Although male pattern baldness is fairly common since it is genetic, not many people anticipate this happening to them. So when your hairline starts to recede, and the volume thins out while you are still young, it can hurt your confidence. But before you opt to revamp your closet with multiple baseball caps or toupees, you may want to consider getting hair transplant surgery. Naturally, if you have undergone this hair regeneration procedure, you could be skeptical about whether it is worth the cost. To make sure that you know exactly what to expect, here are answers to some of the commonly asked questions regarding surgical hair transplants.
What options are available?
Contrary to popular belief, hair transplant surgery does not refer to one procedure. Rather, you have the flexibility to choose between a couple of options depending on what would sound better for your needs. The first option is the follicular unit excision. Commonly referred to as an FUE, this process entails incising holes into healthy hair follicles. The cosmetic surgeon will then install hair grafts into these incised areas.
The second option is follicular unit transplantation. With this scenario, the surgeon will cut out a strip of skin from your scalp that contains healthy hair. This strip is then divided into tiny units, which will be implanted onto the parts of your head experiencing hair loss. Both the FUE and the FUT will take a similar amount of hours to complete, so none is faster than the other. Typically, deciding what is best will come down to the extent of hair loss as well as personal preferences.
Will you be in pain during the hair transplant procedure?
The answer is no. Like any other surgical procedure, the cosmetic surgeon is mandated to ensure you do not experience discomfort. Hence, you can expect a localized anesthetic to be applied to the targeted areas before you go under the knife. The main sensation that some patients report experiencing is incessant pressure, which is likely from the incisions and the implantation. Other than that, you should expect to be pain-free throughout this process.
Will you have to be admitted into the hospital?
Hair transplant surgery is usually an outpatient procedure, so you will be discharged the same day. However, you will need to schedule time off work. Firstly, your scalp will be sore, so you need to rest and give it time to heal. Secondly, there are several post-operative care instructions that you would need to follow, which would be difficult to do when at work. For example, you need to keep your head semi-upright for several days to mitigate swelling. Additionally, you need to stay out of direct sunlight. It is also vital that you clean the surgical site meticulously and apply the topical antibiotics provided. Generally, you should expect to be in recovery for about a month.
To learn more about hair transplants, contact services like Capitis Medical and Aesthetics.
