iron deficiency, or stress may play a role.
Is baldness genetic?
Baldness in men is genetic. It has been reported that after puberty, 94% of white men have regressed hairline in forehead region, and about 50% of them have hair loss in the forehead and crown area. 30% of 25-year-old men, 40% of 40-year-olds and 50% of 50-year-olds experience Androgenetic Alopecia symptoms.
Can baldness be treated?
Early diagnosis and treatment slows down hair loss and even stops it in the long term. During the course of hair loss, a physician, who is experienced in this field should be consulted and a treatment should be received with actual medications that have been proven and licensed by the Ministry of Health. However, in our country; this critical period for treatment is unfortunately lost by encouraging the people with hair loss to use either non-therapeutic or natural hair loss shampoos under the name of natural methods, or herbal treatments that have not been scientifically proven but presented as miracles, or cosmetics and shampoos sold for purely commercial purposes at hairdressers. However, if this period can be spent under a physician’s treatment, most of the hair can be preserved.
Baldness is a difficult situation to be reversed. If the hair is completely lost, hair transplantation can be applied. However, if the hair loss continues or if drug treatment is started at an early age, hair loss can be stopped and partially new hair growth can be achieved.
What can be done to prevent or slow down hair loss?
Early diagnosis and treatment slows down and even stops hair loss in the long term. Hair can be supplemented with some medical treatments or vitamins depending on the reason for the loss. For example, in thyroid hormone deficiency, when the missing hormone is replaced, hair loss may be stopped. However, if the cause is genetic, mesotherapy and hair transplantation can be applied.
Is there a relation between nutrition and baldness?
There is no relation between male pattern baldness and nutrition. However, vitamin deficiencies or iron deficiencies may play a role in some of the hair losses in women.
When do women lose their hair the most?
Hair loss in women is most common after childbirth, and due to some hormonal problems (in cases of thyroid hormone deficiency and increased male hormone), stressful situations and after menopause.
Do baldness drugs cause impotence?
Sprays used locally or drugs used in mesotherapy do not cause impotence. However, the drugs used for hair loss in the market as tablets have a temporary “impotence” side effect of 2-4%, as stated in scientific studies.
How soon will the person become bald after the hair loss begins?
It depends. 30% of 25-year-old men, 40% of 40-year-olds and 50% of 50-year-olds experience Androgenetic Alopecia symptoms. However, usually at the age of 40, baldness takes its final form.
At which age does balding first start?
It often starts at an early age. Hair loss accelerates again in the early twenties or in the first half of the thirties.
What are the psychological effects of baldness?
Especially men can obsess about baldness. It causes self-dislike and self-confidence problems, and the state of being uncomfortable and timid in relationships.
What are the hair transplant methods?
Hair transplantation can now be performed using advanced techniques without surgery and without scars, and without any incisions. If the person does not have any hair to be transplanted, it is possible to take advantage of the hair follicles collected from other parts of the body, such as the chest and back.
Today, three methods are used in hair transplantation. Live hair follicles are used in all three methods and general anesthesia is not required. Among these three methods, there are differences concerning the way hair is collected and the techniques of transplantation. In the classical method (FUT), a horizontal scar across the back of the head remains between the two ears. In the FUE (follicular unit extraction) method, there is no scar left on the area where the hair is collected. In the direct planting method, the hair is collected as in the FUE technique, but the hair follicles are transplanted immediately.
Classical Strip Method (FUT)
In the conventional method, a strip of skin with hair follicles is taken from just above the neck between the two ears. The area where the strip is removed is sutured. The hair follicles on the removed skin are turned into micrografts under a microscope and micrografts are transplanted one by one in the bald areas in strips. It is more economical than other methods but leaves a scar that can be seen under the hair. In this method, a maximum of 3 sessions of hair transplantation can be done with an interval of 6 months. The process takes approximately 3-4 hours. FUT method is not used very often nowadays.
Non-surgical Hair Transplant (FUE)
In the FUE method, the hair is taken from the same area. However, in this method, no incision is made on the skin. The hair follicles are collected one by one with a 1mm tool called punch and transplanted to the bald area one by one. The transplantation process can extend up to 3-4 sessions depending on the size of the area of the person without hair or with hair loss and each session lasts about 8 hours. The transplanting process can be repeated in consecutive days. It is possible to plant 1000-1500 hair follicles on average in one day. In the FUT method, 5000-6000 hair follicles can be transplanted at a time, while in the FUE method, only 4000-5000 hair follicles can be transplanted in 4 sessions. Therefore, the FUE method is a time consuming and expensive technique. However, the most obvious advantage is that there is no incision at the hair area and no scar is left.
Direct Hair Transplant (DHI)
In this method, the first step is carry out a hair analysis of the patient with the help of a computer and calculate the number of grafts that can be transplanted. Then the front hairline is drawn and the nape area is numbed with local anesthesia. With the help of a micromotor, the hair follicles are taken one by one as it is done in the FUE method. However, the hair follicles taken this time are immediately transplanted in the prepared area without waiting. Healing is faster than FUT and FUE techniques and there is no scar left. In all three methods, the hair transplanted first sheds at the end of a month, new hair starts to grow 2-3 months after the transplantation. Since permanent hair on the neck is used, the resulting hair does not shed again. Hair transplantation should be done by experienced experts who know the scalp anatomy well.
Can hair hollicles on the hhest and back be used for hair transplantation?
The FUE method has also enabled the usage of the hair follicles in other parts of the body for transplantation. The hair follicles taken from the chest or back have the same properties as the hair when planted in the scalp, where they grow as regular hair.