With the lack of genuine information surrounding hair transplants, it is not surprising that people have many misconceptions regarding the procedure. If you envision a patchy and unnatural-looking hairline after a hair restorative procedure, those are instances of the past. With the growth of medical technologies and cosmetic treatment advances, hair transplants are now more precise and effective.
However, much like your normal hair growth, even the transplanted follicles come with an expiration date. They are visible and long-lasting, but down the line, you might need to get some support for better hair maintenance.
Here, we will discuss everything there is to know about the permanency of hair transplant and know all the details about how long hair transplant lasts.
Table Of Contents
Feel free to skip ahead if one topic catches your eye:
- Science Behind Hair Transplant
- What is the Life of a Hair Transplant?
- When do you Need Another Hair Transplant?
- Tips to Take Care of Transplanted Hair
Science Behind Hair Transplant
The science behind the hair transplant procedure is pretty simple and straightforward. Healthy hair follicles are extracted from the recipient’s area on the body and then implanted in the donor area with hair thinning or consistent signs of balding patches.
Although In the 1950s People were resistant to the initiation of hair transplant, things have progressed over the decades, and this is helping people with their appearance, aesthetics, and self-image.
To better understand hair transplant, we must know about the two primary types of this procedure:
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
A more popular type of hair transplant these days, FUE, also known as Follicular Transfer, doesn’t involve making long incisions on the recipient site. Instead, the cosmetic surgeon makes micro punctures to extract individual hair follicles to transplant them into the recipient site.
FUE is a lot less invasive and leaves behind little to no scarring on the scalp. However, the patient might need to shave their entire head preceding an FUE procedure to better access the hair follicles and a successful transplant. Follicular unit extraction generally has a quicker patient recovery time and significantly lower post-operative discomfort than FUT. Also, with FUE the follicles are harvested from a much greater area of the donor zone compared to FUT. Generally, FUE is considered better than any other technique.
Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)
This procedure involves cutting a strip of hair-bearing skin from the back of the scalp, separating the hair follicles, and later transplanting them on the recipient area. However, due to longer downtime, this is not a preferred method these days.
What is the Life of a Hair Transplant?
There is no standard time duration when it comes to the life of a hair transplant. Generally, it depends on how healthy the transplanted hair follicles are. If the hair follicles are healthy and they are retrieved from the permanent zone of hairline on the donor area( area immune to the effect of DHT hormone ) we can expect natural regrowth, and the chances are that you wouldn’t have to worry about the issue for quite a few years. However, if the transplanted hair follicles aren’t healthy enough, it might affect the hair growth in the long run.
To ensure maximum viability of the hair follicles and ensure consistent hair regrowth after the hair transplant procedure, your cosmetic surgeon will extract the follicles from the site on the scalp within the permanent zone ( healthy hair)
One common complaint people have is around the constant shedding of the transplanted hair after the initial growth. There is no point worrying about the initial hair loss mainly because it is normal and happens with most of the patients who undergo this procedure. Generally, if the initial hair transplant was successful and was done by an experienced cosmetic surgeon with years of professional and hands-on experience, the chances are that you wouldn’t have to worry about the same for a minimum of 10 years down the line.
As for the full extent of the results after the surgery, a patient might have to wait for 8-12 months to see noticeable changes. The results from modern-day hair transplants are safe, minimally invasive, and reaps long-lasting results.
When do you Need Another Hair Transplant?
You can consider undergoing a second hair transplant for two reasons:
- If you are unsatisfied with the results from the first hair transplant procedure
- If you are experiencing patches of baldness or hair thinning in the transplanted site
In the first case scenario, you need to sit down with your cosmetic surgeon and discuss your issues by telling them why you are unhappy with the results. Based on your problems, the surgeon will draw out a plan to fix the issues with the hairline structure or the newly growing hair’s appearance. In such cases, the potential for a second hair transplant will depend upon the availability of healthy hair follicles, the volume of the hair, and the scalp skin’s laxity.
In the second case scenario, wherein it has been a few years after the initial hair transplant surgery, and you are again witnessing less regrowth and consistent hair thinning, you need to consult a hair restorative surgeon again. Your surgeon needs to check your hair follicles’ health on the back of your scalp or from the desired recipient’s site. If there is an availability of healthy follicles, the chances are that your surgeon will advise getting the second hair transplant to restore hair growth.
Tips to Take Care of Transplanted Hair
Aside from the actual success rate of hair transplant surgery, aftercare also plays a vital role in promoting healthy hair growth from the transplanted hair follicles. Here are a few essential factors you need to do to take care of your transplanted hair:
Tame the Complications – Recovery after a hair transplant procedure can take several months. Also, you might have to undergo multiple sessions of the treatment to achieve the desired volume of hair and coverage. Knowing about the complications of the procedure helps you prepare well for aftercare. Take the prescribed medications and follow the recovery instructions as suggested by the surgeon.
Keep Your Head Wrapped – You must keep your scalp area wrapped in a bandage or bandana for the first 24 hours after the surgery. The bandage on the site of the incision is removed, cleaned, and replaced the following day after the surgery.
Keep Your Head Elevated – Sleeping with your head elevated after the surgery is extremely important. Do this for at least three days after the surgery. This keeps the swelling in check and limits your sleep movements to disturb the hair follicles’ placement.
Avoid Scratching – One of the worst things you could do to your transplanted hair follicles is scratching them. It is common for you to feel itching in your scalp post-surgery but avoid scratching or even picking at your scabs. If the itching exceeds your level of patience, consult your surgeon about it.
Washing Your Hair – Another important factor worth considering is the shampooing procedure. Generally, it is safe for patients to shampoo their hair with a mild shampoo two days after the surgery. Your doctor will advise you about the procedure accordingly. While lathering the shampoo, make sure you are using the top of your fingers to massage your scalp gently instead of using the nails.
Avoid Certain Activities – For successful results from the hair transplant, you need to avoid certain activities like swimming, gymming, running heavy exercises, or even direct sunlight exposure. Let the transplanted follicles settle in before you start doing any of these activities. A month or two after the surgery is enough to settle the complications.
Takeaway
While the results of a hair transplant are permanent, how long it lasts would totally depend on the health of the hair follicles and the success rate of the procedure. Finding the best hair transplant surgeon in Delhi for the procedure makes all the difference in the world.
At Desmoderm, you will get the proper consultation and hair transplant treatment from an experienced panel of cosmetic surgeons in a well-equipped clinic.