Basic points to remember when considering a hair restoration procedure.

The hairs on the sides and the back of your head are genetically immune to hair loss. As a result, a hair transplant surgeon can remove donor hair follicles from the sides and back and relocate them on the top of the scalp where hair loss has occurred. The newly transplanted hair will grow exactly as it had from the donor area.

Before considering a hair transplant, your physician will review several important concerns:

1. Are you in good general health?
2. Do you have any bleeding or healing disorders?
3. Your age and degree of hair loss.
4. The quality and quantity of your donor hair.
5. What is your ultimate cosmetic goal?

Donor Area 

Next, the donor area is prepared and the top and the back of the scalp is anesthetized. Patients may be given the option of a sedative while the local anesthesia is applied. This is usually the only discomfort you will feel during the procedure, and lasts only couple of minutes.

Your hair in the donor area is lifted and a narrow strip of hair is trimmed. A narrow strip is removed from the donor area and the skin is brought back together with a simple running stitch. Once the incision is sutured, your hair from above will cover over the area. The stitches are removed in about 10 days, usually leaving a fine scar line, which is concealed by your own hair. It is important to note that if you shave your hair in the donor area, your fine incision line may show.

Your donors strip will contain natural follicular units, which are usually made up of 1-3 hairs per follicle. They are then meticulously separated under a microscope in order to preserve every follicle.

Recipient Area

Next, your surgeon next creates the sites where the grafts will be placed. This process is done by making tiny incisions at the hairline for the smallest 1-2 hair grafts. As a surgeon works back, he will place gradually larger grafts containing 3 hair follicles and follicular unit groups. This allows your surgeon to create more density without sacrificing naturalness.

You will be awake during your procedure and can chat with the surgeon and the staff. Procedure time is usually between 6 to 8 hours and you may take regular breaks, including lunch.

When your hair transplant has been completed you will be provided with post-operative instructions, medicines and shampoo. You will leave the office with a little or no bandage and will be able to shampoo your hair the next day. Most patients resume normal activity in a day or two. Tiny crusts will form where the transplants have been placed and usually shed in 4 to 7 days. The small hairs in the newly transplanted grafts normally shed within 2 to 4 weeks after the procedure, and permanent hair growth begins in 8 to 12 weeks. You should expect significant cosmetic hair growth within 6 months and full hair growth within 9 to 12 months.