Hair Replacement Surgery (Hair Transplants)

Hair Replacement (Hair Transplants)

Hair replacement surgery is a plastic surgery procedure that produces a fuller head of hair to patients who are experiencing some degree of baldness. The procedure can also be used to restore beard hair, eyebrows, eyelashes and can also be used to fill in hair over scars caused by accident or other procedures such as a face lift or a brow lift.

How Hair Transplant Surgery is Performed

In all cases of hair replacement surgery, the patient must have some hair growth either on the sides or the back of the head. These areas are referred to as donor sites. The hair follicles from the donor sites will be transplanted into the areas of the scalp that do not have hair. The two major procedures that are used by plastic surgeons are strip harvesting and follicular unit extraction. Strip harvesting involves removing strips of scalp from donor sites and then the strips are cut into smaller pieces and stitched to areas of the head that are without hair. In the case of follicular unit extraction, individual follicles are removed and replanted; this procedure is far less invasive and requires less healing time. In both cases the transplanted hair will fall out almost completely shortly after the operation before it begins to grow back permanently.

Length of Procedure and Required Treatments

Unfortunately, hair replacement surgery takes a very long time in relation to other cosmetic procedures. Typically it will take anywhere from 4-8 hours to complete the surgery. Often, multiple surgeries are required in order for the patient to achieve his or her goals. Surgeries should be spaced out a couple of months between each operation.

Recovering from Hair Replacement Surgery

Hair transplant recovery has greatly improved along with the modern techniques of performing the operation. Patients will tend to feel almost completely normal after 1 to 2 days. Numbness and tightness in the scalp may last up to a couple of weeks. Most importantly, the patient needs to stay out of the sun and shampoo their hair daily in order to prevent scabbing. The patient should also expect to lose the majority of the hair that was transplanted during surgery shortly after the procedure. This is known as shock loss and is usually only temporary. New hair will grow back in those areas providing the patient with a fuller head of hair.

Cost of Hair Replacement Surgery

The cost of hair transplants varies from patient to patient depending upon how much hair they need transplanted. Typically grafts will range from around $3.00 – $8.00 per graft. The average procedure will range anywhere from 1,000 – 5,000 grafts making the cost typically range from $6,000-$30,000.

Risks of Hair Replacement Surgery

Hair transplant surgery performed by a board certified plastic surgeon is a relatively safe procedure; however, there are risks to be taken into account. These include scarring, scabs, infection, and permanent loss of transplanted hair resulting in a second surgery.

Cost of Vaginal Surgery

Vaginal surgery will usually cost anywhere from $5,000-$8,000 and vaginal rejuvenation (both labiaplasty and vaginoplasty) will usually run up to $12,000.

Is Hair Replacement Surgery Right for You?

Ideal candidates for hair transplantation are adults who are unhappy with the amount of hair on their head. These adults must also have enough hair on the sides and back of their head to use in the transplantation process. Other candidates include those with hair missing from their eyebrows, eyelashes or beard. Also patients who have scars resulting from other procedures or from an accident are good candidates for the surgery.

How to Find Board Certified Hair Replacement Surgeons Near You

Choosing the right hair replacement surgeon can be a daunting task. Surgeons vary greatly in skill, experience and price. It is imperative that you speak with more than 1 surgeon before having a surgery performed on you. Don’t just shop for the best price, although a well priced surgery is a bonus, it is important that you feel comfortable with the surgeon you choose and confident that they will do the job right. Visit our plastic surgeon directory for 5 Star Surgeon Network Approval Rated™ Surgeons near You.