What is Hair Transplantation?
It is a treatment method for those who have regional or complete hair loss due to various reasons.
Hair transplantation can be defined simply as the transplantation of hair follicles collected from the donor area with the help of special tools to the area with shedding.
The scalp has a different structure from the skin found in other parts of the body. It has more nerves, vessels, and sebaceous and sweat glands. There are also strands of hair on the skin, unlike other parts of the body.
On the scalp of a normal person, there are approximately 100 thousand – 150 thousand hair follicles.
The scalp can be sorted from the outside to the inside as follows:
- epidermis
- dermis
- sub-dermis
- galea aponeurotica and
- subaponeurotic lamina
The angles of rotation of the hair are clockwise. This is one of the characteristics of the scalp. Hair is contained in a bag-like sheath within the skin. This sheath is also called the hair follicle.
A hair strand comes out of this bag called the follicle. In the human body; There are hair follicles on the soles of the feet, palms, and mucous membranes.
How Does Hair Transplant Work?
In the head area and in some parts of the body, there are areas of hair that do not shed at all or that are difficult to shed. These regions; are the neck, arms, and chest wall.
In hair transplantation, transplantation is carried out by making use of these regions. In other words, the hair strands taken from the person’s own body are transplanted into the problematic area.
Hair follicles taken from non-shedding areas are called grafts. Grafts are collected with the help of special surgical instruments. Before the collection, local anesthesia is applied to prevent pain.
Hair follicles collected with the help of special medical pens are applied to the shedding area. Likewise, local anesthesia is applied to this area before the procedure is performed.
Hair Transplant Types
Since the 90s, hair transplantation procedures have started to be performed. Later, with the discovery of new methods, it came to the present day by developing. The method made with the FUT technique left its place to this method with the development of the FUE method.
Some techniques have been added to the most commonly used FUE method today. The most practical and best of these is the DHI technique.
In addition to the DHI technique, hair transplantation with sapphire tip and Robotic FUE are among the methods developed in recent years. With the development of technology, new methods have also taken their place in the world of hair transplantation.
One of them is the Manual Punch method. Another is the Hyperbaric hair transplantation method.
To Whom Hair Transplantation Can Be Applied?
It can be applied to anyone who has hair loss problems, regardless of gender. Before the operation, some tests should be done to the patient. If you meet the following criteria, you are a suitable candidate for hair transplantation:
- If your physical development is complete,
- If you do not have any disease that will prevent hair transplantation
- If there is enough root in your head area that can be taken as a donor ,
- If the space in the area to be planted is sufficient
- If your hair analysis results are positive.
- If there is a burn or scar in the area to be transplanted, you can still have the hair transplant procedure.
Who is not suitable for hair transplantation?
It is not recommended for cancer patients and pregnant women.
It may also be inconvenient to apply hair transplantation methods to diabetics. In addition, those who are allergic to the solutions used in hair transplantation are not transplanted.
In some cases, hair transplantation may not be performed due to insufficient hair follicles in the donor area.
When should hair transplantation be done?
It is not recommended to have an operation for people under the age of 20. It should be done in men from the age of 30.
Seasonally, it is recommended to have it done in spring and autumn. Because there is a risk of excessive sweating and sun rays in the summer months. In winter, cold is considered among the negative factors.
If you have activities such as weddings and engagements, it would be beneficial to have them done at least 1 year in advance.
What are Hair Transplantation Methods?
Today, the most frequently applied; FUT, FUE, and DHI techniques appear as hair transplantation methods.
If you wish, we will give you detailed information about these methods.
What is Hair Transplantation with FUT Technique?
It has been applied since 1990 and then left its place to FUE Technique. More precisely, the FUT Technique is not applied much today. FUT hair transplantation is applied by cutting the donor hair follicles into strips from the donor area.
Hair follicles from the scalp cut into strips are extracted under the microscope. The extracted hair follicles are placed one by one into the channels opened in the recipient area. All these procedures are performed under local anesthesia. Therefore, it is a painless procedure.
However, compared to other methods, more pain is felt after the operation in the FUT method. Painkillers are given by the doctor to relieve the pain. In addition, antibiotics are prescribed to prevent infection of the treated area.
Depending on the number of hair follicles, the procedure can be performed in several sessions. Each session lasts an average of 4-8 hours. The average recovery time is around 1-2 months, with additional sessions and suturing of the incisions.
It is a technique recommended for people with wide openings in the head area. On average, 4000 hair follicles are transplanted in each session.
What are the Advantages of Hair Transplantation with the FUT Technique?
We can list the advantages of the FUT Technique as follows:
Depending on the number of hair follicles to be transplanted, it may take shorter than the FUE method. For example, in the FUT method, hair strips are removed at once and hair follicles are extracted from these strips. In other words, thousands of hair follicles can be taken at once. This process takes approximately 15-30 minutes. In the FUE method, hair follicles are taken one by one with a special medical device. On average, the process takes between 1-4 hours.
In this method, more hair transplantation can be done. Therefore, it is an ideal method for people who have partial baldness problems.
The process is more efficient as the hair follicles are carefully separated from the scalp strip. In other words, fuller hair can be obtained after the procedure. In addition, the quality of hair follicles is better than other methods. It is an effective method for removing hair follicles with fine wire structures without damaging them.
The FUT method is a less labor-intensive method. In terms of price, it is more economical than other methods.
What are the Disadvantages of Hair Transplantation with the FUT Technique?
It is a technique that has advantages as well as disadvantages. We can list the disadvantages of the FUT technique as follows:
It may take several months for the treated area to heal.
The FUT method is generally applied with surgical interventions. Therefore, more tissue loss may occur compared to other methods. You may also experience more pain.
Compared to other methods, it is more likely to leave scars.
The recovery period in the FUT method is approximately 1 month. More redness can be seen compared to other operations, and these rashes may remain for a few weeks.
What is Hair Transplantation with FUE Technique?
FUE hair transplantation, which has been applied since 2004, can be defined as removing hair follicles one by one from the donor area and transplanting them immediately with the help of special tools to the area to be transplanted.
from the area where the non-shedding hair follicles are, with the help of a 0.7-1 millimeter thick micromotor, and immediately transferred to the area with the opening.
It takes a little longer than other methods. The reason for this is that it takes time to remove the hair follicles one by one from the donor area.
You may also want to watch the video below about the FUE technique.
What are the Advantages of Hair Transplantation with the FUE Technique?
The advantages of the method are listed below:
It is very comfortable for the patient and the person performing the procedure.
Grafts can be taken at more frequent intervals.
When the sapphire method is applied, the fragmentation rate of the grafts is less.
Since no incision is made, the patients who will have the procedure are more easily convinced.
There is no sewing process. Therefore, dressing procedures can be performed in a short period of 3 days.
It has the advantage of being able to transplant 2500-3000 grafts in a single session.
After the FUE Technique, there is almost no scar in the head area.
The patient can return to his daily life on the same day.
What are the Disadvantages of Hair Transplantation with the FUE Technique?
There are some disadvantages as well as advantages.
It takes a little longer than other techniques.
It is a bit expensive because the process is long and the number of sessions is high in some cases.
In the FUE technique, the hair must be shaved.
What is Hair Transplantation with DHI Technique?
Direct Hair Implantation, with its long name DHI Technique, is performed with a special medical pen called Choi. The backbone of the technique is this special pen.
While in other hair transplantation methods, two separate procedures are performed at separate times, the DHI hair transplantation method, can be performed in one go.
In the FUE technique, the hair transplant operation is performed in 3 stages. In the DHI method, two steps are sufficient.
The first step is to perform local anesthesia in the donor area. In the second stage, the grafts are collected with the help of a special pen. In the third stage, the transplant is performed with the help of a special pen to the area with the opening.
What are the Advantages of Hair Transplantation with the DHI Technique?
This technique has many advantages. We can list these advantages as follows:
The process of opening channels and transplanting hair follicles to the area to be transplanted can be done at the same time.
It allows more frequent planting. Thanks to this method, a more natural appearance can be obtained.
Thanks to specially developed medical instruments, the risk of root loss is minimized. In addition, the process can be completed in a shorter time.
It is carried out without damaging the existing hair. It can be applied even to people whose hair loss is not yet complete.
Recovery times are very short. The person can return to his daily life on the same day.
What are the Disadvantages of Hair Transplantation with the DHI Technique?
Despite its advantages, some disadvantages of the DHI Technique are listed below:
- It should be done by experts and experienced doctors in the field.
- It is more expensive than other methods.
- The person to be transplanted should not have any health problems. He should also be in high condition.
Graft Removal for Hair Transplantation
The graft is quite broad. In the transplantation process, only hair follicles are not taken from the donor area. At the same time, tissue, vascular, and nerve connections that feed the hair follicles are taken. In other words, the hair root is removed as a whole heap. Therefore, the extraction process must be carried out with precision.
The patient is told that 3000 grafts will be transplanted in some clinics and 9000 grafts in others. This is confusing for the people who will have the procedure. Both numbers are equal to each other. Because there are two to four hairs in a graft and if it is calculated as a total, it is seen that both numbers are equal. In other words, the number of transplanted grafts is the same.
donor areas from which the grafts are taken are the back of the ear and the nape. Because hair loss in these areas either does not occur at all or is very difficult. Special medical instruments with 0.5 mm cutting tips are used to take grafts. Medical instruments are in the form of pencils and are produced exclusively for hair transplantation procedures.
Each graft is taken as a result of immersing the medical pens into the skin with their tips. In other words, the hair follicles are cut in a round shape. These cuts are quite small.
grafts are taken with the help of a special medical pen, they are kept in a special solution for a short time. The reason why the grafts are kept in special solutions is the micro incisions to be made in the transplant area. Until this process is completed, the hair follicles to be transplanted must remain intact.
In addition, the hair follicles in white and black color are separated. This process is carried out according to the hair color in the place to be transplanted.
Hair Transplantation with Beard Graft
grafts taken from the nape area is not sufficient for hair transplantation. In this case, grafts are taken from the chest area or beard area and transplanted to the open area.
For the hair transplantation process to be successful, the hair follicles to be collected must be in sufficient numbers.
2 chest hairs can provide as much fullness as one beard hair. In other words, it is more logical to take hair follicles from the beard. Because the growth capacity of chest hair is almost negligible.
On average, 4000-5000 grafts can be collected from people with a dense beard area. Up to 1000 beard roots are enough to cover the area that 1500-2000 hairs will form on average.
Hair Transplantation by Taking Grafts from the Body
grafts can be collected from the chest, back, and leg areas of the body. The important thing here is to collect grafts from the area that can harmonize with the natural color of the hair.
it is preferred to take grafts from the back and leg areas after the beard area.
from the body graft removal process, Body Hair is called a transplant (BHT).
How to do hair transplantation?
To perform a healthy and trouble-free hair transplantation process, some conditions must be met.
Hair Transplant Process
In case you are dealing with a hair loss problem, you might be considering going through a hair transplant process. Moreover, if you are wanting to have a hair transplant, you may be curious about all the processes that are about it. Aside from what to do and what to avoid before and after the procedure, one common thing that many people want to know about is how the hair transplantation operation is carried out. Here you can find some information about this transplantation procedure in detail.
Remember to Comply with the Guidelines Regarding the Preparation Process
All the steps of a hair transplantation process are important for an easy and successful procedure. So, what you do and what you avoid before the operation itself is crucial as well. Because of this, please make sure to follow your doctor’s instructions and make sure to do everything necessary before the procedure carefully. Also, remember to avoid alcohol, smoking, and caffeine before the operation. Simply put, comply with the guidelines that your doctor informs you with.
The Hair Transplant Process Starts with You Arriving at the Hospital
A hair transplant process must be carried out in the right environment by experts. So to start this process, the first step is arriving at the hospital or clinic in which you are going to go through this operation. For this, we pick up our patients from their hotel on the day of the surgery and bring them to the hospital. So when you are getting your hair transplantation from us, as far as transportation in the city, you don’t have to worry.
Consultation, Planning, and Tests
When you are in the hospital, the next step is to plan the process. To start the planning for the hair transplant process, the first thing to do is see what the hair loss is like and what we want the results to be like. During this process, the doctor will look at many things regarding hair loss including its pattern and severity, along with the hair density in the donor area and so on. Also, blood tests will be carried out, for health issues like syphilis, hepatitis C, HIV, and others. In case the tests return positive, we won’t be able to carry out the hair transplant process. Lastly, The Doctor will plan the operation and create the hairline design.
Local Anesthesia
During the hair transplant operation, local anesthesia is used to prevent the patient from feeling the pain associated with the procedure. Therefore as we get to the operation, the next step in the process is applying local anesthesia. So this way the patient goes through a painless procedure while staying awake. However, some discomfort may be felt during the procedure.
Hair Grafts are Taken from the Donor Site
Depending on which method is used (FUE or FUT), the hair transplant specialist takes the necessary amount of hair grafts from the donor site. The donor site is usually the back or the sides of the head for the hair transplantation operation.
Grafts are Implanted into the Scalp
After the hair grafts are taken from the donor site, then the next step of the operation can begin. In this step, the hair grafts are implanted into the scalp according to the planned hairline design. This is done through tiny incisions.
Aftercare and Follow Up Procedures
When all of the necessary hair grafts are taken from the donor site and placed into the scalp in a planned manner, the operation is finished. Then, the aftercare process can begin, and follow-up procedures can be started for an overall successful hair transplant process.
Preparation for Hair Transplant Operation
At this stage, the person who will have the operation should have taken some precautions first. For example, a few weeks before the procedure, he should take a break from alcohol and cigarettes. To make the process easier, the patient can use some vitamins. It will be useful to consult a doctor in determining the vitamins to be used. It will be beneficial for the person to stay away from caffeinated drinks for a while.
If aspirin and its derivatives are used that affect blood flow, it would be beneficial to take a break.
He/she should have taken a break from heavy sports activities one week before. It will be useful to wear comfortable clothes before the operation begins.
Hair Transplantation Operation Stages
of a blood test, planning, local anesthesia, and other procedures.
Blood Test for Hair Transplant
Your blood test and hair analysis are performed by the Doctor. In hair analysis, it is determined why the hair is shed. In addition, the stage of shedding is determined.
The reason for the blood test is to determine whether the person is suitable for hair transplantation. Generally; It is checked whether viruses such as HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C are contagious. Moreover; Elements such as blood count, cholesterol, and sugar are checked.
Planning the Hair Transplant Operation
Hair transplantation planning is carried out according to the information obtained after the examination performed by the Doctor. At this stage; It is decided how many hair follicles will be planted, which areas will be treated, and from which areas hair follicles will be taken.
Hair Transplant Preparation
Then the hairline is determined. Your hair is shaved and made ready for the operation. The hair is shaved to be 0.3 millimeters. The reason for this procedure is that the doctor can work more comfortably and the channels become more prominent.
Hair Transplant Operation
It is the most important stage in the operation. For the operation to be carried out smoothly, some information must be obtained and analyzed by the doctor.
How much hair will be planted in which area is decided at this stage?
Local Anesthesia Procedure for Hair Transplantation
In the local anesthesia stage, anesthesia is applied both to the area to be transplanted and to the area where the hair follicle will be taken . For this procedure, help from a specialist anesthesiologist is taken. Anesthesia applied under normal conditions begins to show its effect in 20 minutes. If the doctor deems it necessary during the operation, the anesthesia process can be repeated.
If the person has needle phobia, inhalation sedation can be done additionally. Thus, the person will not feel the local anesthesia process.
Information on Graft Quality and Process in Hair Transplantation
In graft collection, a solution called saline is applied to the donor area to extract the hair follicles more easily. This solution is specially prepared. This fluid also has the feature of separating the skull from the scalp.
Saline allows the scalp to swell and the grafts to be easily removed.
Top quality grafts; the beard is collected from the hair between the legs and ears. The grafts taken from these areas are kept in a special solution for a while. Because after the grafts are taken, their life span is limited. The special solution helps the hair follicles to survive until the operation is completed.
In the last stage, the grafts are separated according to their single or double status.
Then the channel opening phase is started.
Performing Hair Transplant Operation
For the hair follicles to be transplanted successfully, the channels must have the same angle as the hair follicles. Also, their depth should be equal. Especially in the FUE technique, the longest process is the grooving process and takes 3-4 hours on average.
The most difficult process in opening a channel is to open a channel on the front hairline. Therefore, the indented channel is opened in the front hair region. Thus, naturalness is ensured.
The final stage is the transplantation of hair follicles to the areas with openings. Single grafts by the Doctor are used in the front of the area to be transplanted. Double and multiple grafts are evaluated in the posterior parts.
When Does New Hair Grow After Hair Transplant?
On average, the transplanted hair starts to grow within 2-3 months. It takes approximately 1 year for the hair to take its completely natural state. This process may differ from person to person.
How Many Years Does Hair Transplantation last?
The transplanted hair should never fall. You will get a life-long warranty certificate from all our clinics.
Things to Consider After Hair Transplant Operation
The person who had the operation should protect the transplanted area for 3 days. During this time; heavy sports should not be done, sexual intercourse should be avoided, alcohol and cigarettes should not be consumed, and one should not enter the sea or pool. Also, you should stay away from places such as hammams and saunas for a while.