Hair Transplantation
As a Specialist Dermatologist who has specialized in hair and skin treatments, I will try to explain hair transplantation to you, with all its scientific and current aspects. Hair affects the person’s external appearance, social condition and psychological state. There are dozens of diseases likely to cause hair loss. Before hair transplant; a correct diagnosis should definitely be made, and then hair treatment and hair transplant procedures intended for this purpose should be performed accordingly. Hair transplant is a procedure that produces permanent solutions for hair loss by means of advanced technologies in recent years, which is preferred by many people suffering from hair loss. Hair transplant can be defined as a microsurgical operation that should be performed in medical centers. Performing hair transplant in a sterile and hygienic Clinic or Hospital environment minimizes the risks of hair transplant. Performance of hair transplant by an experienced Specialist Dermatologist assisted by a professional team is an essential criterion for a successful and natural result. If we make a general definition of hair transplant, it is the procedure that involves the transfer of the hair follicles resistant to hair loss, extracted from the chest, beard and especially the nape of the neck (donor sites), to the balding areas (recipient sites). People between 20 and 60 years of age are suitable candidates for hair transplant. It is adequate for the patient to allocate 3 days for hair transplant including the preoperative and postoperative periods. The plantation time is approximately 6-8 hours but varies depending on the amount of hair follicles needed. It is recommended to come to the medical center after taking a bath and washing the hair on the day of operation. It is necessary to stop taking blood thinners such as aspirin one week prior to the operation.
HAIR TRANSPLANT PROCEDURES
FUE (FOLLICULAR UNIT EXTRACTION)
The FUE technique is the most advanced and state of the art technique used in hair transplant operations. It can be defined as the procedure involving the transplantation of hair follicles resistant to hair loss from a specific area such as beard, chest, and especially the nape of the neck, to the area where hair loss occurs. In FUE hair transplant, healthy hair follicles extracted one by one from the area determined in the nape of the neck by using FUE micro motors are kept in special solutions for a certain period of time. Hair follicles are transferred to the channels opened in the balding area in accordance with the natural direction of the hair. When determining the frontal hairline, it should be ensured that the hairline is symmetrical, harmonious and looks natural. The frontal hairline should be in harmonious with the person’s facial shape and anatomical structure. Thanks to the special techniques used, FUE hair transplant causes no cuts, sutures or scars on the skin. In FUE hair transplant performed under pain-free anesthesia (general or local), the patient feels no pain or ache during or after the operation. Materials to be used during hair transplant operation are selected and prepared specifically for the patient, based on the thickness, length and number of the hair follicles. The donor area, from where the hair follicles will be extracted, and the area where the hair follicles will be planted are determined. Both areas are numbed. After the numbing process, hair follicles are extracted one by one from the donor area with FUE micro motors, and are kept in special solutions. Then, channels are made for hair follicles in the recipient area. Hair follicles kept in solutions are carefully placed one by one into the channels opened for plantation.. Medications are prescribed before the operation, with intent to accelerate wound healing and prevent infections.
After the hair transplant procedure, the plantation area not covered. The donor area, from where the hair follicles have been extracted, is dressed and covered. The dressing is removed on the 2nd postoperative day under your control. The first washing is done after 2 days in our clinic. The transplanted hair begins to fall off about 1 month later. Then the transplanted hair follicles begin to grow again. This process is completed in about 6 months to 1 year.
SHORT INFO ABOUT THE HAIR TRANSPLANT PROCESS
Stage 1: Implantation plan and hairline are determined by the Specialist Dermatologist.
Stage 2: Medications are prescribed before the operation, with intent to accelerate wound healing and prevent infections.
Stage 3: Operation area of the patient is sterilized and local anesthesia is applied on the day of transplantation.
Stage 4: Hair follicles are carefully extracted one by one from the patient’s donor area.
Stage 5: Channels are made in the area where the hair follicles will be planted, with appropriate angles and sizes, and in accordance with the natural hair direction.
Stage 6: Hair follicles are planted into the recipient area with appropriate angles.
Stage 7: The first washing is done and the dressing is removed on the 2nd postoperative day
Post-Operative Hair-Washing: Washing process to be carried out for a period of 10-15 days eliminates scab formations and accelerates healing.
WHAT ARE THE FACTORS AFFECTING THE RESULTS OF HAIR TRANSPLANT?
The factors that affect the results of hair transplant include the patient’s age, diet, lifestyle, wound healing time, hormonal and genetic factors, quality of hair grafts, systemic diseases, environmental factors, and smoking.
DHI HAIR TRANSPLANT (HAIR TRANSPLANT WITHOUT SHAVING)
WHAT IS HAIR TRANSPLANT WITH THE DHI TECHNIQUE?
In the DHI (Direct Hair Implantation) procedure, normal hair transplant stages are followed, except for the channel opening stage. Thanks to the medical pen called ‘Choi pen’, grafts are extracted and directly planted into the skin using this pen. The procedure is intended to protect the existing hair image and to perform hair transplantation without shortening the hair. First, the donor area, from where the hair follicles will be taken, is anesthetized with local anesthesia and the hair follicles are extracted one by one from the donor area, using a Choi pen. Since the DHI procedure does not involve channel opening process, the hair follicles prepared are directly planted without waiting. The hair follicles taken are placed in pens called Choi and then are planted.
When the hair follicles are placed in the recipient area, the natural growth direction of the hair and the natural hairline should definitely be taken into account. DHI hair transplant takes about 8-12 hours. As with the FUE procedure, washing begins on the second postoperative day and continues for 8-10 days.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF DHI?
- Provides the opportunity of unshaved hair transplant
- Allows for dense plantation and obtaining more natural appearances.
- Thanks to the Choi pen, it shortens the waiting time of hair follicles during hair transplant, and minimizes the risk of follicle loss.
- Allows for a quick recovery process
HAIR TRANSPLANT UNDER PAIN-FREE (NEEDLE-FREE) ANESTHESIA
Needle-free Anesthesia is performed for enabling the patient to complete his/her hair transplant process within 6-8 hours, without feeling pain. Local anesthetic drugs in the anesthesia device are injected under the scalp using the pressurized spray technique. In this way, the patient feels no pain during anesthesia and transplant. Pain-free hair transplant provides relief and comfort to the patient.
PAIN-FREE (WITH SEDATION) HAIR TRANSPLANTATION
It is performed to ensure that the patient experiences the hair transplant procedure without anxiety and pain. In sedation, analgesic (painkiller) and sedative (relieving) drugs are administered by an anesthesiologist. After the procedure, the patient is conscious but a little bit sleepy and relaxed.
SAPPHIRE FUE METHOD
It is defined as the utilization of special sapphire blades instead of steel blades during the channel-making process. Blades made of real sapphire, a very precious metal, are used. It opens smaller micro channels in the area where the hair follicles will be planted. In this way, less scab formation, less risk of necrosis, accelerated healing process and denser and thicker hair transplant are ensured.
LASER-ASSISTED HAIR TRANSPLANT
More successful Hair Transplant is possible with Hair Laser. Hair transplant is performed with stronger hair follicles by strengthening the donor area with hair laser. Starting from 1 month after transplant, 8-10 sessions of laser treatment is performed on patients, and the planted follicles are enabled to hold on to the scalp more tightly. Cold laser beams providing cellular stimulation ensures better nutrition and oxygenation of the hair follicles and increases the success of plantation by enhancing the blood supply in the tissue.
BEARD, MUSTACHE AND EYEBROW TRANSPLANT
Beard, mustache and eyebrow transplant is also performed by our expert team in our clinic.
