Hair loss in the face of baldness

Hair loss, the kind we see in the morning on the pillow when we wash or move a hand through the hair – is a natural process and does not necessarily indicate a problem. The hair falls out after the growth phase of the hair cycle and new hair will grow from the follicle. All natural. Some will claim that we shed about 100 hairs a day so don’t panic!

Hair loss can be affected by many factors including stress, seasonal changes, hormonal problems, and more.

Baldness – an ongoing process in which the growth phase is shortened and shortened until the hair no longer grows and the follicle dies (also called “miniaturization”). This process is usually influenced by the sensitivity of the follicles to the hormone DHT (which is already a genetic issue) which causes hair loss and follicle death over time. The more sensitive the follicles, the smaller their chances of surviving the years and the process will lead to baldness.

What do you do with a hair transplant?

Hair transplantation is a process in which follicles are “harvested” (a hair follicle is an organ from which the hairs on the scalp grow) from the donor areas and transferred to the transplanted area. Just like planting a seedling in the ground, and as in the soil – from where we remove the follicle, no new one is created in its place. Provided that the process is carried out professionally, that over-harvesting is not performed and the follicles are taken with correct distribution and at equal intervals, the points are less visible. It is recommended not to get a haircut too short in the donor area after the transplant – minimum number 2 in the machine will help blur the missing follicles.

A growth process of a year to a year and a half

Keep in mind that after surgery, the hair growth process begins at the end of the surgery and takes about a year to a year and a half.

With regard to hair transplantation in the front of the head (not the crown area) – in the first weeks of recovery the transplanted hair will fall out and then the resting phase of the follicle will begin. After about three months you can already see increased growth and after about six months you will be able to expect about 50% of the result.

Not everyone is suitable for hair transplantation!

The patient’s starting point will determine whether it is possible to perform a hair transplant and bring the patient satisfaction. The starting point is determined by the area of the area that needs to be filled (the transplanted area) versus the areas of the contributing areas since hair transplantation does not grow new hairs but is a game of location of the follicles and proper dispersion in order to fill the area.

Some doctors will decide not to take a risk in transplants where the transplanted area is very large and the donor areas are sparse.

Also, in certain cases where the patient wishes to fill areas where there are more (high-density) hairs, the doctor will choose to avoid hair transplantation because the process may damage the existing hair and cause more hair loss around the transplanted hair.

Donor Areas

The Nape – the strip of hair at the back of the head. This is the most suitable area for hair transplantation. The “safe” area (at least large parts of it) is where the follicles are less sensitive to genetic baldness and therefore long-lasting. The growth phase of the hair cycle in these follicles is the longest and therefore hair will stay longer on the scalp before falling out and being replaced by new hair.

The beard – the beard area, or rather – the beard hairs that are under the chin (the hairs you only see if you lift your head), is defined as the donor area in the second priority. It will not be used to fill entire areas but will disperse old hair follicles between the hairs to create a fuller appearance. In one way or another, beard hairs are quite similar to head hair except that they are slightly thicker, curling, and have a shorter growth stage.

Chest hairs – If the head hair and beard hairs are not enough, you can use the chest hairs but they are the third and last priority. The structure of the chest hair is different and lasts less time on the head but sometimes doctors will ask to use this hair as well.

Risks

Caution – hair transplantation is a surgical procedure in every respect and therefore it should be remembered that in every surgery there are risks and chances that the surgery will not succeed. There is no such thing as 100% success even if you are guaranteed a lifetime warranty certificate. There is no such thing… Beyond the selection of an experienced and professional clinic, the clinic or the representative office must be informed of any medical details that may endanger the treatment and the patient.

Damage to the donor area and leaving scars

One of the risks of hair transplantation is damage to the donor area and leaving visible scars. If the donor area does not allow and too many follicles have still been “harvested” – large areas can remain bald and visible, scarred skin, and more. It starts with proper doctor’s transplant planning – estimating the number of follicles that can be removed from the donor area and even going for a more conservative approach and taking a little more follicles than is actually possible. Do not try to convince the doctor to take more follicles than is really possible. 

Hair loss Market – temporary or permanent hair loss

Another risk of hair transplantation is shock hair loss– temporary or permanent hair loss. In most cases, the hair is not transplanted in the donor or transplanted areas. This is a condition that is not talked about too much because it is an uncommon condition (about 5% of all hair transplant recipients) in which entire areas undergo physical or chemical trauma. Chemical trauma is mainly due to substances injected in the area and usually in cases where the transplant took more than 12 hours. The physical trauma is usually due to technical errors and unprofessionalism of the transplant staff due to ramming or damaging existing follicles.

Sometimes it just doesn’t work

And the obvious risk – sometimes, the hair transplant does not succeed. And it happens! If we are talking about follicles that have not necessarily been absorbed in certain areas, an unnatural hairline, or insufficient density. Sometimes it is really “because” of the clinic (lack of professionalism, wrong planning, or poor coordination of expectations), and sometimes also for reasons that do not depend on the clinic. Everyone responds to a different hair transplant. In such a situation – follow the clinic’s guidelines and follow the recovery protocol and treatment of the hair. If there is a possibility to correct or improve the situation, we believe the clinic will help with this.

The commitment to continued treatment and preservation of hair

Each clinic has an orderly recovery protocol with which they equip their patient at the end of the transplant. The recovery protocol details how to proceed in the first weeks of recovery (what medications to take, how to wash your head, what hat is allowed to be worn, etc.) alongside prohibitions on various activities such as exposure to the sun, the sea, the pool, the gym, wearing a helmet, haircut and more. If you follow the recovery protocol, you will improve the chances of success of the transplant and also maintain the responsibility in the question of the clinic.

In addition, you can find in the recovery protocol recommendations for the continued preservation of the hair or actions that the doctor believes will contribute to the success of the transplant and/or the appearance of the hair. The recommendations are recommendations, they can be followed and it is also possible not – the main thing is that the patient understands the meaning of each treatment, whether he needs it or not. No one will force patients to start using Propecia for example or taking vitamins for hair but they will be able to recommend them if they believe that this is the way the patient came out satisfied with the whole process.

Among the various recommendations – taking Propecia to prevent further balding (the name of the active ingredient is “Finasteride”), minoxidil or rogaine (for thickening the hair and sometimes also for rapid recovery of the donor area), plasma therapy to strengthen the hair and recovery of the scalp (also known as growth factors treatment – among the various treatments – PRP, IPRF, CGF, PRGF) and vitamins (biotin, zinc, saw palmetto and other components that will help strengthen the hair, Improve the appearance of the hair and for healthier hair – you can also get it all in one pill such as Manetop).