Hair Transplantation (Dermatology)

Hair transplantation transfers hair follicles from areas of thick growth (“donor” sites) to balding areas (“recipient” sites).

Hair transplantation is commonly used for the treatment of male pattern baldness and female pattern hair loss (androgenic alopecia). It may also be used to treat other forms of hair loss.

The hair that grows from transplanted follicles will have the same color and texture it had before it was moved.

How is it performed?

Donor Site

Before the procedure, healthy hair follicles are identified with the help of a magnifiying scope. Donor areas are selected based on the density of hair follicles and how well the hairs match the hairs of the recipient sites. The donor area is then sterilized.

The hair follicles are then removed in one of two ways. A strip of skin (about a quarter inch wide) with the hair follicles is removed. Alternatively, a small round punch may be used to remove individual groups of hair follicles. This is known as follicular unit extraction (FUE)

Your doctor will recommend a procedure based on several factors, including your tendency to scar, the quality of skin at the donor site, and his or her clinical experience.

If a strip of skin is removed, sutures are used to close the wound. The wound takes about 7-10 days to heal and a small scar remains. This scar is usually covered well by the surrounding hair.

Recipient Area

The recipient area is sterilized. Then multiple small incisions are made in the recipient area to receive the hair follicles.

The incisions made at a precise depth and angle to make sure that there is an adequate blood supply for hair follicle and lead to a proper cosmetic result.

Then a small piece of skin with a cluster of hair follicles is carefully inserted into the incision. Each inserted section contains as many hair follicles as possible.

Hundreds or thousands of follicles may be inserted in a single session.

Pain relief may be offered for the first 2 to 3 days following the procedure.

What to Expect

Small crusts form on the skin at the recipient site as the wounds heal. These fall after after 3 to 10 days.

The transplanted hairs will fall out in the first few weeks, but the hair follicles remain healthy and ready to grow new hair in another 2 to 3 months.

In most cases, over 90% of transplanted hair follicles will go on to grow hair for as long as they were naturally destined.

Complications

There may be mild-to-moderate swelling of the forehead that arises 2 to 3 days after the procedure and lasts for 3 to 7 days. In some cases, the swelling may be accompanied by bruising around the eyes that lasts for about a week.

Although uncommon, there can be post-operative bleeding or infection. If too many follicles are transferred at one time, or the follicles are placed too densely together, a greater percentage of transplanted hair follicles may not grow.

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© 2008 -2010 Vivacare.
Last updated December 9, 2009.

This information is for general educational uses only. It may not apply to you and your specific medical needs. This information should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation with or the advice of your physician or health care professional. Communicate promptly with your physician or other health care professional with any health-related questions or concerns.

Be sure to follow specific instructions given to you by your physician or health care professional.

Additional Resources

Overview
Surgical Hair Restoration for Hair Loss
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