A First-hand Account On Hair Transplant Surgery

By Author: john milton
Total Articles: 31
Comment this article

This post is not mean to supplant any of the medical articles on hair transplant surgery out there. To be sure there are more people who can speak with more authority than I do. I don’t make any claims to being an expert on the subject. But I did go through the procedure a few months back and I wanted to narrate my experience and what I have read and been told regarding the procedure.

No single method

One misconception about hair transplant surgery is that it only involves one method. There are several procedures in fact that your doctor can choose, depending on your own circumstances. I will try to touch on some of the methods for your better understanding.

The graft – this is what you usually see in the movies, TV or advertisements. It’s important to note that you are not going to finish the graft in one sitting (which can usually last between two to eight hours). On average, there will be 1,500 follicles that will be transplanted during each session. If the bald spot is large, your doctor may divide the session to prevent trauma. In this method, the surgeon will slice a portion of the scalp which ...
... serves as the “donor” hair. This will then be transplanted to the bald spot.

The flap – now if you have a full bald spot, the doctor might opt for the flap in the hair transplant surgery. You might need general anesthesia for this procedure, which is considered a major surgery. You will also have to be admitted to the hospital after the treatment.

For the squeamish, please turn away. This type of surgery involves tissue expanders that will be implanted under the scalp. Like growing plants, these expanders will be constantly “watered” using saline. Once it has grown sufficient hair, it’s now ready for transplant.

Scalp reduction – this is usually preferred if the bald spot is located at the back of the head or the crown of the scalp. This only needs a local anesthesia so you are probably going to be away throughout the procedure. The doctor will then slice a portion in a Y or U shape, then the strips will then be stitched together.

What happens post-operation?

After the operation, I felt tenderness on my scalp. Sometimes, there are stinging pains but it’s quite tolerable. But good thing the doctor prescribed me some pain relievers which I took religiously for several days. I also had to wear a dressing to protect the wounds but I was able to take them off in 48 hours. It just so happens that my co-workers knew that I went for hair transplant surgery so it was no wonder that I came back to work sooner. Naturally I was peppered with questions but I didn’t mind.

The doctor told me that the transplanted follicles will eventually fall within a month of the hair transplant surgery so I wasn’t really surprised when I experienced that one. I just took a lot of vitamins, got enough sleep and in just seven weeks, I finally noticed my hair getting thicker. Now, I love my hair and surgery was probably one of the best decisions I made.

Author Bio: Author is a diverse corporate writer, editor and marketer with years of experience. Currently sharing information on hair transplant sergery and best hair transplant.