Getting into Hair Transplants

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We’re pretty sure you’ve heard of hair transplants by now and may even know someone who you think should get one. But how much about hair transplants do you know? If you thought, ‘Hmmm, not much actually, then do not fret; we have you covered. In this article, we unpack the nitty-gritty facts about hair transplants so you can make more informed decisions or suggestions. Let’s start at the beginning: what is a hair transplant? Essentially, a hair transplant is the transfer of hair follicles from a donor area (usually the back or sides of the scalp) to the recipient area (where hair is thinning or balding). Simply put, a hair transplant takes the hair you have and transfers it to an area where you don’t have any. It's a surgical procedure performed under local anaesthesia where hair grafts are carefully implanted to create a natural look and must be done by a licensed surgical doctor. A common question about hair transplants is, ‘Does it hurt’? The short answer is yes, but before starting a transplant, your surgeon sterilises the area where the hair will be removed and numbs it with a local anaesthetic. You can also request sedation in order to stay asleep for the whole procedure. Next, your surgeon will perform one of the following transplant methods: Follicular unit transplantation (FUT) or Follicular unit extraction (FUE). Let’s unpack both. Method 1: Follicular unit transplantation (FUT) FUT is sometimes known as follicular unit strip surgery (FUSS). Below are the steps taken to perform a FUT:

1. The surgeon uses a scalpel to remove a piece of your scalp, usually from the back of your head. The length of the strip is usually between 6 and 10 inches, but it can go from ear to ear.

2. They use stitches to close the area where the scalp was taken off.

3. With a scalpel, your surgeon and their assistants cut the scalp strip into smaller pieces. They might cut the piece into up to 2000 smaller pieces, which are called grafts. Some of these grafts can contain only one hair.

4. Using a needle or blade, the surgeon makes small holes in your scalp where hair will be transplanted.

5. The surgeon inserts hairs from the removed piece of scalp into the puncture holes. This step is called grafting.

6. Then, they put bandages or gauze over the places where the surgery was done.

Method 2: Follicular unit extraction (FUE) Below are the steps your surgeon will follow during a FUE procedure:

1. Your surgeon will shave off the hair on the back of your head.

2. Following that, your surgeon will extract individual follicles from the scalp skin. You will notice tiny marks where each follicle was extracted.

3. Similar to the FUT procedure, your surgeon makes small holes in your scalp and grafts hair follicles into those holes.

4. Then, they put a bandage or gauze over the area where the surgery was done.

Hair transplants give long-lasting results because the hair that is transplanted is usually resistant to hormones that make hair fall out. They are thought to be a permanent solution to hair loss because they cause hair to grow naturally and last in the treated areas. Whether or not a hair transplant is worth it depends on what you want and expect. It is important that you have realistic expectations and talk to a professional to find out if it is the right choice for your hair loss situation. Remember, MPL always recommends exploring non-surgical solutions, like our range of hair treatments and care products, before considering surgical procedures. We hope you found this blog informative!

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