Hair Transplantation

Hair transplantation is a surgery for hair restoration. In this surgery, hair which are viable are selected, extracted and then implanted in bald areas. These hair grow in length and thickness and needs regular trimming as any other hair over the head.

This surgery is done in those people where there are no hair follicles, hence follicles from the back of the head are replaced here.   

What causes hair loss ?

There can be multiple reasons for hair loss. One of the most common reason in men is patterned hair loss. i.e Male pattern hair loss or Androgenic alopecia. It is caused due to the miniaturization of hair follicle. So in this condition the hair doesn't fall off , but it becomes miniaturized( thinner) over a period of time. This process is caused by DHT(Di hydrotestosterone). DHT is hormone present derived from testosterone and causes growth retardation of hair follicles in front hairline and crown area of head. The hair in the front and crown area are DHT sensitive, so because of androgen activity these hair thins out. Use of medicines which prevent the action of DHT is a must to control the hair loss.  It is a gradually progressive type of hair loss which first involves either the front hairline (m shaped) or crown of the head.

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Types and Grades of Hair loss

There are many classification of hair loss. The Norwood stages of balding is universally followed. According to this scalp balding is divided into 6 types 

Type I: There is minimal or no recession of the hairline.

Type II: There are triangular, usually symmetrical, areas of recession at the frontal hairline.

Type III: This represents the minimal extent of hair loss sufficient to be considered as baldness according to Norwood. There are deep symmetrical recession at the temples that are bare or only sparsely covered by hair.

In Type III vertex, the hair loss is primarily from the vertex with limited recession of the frontotemporal hairline that does not exceed the degree of recession seen in Type III.

Type IV: The frontotemporal recession is more severe than in Type III and there is sparse hair or no hair on the vertex. The two areas of hair loss are separated by a band of moderately dense hair that extends across the top. This band connects with the fully haired fringe on the sides of the scalp.

Type V: The vertex hair loss region is still separated from the frontotemporal region but it is less distinct. The band of hair across the crown is narrower and sparser and the vertex and frontotemporal regions of hair loss are bigger.

Type VI: The bridge of hair that crosses the crown is gone with only sparse hair remaining. The frontotemporal and vertex regions are joined together and the extent of hair loss is greater.

Type VII: The most severe form of hair loss and only a narrow band of hair in a horseshoe shape remains on the sides and back of the scalp. This hair is usually not dense and may be quite fine.

Norwood also defined a Type A variant from his standard classification system, which is distinguished by two major features and two minor features.

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Do Everyone with male pattern hair loss needs hair transplantation?

No, In the initial stages when the hair fall has just begun, starting of medications which block the action of DHT can stop the hair loss and reverse the thinning hair back to thick hair. But if the hair is completely disappeared, the only way to get hair back is hair transplantation.

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Is Hair Transplantation permanent?

Hair transplantation is a permanent restoration of hair over the bald area.
It works on the principle of donor dominance. The hair at the back of the head are DHT resistant hairs.
So when these hair are removed and replaced in the front bald areas, these retain the properties of DHT resistance and hence are unaffected of the hormone and keep growing thicker. ​

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The procedure at the skin win clinic 

Hair transplantation at our clinic will be done by Dr. Malcom Noronha M.D and Dr. Anuradha Jindal M.D. Both doctors are Board certified (Medical Council India) Dermatologist with Fellowship in Aesthetic Dermatology and an additional Fellowship in Hair transplantation and Dermatosurgery respectively. Every patient will be evaluated in detail regarding the history of hairfall, family history , use of medicines in the past etc. Any deficiencies found will be corrected accordingly. ​

With the help of a Trichoscope, the type of donor’s hair, the grafts, and the thickness of hair needed is analyzed. A rough estimation of the grafts required will be calculated as per the formula based on the bald area will be discussed. Assessment for hairline design, density, existing hairs, temporal hump, future progression, vascularity, and appropriate use of preformed slits, slit and place and implants in the recipient area will be done . 

A probable hair line will be drawn with a marker and discussed.

A basic blood investigations, ECG will be done prior to surgery. if everything is normal, a suitable date for the surgery will be planned. 

Hair transplantation is a very safe and a simple surgery. it has a very predictive outcome with hardly any serious complications. 

On the day of surgery, hair will be trimmed and washed off. Local anaesthesia will be given around the head so the area becomes numb. With the help of a special device each hair will be extracted individually from the back, examined in the magnifier and will be placed in the front at the balding  head. 

It is a long surgery, takes around 5 to 6 hours. frequent breaks for food, juice can be taken by the patient.

usually 2000 to 3000 grafts will be placed in a single session. if more grafts are planned it can be divided in 2 days . Right after the surgery, a bandage will be put on the head of the patient and sent home/hotel to rest. The bandage will be removed the next day and any displaced graft will be re placed. The patient can join work back or travel the next day itself. 

Are the results immediate. how long does it take to see the results?

The transplanted hair once lodged will form brown crusts. Care should be taken for the 1st week after transplant. These hair will fall off within 2-3 weeks, but the follicle has embedded deep inside and will grow new hair within 2 to 3 months and keeps growing . So a thick full grown hair would take 9 months to be seen.

 

Pricing 

The cost of the surgery will be based on the number of grafts. It is not done on the number of hair. each graft can have 1 hair, 2 hair, 3 hair or 4 hair. It is completely based on the donor site. On an average 2-3 hair grafts are usually more in number. 

 Price per graft is around 30-35 per graft.

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