When we enjoy good health, we tend to take it for granted. Same goes for our locks. Most of us take our locks for granted – that is, until we start losing hair. If you are suffering from baldness and if it bothers you, a hair transplant procedure can bring back your glorious mane. How? Let’s get to the bottom of it.
WHAT IS A HAIR TRANSPLANT?
A hair transplant procedure is a surgical process that relocates small clusters of hair from one site to another, usually involving harvesting a strip of tissue with healthy hair from the back or side of your scalp. Our experienced hair specialists then separate the tissues using stereomicroscopic magnification into small clusters of follicular units for transplantation. It is primarily used to treat male pattern baldness, even in the most advanced cases of common male pattern baldness (MPB). In technical terms, this technique is also known as Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT).
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Now here’s the serious stuff. The hair graft’s survival depends on this. The FUT is performed through 4 simple steps:
1. Strip Harvesting
Our specialist will harvest a strip of scalp from an area with healthy hair growth (also known as donor area).
2. Strip Silvering
After the strip is taken from the donor site, the surgeon then cuts the strip into many fine strips.
3. Graft Dissection
The fine strips are then dissected into individual grafts to be inserted into the recipient sites. Done by an experienced hair specialist using a stereoscopic microscope, the scalp is divided into follicular units consisting of a cluster of 2-5 hair strands with the necessary tissues intact for survival.
4. Graft insertion
Micro (extremely tiny) surgical blades create tiny pockets and they are filled with individual hair grafts.
To keep them secure and properly oriented, a turban-like bandage is usually applied after the operation and left in place overnight. Not the most glamourous, but it helps the new hair stay in place.
The following day, the bandage is removed and the area is cleansed. The recipient area typically heals in a week and you will most likely be able to see visible results in approximately 6 to 8 months.
IS IT PAINFUL?
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, so once the effect kicks in, you will not feel any discomfort. Put your favorite blockbuster movie on or read a book while you are at it.
HOW MANY HAIR TRANSPLANT PROCEDURES WILL I NEED?
It really depends. The number of treatments depends on the number of areas (front, mid-scalp and vertex), balding conditions and size and hair density at the donor area. Each of these areas can be treated together or separately, depending on the balding conditions. A man with an average-sized bald area may need up to 3 sessions, while 1 to 2 sessions may be sufficient to restore hair growth in less severe cases.
IS HAIR TRANSPLANT PERMANENT?
Yes, it is. The great part about a hair transplant is that it is a permanent solution for hair loss. However, it is impossible to predict precisely how many hairs will appear in any given graft. Usually, at least 95% of them will survive transplanting. Not uncommonly, more hairs will grow than numbers planted because some were in an invisible “resting phase” when they were originally counted.
IN SUMMARY
Current techniques have increased the proportion of patients who can be helped through the use of hair transplants, while at the same time producing far more natural-looking results than those of the past. Follicular Units create a very natural-looking hairline, enabling patients to wear their hair in virtually any style.
Whether you are a man or a woman interested in hair transplant or any other cosmetic procedures, you can trust the doctors at Dream Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery to take good care of you. Keen to find out more about the hair transplant procedure we offer? Click here to find out more or Give us a call at + 65 6871 8888!
About Dream Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery
Bespoke surgical for cosmetic or medical reasons is what Dream covers to bring out the beauty in every individual. Going beyond the aesthetics and working on physical anomalies are what we value the most in leading our patients to cherish self-improvement and confident lifestyles.
Derived from Associate Professor Vincent Yeow’s long-standing experience performing plastic surgery in Singapore, our treatment plans deliver physical remodelling in our patients’ favour. One of the notable remodellings is droopy eyelid correction. The ptosis surgery used for treatment eventually fixes drooping eyelids, improves vision and enhances appearance.
Most importantly, as a trustworthy plastic surgery and aesthetic clinic, we treasure positive and natural outcomes for each individual. We will ensure to deliver the beauty refinement of your dream without compromising your safety and privacy.
