Hair can play a major part in how we feel about ourselves. While everyone has their own unique style (as well as their good hair days and bad hair days), losing your hair can be a big knock on your confidence and have a big impact on your self-esteem. In the past, there were not too many options if you started losing your hair. You could accept it, shave it all off, or attempt to wear a wig. These days, however, hair transplants have become a popular solution to the problem of hair loss and many people have found that transplants have totally changed their life.

To help everyone who is looking for a solution to their hair loss problem, here is what you should know about hair transplants.

What are Hair Transplants?

Hair transplants are the process when hair follicles from one part of your head are moved to another part of your head where the hair is thinning or has been lost altogether. This is done by a doctor through a surgical procedure using a local anesthetic. Different people may need multiple hair transplant sessions depending on the extent of their hair loss condition. Between 1,000 and 4,000 hair follicles are usually transplanted during each session over the course of three to four hours.

What are the Different Kinds of Hair Transplant?

There are two main kinds of hair transplant that are commonly available; follicular unit excision (FUE) and follicular unit transplantation (FUT). FUT works by taking a patch of skin from the scalp which is rich in hair follicles and dividing that patch into many smaller ones. Tiny incisions are then made in the scalp where there are fewer hair follicles and these small patches are inserted and the incisions are closed. FUE, on the other hand, works by moving individual follicles from one area of the scalp to another using a specialized punch tool. FUE is a more difficult procedure for a surgeon to perform but it is less intense and painful for the recipient.

These days, a procedure called Micro FUE is also being done by some advanced clinics in Australia. There are some Melbourne hair transplants being performed with Micro FUE where hairs are extracted one by one by the surgeon and then transplanted back into another area of the head. Because the tool used to extract the hair is so tiny, there is no damage at all to the follicles or the scalp during the process making micro FUE a safer and more effective method than regular FUE or FUT.

Who is Eligible for a Hair Transplant?

Not everyone is eligible for a hair transplant as everyone’s condition is different. People who have lost a large amount of their hair already and so have few follicles left to transplant will not be able to get effective results. There is a scale called the Norwood scale which the doctor can use to determine if your hair loss has already gone too far. People suffering from alopecia or who have lost their hair due to taking medication may also not be eligible for a transplant. The type of hair which you have can also be a major factor. People with very fine hair and tight scalps tend to not see great results while people with thick hair and loose scalps are far better candidates for a hair transplant.

What are the Results of a Hair Transplant?

As everyone has different hair and different hair loss issues, the results of hair transplants vary from person to person. Some people may experience 80% regrowth of their hair, while for others it could be as little as 10%. The final results will normally be seen around nine months after the final session with the average person experiencing around 60% regrowth. If you have a skilled surgeon, the new hair will look completely natural and no one would ever know you had a transplant. For the best results, it is very important that you follow every step of the aftercare procedure which your doctor gives you. Initially, this will involve dressings, not shampooing your head, and allowing blood to reach the new follicles by sleeping upright for a few nights.

Hair transplant technology really has greatly improved the lives of so many people. Hair loss is a condition that affects a huge number of people and hair transplants are a vastly superior solution to wearing. It is vital that you go to a reputable clinic for your hair transplants and that you follow the aftercare advice so that you have a wonderful head of hair once again.