Does Hair Transplants Work?
Does Hair Transplants Work? How Long Can The Hair Transplant Last?
Find the right clinic and doctor who produces long-lasting results.
Hair loss is something that affects millions of people all over the World, both men and women, and it can affect their confidence and self-esteem significantly. Although hair transplants have been gaining traction as a solution for hair loss, viewing the process through the right lens is essential. Every baldness case is different, and every treatment does not have identical results. When looking for a successful hair restoration, one of the most important factors is the choice of the right clinic and surgeon. In this article, you will learn about what hair transplants are, what can affect their success and how important it is to choose an experienced doctor (especially if your hair loss is not due to Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA)).
Are Hair Transplants Effective?
The quick answer is true: hair transplants can be an effective, permanent solution to hair loss. Hair transplants are among the most effective forms of treatment for AGA, a condition where hair follicles are sensitive to the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). An excellently performed hair transplant can maintain about 90% of the original transplanted hair, along with natural appearance and density. However, you also need to realize that the success of this surgery depends on the procedure itself and proper post-operative management.
If your hair loss is caused by something other than AGA, hair transplants may also not work. Less predictable results may be seen in conditions such as alopecia areata, scarring alopecia, or hair loss caused by medication or other health problems. This is why an experienced hair restoration specialist requires a full diagnostic workup prior to any surgical hair restoration.
In simple terms, a hair transplant is a medical process that regrows hair by moving hair follicles from one part of the scalp that is weak or bald to another. This may sound simple enough, but the process takes tons of experience, as well as care and knowledge of hair growth patterns, to ensure the results look as natural as possible.
The hair transplants are of two types:
Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT): More commonly referred to as “strip surgery,” the FUT method involves removing a strip of scalp with hair follicles from the donor area. That strip is then sliced into little grafts placed in the benefactor zone. This method can cover bigger bald areas, but it leaves a line scar that can be seen after a shorter hairstyle. Because of the incision, it may also take longer to recover.
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is a newer, minimally invasive method in which individual hair follicles are extracted from the donor area using a small punch tool. The follicles are subsequently transplanted into the recipient site using small incisions. FUE has several advantages over FUT, such as quicker recovery, less noticeable scarring, and a more comfortable process.
FUE and FUT can produce good results, but FUE is usually preferred because it is less invasive and looks more natural.
Advances in Hair Transplant Methods; DHI and Sapphire FUE
Smile Hair Clinic, one of Turkey’s best hair transplantation centres has developed the FUE technique and named it the Sapphire FUE technique. Instead of the traditional steel blade, sapphire blades are used, which means smaller, more precise incisions. The sapphire blade’s V-shaped design allows for high precision and minimal scarring, resulting in more rapid healing and better graft survival.
The combined incision-implementer pen (DHI) method is the next level of hair transplant technology. However, this technique merges several of the benefits of FUE with a custom-built implanter pen used to implant the follicles directly with minimal handling. The DHI Implanter Pen protects hair grafts from mechanical damage and enables the natural placement of hair follicles with high density and exact angle. For smaller graft counts, this method is recommended as it prolongs the procedure.
Overall, Sapphire FUE and DHI deliver very high success rates when performed by experienced surgeons at clinics such as Smile Hair Clinic in Istanbul, Türkiye, where Dr Bilgin and Dr Erdoğan practice; these two have established new levels of excellence in hair transplantation with these two advanced tools and techniques.
The Importance of Selecting the Right Clinic and Surgeon
The Most Important Point For A Happy Hair Transplant: Choosing The Right Clinic — With Experienced Doctors! This procedure falls under the domain of more advanced surgical techniques, and thus, understanding the anatomy of the scalp, how hair follicles grow and how different types of hair follicles can be harvested is very much necessary. Your transplant largely depends upon the skill of your doctor. An experienced surgeon will evaluate your hair loss pattern, advise you on the most suitable method, and ensure it can be performed according to your hair type.
The clinic of your choice should also be outfitted with the latest technology and follow strict hygiene and safety standards. If lower-quality clinics provide lousy work, they sacrifice basic steps that generate ordinary results that may harm health. The next best decision is to travel to a well-known clinic and sector, such as Turkey, to increase the possibility of obtaining the best possible results. For example, Smile Hair Clinic: Dr. Gökay Bilgin and Dr. Mehmet Erdoğan lead one of the best Turkish hair transplant clinics all over the World that have high hair restoration success rates due to the innovative techniques they use. From the link below, please check if the clinic you are considering is accredited by the Turkish Health Ministry or not:
https://shgmturizmdb.saglik.gov.tr/TR-76664/yetkili-saglik-tesisleri.htmlLink
Many factors determine hair transplant success.
Multiple factors affect the success of a hair transplant, which are:
The Experience of Your Surgeon: You may have heard this from many sources a hundred times: the surgeon’s experience matters most. Experienced hair transplant surgeons can address issues that might arise and provide the most natural results.
Method Of Your Own Choice: Asper Your Requirement, Method Of Your Own Choice (FUE, FUT, Sapphire FUE, or DHI) Methods of Sapphire FUE and DHI are more advanced and lead to better results and faster recovery. However, not all methods will suit you, so it is preferable to seek the assistance of a specialist surgeon.
Degree of Hair Loss: A hair transplant is limited by how much density can be restored and how much healthy donor hair remains. Those with minimal donor areas will have fewer options.
Reason for the hair loss: If the hair loss is not AGA-related, meaning it is caused by autoimmune conditions, deficiency diseases, medication side effects, etc., a hair transplant is likely to be ineffective. That’s because non-AGA hair loss is notoriously unpredictable, even after it’s been transplanted.
Following your surgeon’s post-operative care instructions is crucial for the survival of your grafts and hair growth. Proper after-care can help ensure your transplant’s overall success.
Hair Transplant Alternatives: Non-Surgical Solutions
But for patients with conditions that are not considered ready for transplant or respond poorly to surgery, there are other non-surgical therapies available, including the following:
Medication such as Minoxidil and Finasteride can help to some degree in controlling hair loss. However, the results usually require ongoing treatment, and they tend to be less beneficial in persons with non-AGA hair loss.
Plasma-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy: PRP is an injection of the patient’s lymphatic platelets, which can lead to hair growth when injected into the scalp. That said, PRP does require maintenance sessions to maintain results.
Low-level laser Therapy (LLLT) is a treatment with laser stimulation of hair follicles. The result is growth; however, for some types of hair loss, it is not practical.
These alternatives can be more functional while treating hair loss in the early stages, but on average, they are not permanent solutions for hair transplants. If you want a permanent treatment — over baldness related to AGA- a practising hair restoration still has your best safety.
Why you should spend money on the best hair transplant centre?
The most important part of the answer to this question is that the better the results after the hair transplant, the more accurate the clinic selection. Advanced clinics provide more skilled hands and expansion of skills. Thus, the risk of complications is lower. With many years of hair transplantation experience, leading surgeons like Dr Gökay Bilgin and Dr Mehmet Erdoğan are prepared for exceptional cases, especially in patients with vast hair loss, guaranteeing the best results.
However, the effectiveness of enhanced methods like DHI or Sapphire FUE heavily relies on the expertise and experience of the performing physician. It allows patients to view the before-and-after photos and thus check whether the work done in the clinic is as per their expectations or not. In addition, you would be wise to read the reviews and testimonies of former patients.
Hair transplants are a sensible, permanent way to treat AGA hair loss. However, the procedure’s success depends on the clinic and the surgeon. When looking at getting a hair transplant in Türkiye, do not cut corners based on price, and research the clinic and doctor. A hair transplant is a permanent solution when done meticulously under the supervision of an expert. If your hair loss is caused by something besides AGA, you must consult a qualified specialist to determine whether or not a hair transplant is an option or whether other hair loss treatments should be considered first.
A hair transplant in the right hands can change your looks and your life—a gift of permanent, natural hair that can be styled however you want.