Preparing for surgery
After the initial consultation, our ART MEDIC surgeon will examine the balding area in question and the possible donor area. He will discuss the factors that may affect the procedure and the possible changes in your appearance as the result of the surgery.
ART MEDIC surgeons will give you instructions how to prepare for surgery and will describe the procedure in detail, explaining its risks and limitations and making sure you understand the effect that the surgery will have on your appearance. Our specialists will also explain the effects of the anaesthesia that will be used, will show you the operating theatre where the surgery will be performed, and will inform you about all the costs involved. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure and any risks and potential complications involved.
It is important to wash your hair before the procedure, so it will be clean and free of any dirt or impurities.
Description of surgery
Hair transplant is a minor outpatient surgery that simply relocates existing hair follicles from the donor site to the balding area. The procedure generally takes about 3 to 5 hours depending on the number of grafts, and it begins with our surgeon removing a donor strip, approximately 1.5 cms by 10 cms, from the donor site. It is often located on the back or side of the scalp, as the hair is much stronger and longer lasting than on the front part of the head. During the procedure, local anesthesia is used to relieve any discomfort. Our doctor will remove a strip of skin from the donor area and close it with sutures. The donor strip is further cut into around 300-600 micro grafts, that contain one hair each. The surgical technicians then isolate individual hair follicles from the donor strip, and implant them to the graft region. The grafts are inserted into pre-cut micro and mini slits that are strategically designed to aesthetically improve the density of your existing hair, lower the hairline, and fill in balding areas.
After the surgery
Hair transplantation has a high success rate as long as you have enough donor hair. This procedure does not have any long term or major side effects. You might experience pain ont he treated area, which can be increased by the tight bandage placed on it. Unfortunately, tight bandage is essential following your surgery as it prevents bleeding bot hon the dionor and recipient areas. Taking the medication suggested after the procedure can prevent possible complications such as infection and swelling and can reduce the pain. The first bandage will be removed 1 day after the surgery, which will relieve the pain on the areas.
You might also experience swelling and bruises not only on the treated areas, but also on the forehead, around the eyes and on the back of the neck, which is completely normal and its extent depends on personal reactions and, of course, the severitiy of the surgery.
After the surgery, we suggest you should sleep and rest with your head elevated and avoid strenuous excercise and lifting heavy things for at least a week. There will be a fine scar on the donor area that you can easily cover up with the surrounding hair and the tiny scars on the treated area won't be visible at all. Patients usually feel little or no pain, and can return to work the very next day. There is no additional care needed on the transplanted hair than treating it like your ordinary hair. First, the transplanted hair will fall out and will only start to grow in 2 to 8 weeks, and will have the same strength, color, texture, length, and life span as your hair from your donor area after 3 to 4 months.
Within 6 months of the procedure, the transplanted hair can be groomed and combed in any fashion you would like. By doing a hair transplant now, you can replace your hair as it begins to thin and bald.
