Hair transplants: a remedy for going bald
Written by:For the many people who believe looks are important, losing hair can be a disheartening experience. By moving hair from unaffected areas and implanting it in balding areas, hair transplants can bring back confidence along with a full head of hair. Hair transplants, considered a form of cosmetic surgery, may also be carried out on people who have androgenetic alopecia or who have scarring caused by burns or injury.
What does hair transplant surgery involve?
Hair transplant operations are performed using sedatives and local anaesthetic. There are two main types of hair transplant procedure, both of which take a whole day to perform but without the need for an overnight stay in hospital. Two or more repeat sessions may be necessary over the space of a few months if a large area is undergoing treatment. Patients should feel no pain during the operation, but will be prescribed pain relief in case any discomfort is experienced post-operation.
Follicular unit transplantation (FUT)
This type of hair transplant entails removing a strip of skin with hair from the sides and back of the head, and dividing it into hair grafts containing about two hairs each. Incisions are made into the scalp where these hair grafts are then placed, before the wound is closed with stitches.
Follicular unit extraction (FUE)
In order to carry out this hair transplant, it is usually necessary to shave the entire head of the patient. Individual hair grafts are then removed one by one using a specially-designed punching device, before each hair graft is then implanted into incisions in the scalp.
After either hair transplant, the patient may be given a lotion or spray to use at home. The specialist will give some post-operative care instructions that must be followed after discharge.
How much does a hair transplant cost?
As hair transplants are considered to be a form of aesthetic surgery, they are not available on the NHS. The cost of a hair transplant depends on how much hair has been lost, the type of procedure, and the quality of the clinic and medical team. The price of a hair transplant in the UK can range from £1,000 to £30,000. For more information, get in touch with a specialist.
