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Considering a Hair Transplant? Here are Some Helpful Things to Know

What Exactly is a Hair Transplant

A hair transplant is a minimally invasive surgery where a surgeon moves healthy hair from the scalp onto areas with thinning hair. The procedure got a bad wrap when it was first introduced in the 1970s and 1980s because it was standard to move larger portions of hair at one team, and often the results were not only noticeable but unnatural.

The good news is that things have changed, and the procedure has evolved a lot from its early days. Surgeons now very carefully move hair in bit by bit, and more often than not, the results are fantastic. Not only due modern hair transplants tend to look totally natural, but the results will last a lifetime. It is very rare that a person should need to refresh their hair transplant, and can expect to continue to enjoy hair growth well into old age. Even better, the recovery time needed for hair transplant surgery is typically very minimal. In general, people can expect to be back at work within two to five days after their surgery.

It is no surprise that many big stars have jumped on the hair transplant wagon including Mel Gibson, Chris Martin, Jimmy Kimmel, and Matthew McConaughey, just to name a few. With innovative new methods of grafting hair, including the use of robotic technology to ensure greater precision, less healing time, improved results and a faster more painless procedure it is no surprise that hair transplants have continued to steadily rise in popularity over the past years.

Who are the Best Candidates for a Hair Transplant?

Nobody is better qualified to determine who is a good candidate for a hair transplant surgery than a skin doctor is Roseville and a dermatologist in Palo Alto can refer anybody interested to a qualified surgeon.

Good candidates for hair transplant surgery often include the following:

        Women who have experienced hair loss and thinning hair

        Men suffering from male pattern baldness

        People who have experienced hair loss as a result of an accident or injury

In general, there are two main guideposts that determine whether or not a person will be a good candidate for hair transplant surgery.

Candidate must have:

  1. Enough hair to supplement the surgery
  2. The ability to grow hair on the parts of their scalp that have experienced hair loss

It is important for anybody considering hair transplant surgery to research different surgeons. Keep in mind that when it comes to hair transplant surgery, having a good surgeon who uses the best technology will more often than not produce the best results.

That said, there are lots of other factors like hair color, hair shape and thickness and overall scalp flexibility that can affect the results of hair transplant surgery. A dermatologist in San Francisco will be able to provide an initial assessment and explain more to anybody who may be interested.

A doctor specializing in skin treatment Walnut Creek will also be able to provide people with valuable suggestions for preventing or slowing down balding. For instance, when they start noticing some hair loss occurring, men will often start wearing hats more frequently to cover up the effects of the hair loss, but end up inadvertently making the problem worse. For some people, stress reduction techniques can go a long way to minimize balding as well. Sometimes hair transplants are not the only option.

Before and After the Procedure – What to Expect?

Anybody considering a hair transplant should educate themselves as to what to expect and how to prepare for the procedure so they have all the information they need to make the best decision possible and can go into the process feeling prepared and confident.

Hair Transplant Preparation Tips

While preparation for a hair transplant procedure is generally minimal, there are a few things that people can do to help ensure that the process goes as smoothly as possible. In the weeks leading up to surgery, it can be a good idea to limit both alcohol and tobacco consumption, especially in the days immediately prior to the surgery.  For anybody who has been wanting to quit smoking, this may be a good time since both alcohol and cigarettes have been shown to inhibit the body’s ability to heal.

Scalp massages can be a great way to soften the muscles and prepare the scalp before the surgery and generally make things easier. Meanwhile, people want to avoid getting haircuts before a hair transplant procedure since it will actually make things more difficult rather than easier. The use of multivitamins should also be restricted unless specifically recommended or okayed by the surgeon.

After the Surgery

After the surgery, it is perfectly normal for the scalp to feel sore, and a skin doctor in Roseville may recommend or prescribe some medications including painkillers, anti-inflammatory medication, and antibiotics to minimize the risk of developing infection and complications. Some doctors will also prescribe hair growth medication to help encourage the rapid growth of new hair. The surgery itself may take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days, and sometimes clients will need to return for touch-ups after the procedure.

People can walk out and return home right after the surgery is completed, but expect to take a few days up to a week off of work to recover as needed after the procedure. While there is certainly some pain associated with the surgery and the healing process, most people find that they are pleasantly surprised when they discover that pain levels are typically lower than expected. In fact, people can usually comfortably shampoo their hair within just a couple of days after receiving the treatment. Patients can also expect to need to take some extra precautions to protect their scalp from sun exposure and infection while it heals.

Generally, the transplanted hair will begin to fall out about two to three weeks after the surgery. This is not a cause for concern, but rather a sign that the procedure is working as it should. The transplanted hair has to fall out in order to make way for new hair growth. New hair will usually start coming in about 8 to 12 months after surgery, and many will notice new hair continues to grow even after a year.

Disclaimer: We are unable to guarantee any result, even though most of our patients do see success. The results of our services will vary greatly to each patient’s level of commitment and compliance with the program.

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