Male pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia is a term that is a cause of anxiety among men since it is the most common type of hair loss. According to a study published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), more than 50 per cent of men above the age of 50 are affected by male pattern baldness to some extent or the other. While genetics is one of the significant factors for this condition, it could also be aggravated due to excessive smoking or medical conditions. If the male pattern baldness is caused due to genetic factors, then it has no side effects. However, baldness could sometimes be a byproduct of more serious conditions, such as thyroid conditions, certain cancers, and anabolic steroids.
Hair transplant as a solution to balding:
The advancements in medical technology have come forth with various solutions to hair loss, and in return, male pattern baldness. The most prevalent of these methods is in the form of hair transplant surgery. In this technique, hair follicles in the form of hair grafts are extracted from one part of the head, called the donor site, and are transplanted into the balding areas of the head, called the recipient site. If you’re looking for hair transplant in Kolkata, here is everything you need to know about the procedure:
How hair transplant works:
Most of the balding that takes place on your scalp is caused due to the presence of DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which is the main culprit of hair loss in males suffering from androgenic alopecia (or balding). In a typical hair transplant procedure, the hair strands are transplanted from the back and sides of the head (donor area) into the balding (recipient) areas. The hair follicles in these donor regions are naturally resistant to the DHT hormone, and since the transplantation is done at the root level, the transplanted hair are resistant to hair loss as well.
Since hair loss is caused due to hair follicles instead of problems in the scalp, the transplanted hair don’t fall out like the hair before the procedure. However, the transplanted hair may fall off within two to three weeks after the surgery. This is called shock loss and is very common. After the initial hair fall, the transplanted hair will start growing eventually, and the finished result of the procedure will be visible after three to four months.
Procedure:
A hair transplant can be performed by some procedures, most of which have been described below:
FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation): This method of hair transplantation is achieved by removing thin strips of tissues containing hair from the donor regions of the scalp. The harvested tissues are then dissected into multiple units comprising one to four hair strands each by the use of a special microscope. These hair grafts are then implanted into the recipient region to recreate the growth pattern of natural hair. This transplant method is best suited for patients who have a larger extent of hair loss, as one surgical session can successfully transplant somewhere between 2500 to 4000 grafts. However, since it involves harvesting of strips of tissues, the FUT method also results in linear scarring.
FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction): In the FUE method, the extraction of hair follicles is performed using a microsurgical extraction instrument. Since the procedure is mildly invasive, the patient is administered local anaesthesia. The area of the scalp that is supposed to receive grafts is then punctured with another microsurgical needle, and the individual hair strands are inserted into the balding area in a manner that matches the angle and density of natural hair growth. Unlike the FUT method, instead of extracting long strips, the individual hairs are removed to prevent scarring.
AHI (Aesthetic Hair Implants): This variation of the FUE technique makes use of a mechanised extractor that has tiny punch grafts of diameter 0.5 to 0.8 mm. This efficient and precise technique speeds up extraction and can thus transplant 3,000 to 5,000 strands of hair in a single sitting. The dimensions of the extractor and implanter make sure that there is no scope of scarring, as the marks left after extraction are close to invisible. Like other transplant procedures, the restored hair follicles behave in the same manner as hair from the other donor areas, and show a gradual growth of ½ cm per month.
Hair transplant procedures harvest hair grafts from patients and then implant them into the balding areas. The transplanted hair will follow the behaviour of natural hair, which means that they will continue to grow in the same manner as in the natural area. During your consultation for hair transplant in Kolkata, your trichologist will make sure that you’re a suitable candidate for the procedure. This involves taking into account various factors like family history of hair loss, age, and existing medical conditions. While the results from hair transplant might not necessarily be permanent, they are one of the most successful and long-lasting treatments for hair loss. The longevity of your transplant also depends on how well you take care of transplanted hair.
