Hair loss has become one of the issues, which has been a cause of concern as far as the appearance, personality, and psychology of the person are in question. A significant portion of the population is having the problem irrespective of gender. Earlier it was known as a problem affecting strictly the male population but females are also affected in significant numbers and it causes psychological trauma more in females.
Apart from androgenic alopecia which is a common cause of baldness, there are other medical causes like autoimmune disorders, endocrine or hormonal disorders, trauma or scar, traction alopecia, nutritional deficiencies, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy to mention a few.
Once considered a sign of aging, hair loss is now occurring in many age groups across the spectrum. The involvement of younger age groups in addition to genetic predisposition can be attributed to stress, crash dieting, environmental pollution, smoking, and unhealthy hair care habits.
Conservative, as well as surgical options for the treatment of hair loss, are available depending on the stage of hair loss. In androgenic alopecia hair transplant offers a permanent solution to the problem if one is the candidate for it.
In view of the rising problem, hair transplant in Delhi has picked up a lot due to many advantages and affordability, which the centers in Delhi provide without compromising the quality.
What is Hair Transplant?
A hair transplant is a surgical procedure in which hair follicles from the donor area are transplanted into the recipient area. The donor area is an area that is also considered a permanent hair-bearing area as the follicles here are resistant to the effect of the DHT hormone. The donor area is typically the back and the sides of the scalp area but other areas can also be used for this purpose like the beard, chest, upper back, etc. The recipient area is the area where hair loss or baldness has occurred. The dimension of this area depends on the stage of baldness. The Hair transplant can be scalp to scalp, it can be body hair to scalp transplant or it can be a facial Hair transplant.
There may be certain factors that may affect the decision and planning of the procedure:
• Degree of baldness
• Medical health
• Diagnosis
• Hair characteristics like hair diameter, hair color
• Patients expectation
• Donor area
• Age of the patient
• Family history of baldness
Techniques of Hair Transplant
There are two basic techniques based on the follicular unit principle. The difference in these techniques is the method of harvesting the hair follicle whereas other steps of surgery essentially remain the same.
The two commonly used techniques are follicular unit transplant (FUT) and follicular unit excision (FUE).
In FUT a calculated length of skin strip from the scalp is harvested. This strip is then prepared and dissected into vertical segments of follicular unit thickness. These units are then placed in a preservative or holding solution and are placed in the recipient sites.
In FUE very small punches are used for extraction and these follicles are then removed with the help of fine delicate forceps in order to prevent any damage to the follicle.
There are many types of FUE variations available but the basic technique remains the same.
• Manual FUE where the punches are used manually by rotating around the follicle.
• Powered FUE using the micromotor and powered hand with small micro-punches.
• Vacuum apparatus along with powered FUE for extraction.
• Robotic FUE
Nowadays FUE has gained much popularity due to the advantages provided like
• Since scarring is less visible, styling the hair is not an issue
• Donor site laxity and density are not a significant deterrent
• Postoperative pain and discomfort are less
• Postoperative healing time is less.
• Follicular groups of specific size and diameter can be specifically targeted by the doctor.
• Extended donor areas can be targeted for harvesting the follicles if required like beard, chest, back, etc.
Hair transplant in Delhi is offered by many centers which provide good services and excellent results but all the centers may not be as good as you want them to be. So, one should select the center based on their experience of consultation, research the reviews, talk to previous patients and study their portfolio.
Steps of Hair Transplant Surgery
Local anesthesia: It blocks the pain and makes the area numb where it is given. It is infiltrated into the scalp or any area where one needs to do the procedure. One can use topical cream sometimes before the injections so that the prick of the injections is also not fully felt.
Making of the recipient slits: Recipient slits are the spaces made by the doctor keeping in mind the direction and angle of the natural existing hair in that region. The density of the transplanted hair also depends on this stage of the surgery. It is very important that the operating doctor has a good amount of experience in the procedure otherwise the whole procedure may become a problem.
Graft extraction: Extraction of grafts is done in a way so that quality grafts are harvested. This is the step where the experience of the doctor counts as only an expert can harvest grafts without much wastage and without transection.
Implanting the grafts: The harvested grafts are placed in the slits which were made by the doctor. The key is the delicate handling of the grafts while placing them.
Hair Transplant in Delhi Result
The actual result of the hair transplant in Delhi is evident in 10-12 months, depending on the patient.
The result of a hair transplant depends on many factors. So it is very important to assess each patient carefully to determine the candidacy and also to counsel the patient about realistic expectations.
General patient factors: These factors indicate the overall health of the patient. The presence of co-morbidities like diabetes, hypertension, or another chronic disease may affect the overall result. Cigarette smoking is also a risk factor for a poor outcomes. The age of the patient is one
of the important factors while counseling and marking the areas for transplant. There will be a difference in the hairline design of a young patient and that of a comparatively older patient. In young patients, one important factor is the anticipated further hair loss which the surgeon should keep in mind while planning hair transplants in a comparatively younger age group.
Donor Area Factors: The level of miniaturization of follicles and its effect on the donor area is one of the points that determine the availability of donor grafts and their characteristics if the donor's hair is fine, thin, or weak, then it will adversely affect the result. Other factors that contribute are the density of hair in the donor area, donor hair diameter, hair-to-skin color contrast, and the texture of the hair.
Factors during surgery: These are the factors where the experience of the surgical team, including the assistants, comes into play.
Hairline designing and hairline creation are some of the factors which decide the cosmetic result of the procedure. The experience and knowledge of the doctor will come into play in this part.
Graft handling: The blunt trauma to the bulb area, transection of the grafts, and dehydration of the grafts are common types of injury that may take place during harvesting and handling of the grafts. These can result in poor graft survival and hence the poor result.
Hair Transplant Recovery
Recovery time after FUE hair transplant is comparatively faster as compared to FUT.
After the surgery, antibiotics and analgesics may be prescribed to prevent any infection and to make the patient comfortable with any discomfort. One may experience some swelling on the forehead 2-3 days after the procedure, which may take 4-5 days to subside. So. It is better to take a few days off from the office if swelling occurs.
Some patients may have mild itching during the healing period, which is generally not problematic, but if it is bothersome, then you should contact your doctor. Your doctor may prescribe some antihistamines. These medications should only be taken after consulting your treating doctor. There may be some redness and discoloration on the recipient area, which generally fades over a period of time.
There may be a period of temporary shedding which starts 3-4 weeks after the surgery and may continue for 10-12 weeks. This shedding may be complete, or it may be there in some areas. Generally, after the shedding, transplanted follicles start to grow.
Sources - https://hairnsenses.co.in/