Most of us tend to neglect our locks until they start showing signs of damage. Hair transplant can help individuals restore their hair to its best condition. If you are bordered about your hair thinning or going bald, then there are procedures that will help you feel confident about your looks. This is when a hair transplant can help you.

What is a hair transplant?
It is a kind of surgery that shifts the position of hair you already have to fill the area with thin or no hair. Doctors have been performing hair transplants since the 1950s in the U.S. However, the techniques have been changed a lot in recent years.
The procedure is completed in a doctor’s office. The surgeon cleans your scalp and injects medicine for numbing the back of your head. Your doctor will choose any one of the popular hair transplant procedures depending on your requirements. They will study your hair condition in detail before performing any procedure on your scalp.       
The doctor you are consulting for hair transplantation will first choose one of the two methods for the transplant: follicular unit extraction (FUE) and Follicular unit strip surgery (FUSS). The surgeon removes a minimum of 6 to 10 inches of a strip of skin from the back of your head. They set it aside and sew the scalp closed. This region is immediately hidden by the hair around it.  
The surgeon then divides the strips of the removed scalp into tiny grafts which contain either individual hair or a few strands. The kind and the number of grafts done are dependent on your hair color, quality, type, and the size of the area on your scalp receiving the transplant. If you are receiving an FUE procedure, the surgeon will shave the back of your scalp. They will then remove hair follicles one by one. The area will then be covered by your existing hair.  
The following steps are the same in both the procedures. The entire procedure is completed within 4 to 8 hours. You might also require another procedure if you feel you need thicker hair or are still losing hair.  

Do hair transplants work?
Hair transplants are done for adding more volume to your head if your hair is thinning or balding.  The procedure is performed by taking hair from the thicker region in your scalp and other regions of the body and then grafting it to the thinning or blading section of the scalp. It has been reported that over 60 percent of men and women in the world experience some kind of hair loss. For addressing the issue, people rely on over-the-counter products such as topical treatments like minoxidil.
Hair transplants are typically more successful in comparison to over-the-counter hair restoration products. However, here are some factors to consider. The hair will fully grow back within three to four months. Just like regular hair, the transplanted hair would thin over time.
People who have dormant hair follicles may experience less effective transplants. This is the reason why it can be concluded that hair transplants would not work for everyone. They are mainly used for restoring hair if you have balding, have lost hair due to an injury, or experiencing thinning of hair.   
As most transplants involve using your existing hair, the procedure would not be beneficial in treating people experiencing loss of hair due to chemotherapy or other medications. Those who have thick scalp scars from injuries and also widespread baldness and thinning are not eligible for the hair transplant procedure.  

How does a hair transplant procedure work?
During a hair transplant procedure, the surgeon would take the hair you have and transfer it to the region where you are balding. Usually, the hair is taken from the back of your head but can also be taken from other parts of the body.
Before starting the procedure, the surgeon would sterilize the area where the hair will be removed. They will then numb the region with a local anesthetic. Your surgeon will then perform either of the two procedures: FUE or FUT.   

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)
This procedure is also referred to as the Follicular unit strip surgery (FUSS). For performing the procedure, the surgeon would follow the steps mentioned below.
1.    Using a scalpel, the surgeon would remove a section of your scalp. The process is usually performed on the back of your head. The strip size cut varies from about 6 to 10 inches but can stretch from ear to ear.
2.    They then cover the scalp with stitches
3.    Your surgeon and his team would separate the scalp strip into small sections using a scalpel. They then split the piece into 2,000 smaller fragments referred to as grafts. Some of these grafts may contain only one hair each.
4.    Using a blade or needle, the surgeon would make small holes in your scalp where hair will be transplanted. The surgeon would then insert hair from the removed piece of scalp into the puncture holes. This step is referred to as grafting.
5.    The surgical site is then covered with either gauze or a bandage
The number of grafts a person receives is dependent on the kind of hair, hair color, size of transplant site, and also thickness of the hair.  There are several other parameters used for deciding the number of grafts a person would receive which would be considered by the surgeon managing your treatment procedure.

Follicular unit extraction (FUE)
For performing an FUE procedure, your surgeon would follow the steps mentioned below.
1.    The back region of your hair is shaved off
2.    The surgeon then takes individual follicles from the scalp skin
3.    They then make small holes on your scalp and then start grafting hair follicles into the holes
4.    The surgical site is then covered with gauze or bandages

Recovery after the procedure
FUE and FUT may take several hours or days to be complete. It also depends on the amount of work performed by the surgeon. You can go back home the same day once the surgery is performed and your surgeon has removed the bandages. The area may appear swollen after the procedure. For this, the surgeon would inject triamcinolone for containing the swelling.   
You will also experience soreness or pain at the transplant site as well as in the entire region where hair was taken from. You could be prescribed pain medications, antibiotics for preventing infections, medications for stimulating hair growth, and anti-inflammatories such as oral steroids for relieving swelling.

Aftercare Tips to follow after hair transplant surgery
-    You must be able to return to work within 3 days
-    You need to wait for a few days after the surgery before washing your hair. Make sure to use the shampoo recommended by the doctor or any other mild shampoo for the first two weeks
-    Do not press a comb down the new grafts for the first 3 weeks after the procedure has been performed
-    Do not wear jackets or pullover shirts
-    Refrain from exercising for over a week

Side effects of the hair transplant procedure
The most common side effect noted after the procedure is scarring. This is something that cannot be avoided with any procedure. Other side effects include
-    Infections
-    Pus or crust around the site
-    Swelling, itching, scalp pain
-    Bleeding
-    Inflammation of hair follicles
-    Numbness around the surgical site

Who can benefit from a hair transplant procedure?
Receiving a hair transplant can improve your self-confidence and appearance. A good candidate for the procedure would be
-    Men with male pattern baldness
-    Anyone who has lost due to a scalp injury or a burn
-    Women with thinning hair
Opting for a hair transplant would not be suitable for women with a widespread pattern of hair loss all through their scalp. People who do not have enough donor sites on their scalp are not the right candidates for hair transplantation. People who develop keloid scars after a surgery or injury must refrain from going for hair transplantation. People who experience hair loss due to chemotherapy or due to medications.   

What to expect after a hair transplant procedure?
Most patients start seeing results within six to nine months after the surgery. Some patients need to wait for a longer time to witness the results. It is vital to learn that between two to eight weeks after the surgery, the hair that has been transplanted will fall out which is considered to be normal by the experts. Once the third month kicks in, the hair will start appearing thinner than you had before the transplant.     
To experience the best results from the procedure, your doctor would recommend you some medications that will treat hair loss. This is because thinning and hair loss would still continue before you see the results. Medicine can slow down or prevent thinning or hair and loss. This will ensure natural-looking results for many years to come.  

Kinds of hair transplant
During hair transplantation, a surgeon would remove follicles from the dense area of hair such as the back portion which is referred to as the donor area. They then implant the follicles into slits on the affected region of the scalp.  

There are two major kinds of hair transplant procedures.
-    Follicular unit strip surgery (FUSS)
The surgeon would remove a strip of skin from the donor area and then close the incision with stitches. They then use a microscope for separating the donor skin into tiny units that contain either one or a bunch of hair follicles and then insert the units into the desired area.   
 
-    Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
The surgeon in this procedure relies on a tiny punch tool for removing follicles from the donor area. Though this procedure results in some scarring, it is not much noticeable. Also, the person would not require any stitches.

-    Micro hair transplants
Micro hair transplants are also referred to as follicular unit grafting. In this procedure, each hair transplant is done to an individual follicle which is usually a group of one to four hairs. The surgeon will locate units of hair from a region on your scalp resistant to balding and will then implant them to the areas that are balding. As the harvested hairs are not prone to balding, they will continue to grow in a natural way.

Micro hair transplant procedures can be beneficial for individuals who are experiencing hair thinning. However, there are certain aspects that one must look into. For instance, the first requisite for this procedure is that one must have regions of high hair density on their back or sides. These can be considered donor areas. Another major aspect considered during the procedure is the flexibility of your scalp. The looser is the scalp, the easier it is to carry out the procedure.   
Both the procedures are effective but they may provide different results. Performing the FUE procedure requires more skill and takes a lot of time in comparison to the FUSS procedure. Each procedure can take several hours to complete based on the number of follicle implants and whether it involves the use of a local anesthetic or not.

How much would a hair transplant procedure cost?
The first thing that comes to the mind of any individual who considers the procedure is the hair transplant price. They wonder how many expenses they will have to bear. It is vital to remember that there is no fixed cost for the procedure. The average cost as well varies widely. The cost of any surgery is estimated by calculating the range of grafts that would be required for covering a specific region. The final cost would then be dependent on the kind of procedure performed and also on the progression of your hair loss.     

FUE hair transplant
With FUE hair transplanting, each follicular unit is harvested from the scalp. The follicles are removed randomly from the thicker region thereby allowing your physician to harvest hair from the donor area. The harvested hair is then replanted through microscopic circular incisions on the scalp.
There are two kinds of FUE hair transplants: Robotic and Manual FUE. A manual procedure is done by a physician using a handheld device for extracting individual hair follicles. A robotic procedure relies on a hair transplant device that is guided by a physician. The expert decides the amount of hair desired for harvesting and chooses where they need to be transplanted.   

Benefits of FUE hair transplant procedure
There are numerous benefits of opting for this procedure.
-    High-quality graft
The computerized transplantation procedure allows for real-time 3D analysis and calculation of the characteristics of the hair follicle. The healthiest and the strongest follicles are chosen for successful transplant and harvesting.

-    Natural-looking results
The procedure harvest hair in natural groupings and transplantation is also done on the same grounds. The process does not leave any scar behind and promises a more natural appearance.

-    No pain after the procedure is performed
FUE procedures involve the use of local anesthesia for ensuring minimal discomfort while the procedure is being carried out. As the process is minimally invasive, the patients would experience minimal pain.

-    Shorter recovery time
With no stitches or scalpels used in the procedure, the recovery process after the FUE transplant is quick. The procedure would take just 8 hours and you are free to go home the same day.

Ideal candidates for performing FUE transplant
Men who are experiencing thinning hair or balding in the front region are believed to be ideal candidates for opting for an FUE transplant. As the hair is transplanted from the donor area at the back, individuals need to have high density and hair thickness to be eligible for hair transplants. FUE is also a great option for individuals who are not eligible for FUT.     

How successful is the FUE transplant process?
FUE transplants have a graft survival rate of above 90 percent. The level of success of the procedure is also dependent on the knowledge, skill, and experience of the doctor you have chosen for performing the procedure on you. Hence, it is best to go for an experienced doctor for ensuring the success of the procedure. Instead of choosing a doctor depending on FUE hair transplant cost, you must always look into the expertise of the doctor.

Advantages of FUE hair transplant
1.    Manageable recovery time
The recovery time in the FUT procedure varies anywhere between 10-12 days. Some patients experience a high level of discomfort with the procedure in comparison due to other procedures because of potential swelling in the region where the scalp was removed. This is when the doctors prescribe pain medications to patients for lowering the discomfort.   

2.    High rate of follicle survival
With this transplant procedure, the hair is harvested from the zone where hair is thick and permanent. This is the reason why patients with limited availability of donor area are recommended to opt for FUT procedure. In this process, the follicles are harvested carefully so that the protective tissue remains intact and the grafts are of higher grade and are also robust.

3.    Natural-looking results
FUT procedure leaves you with a linear, thin scar that is no larger than 1mm in diameter. This makes it easier for you to conceal it with surrounding hair. Nobody can actually tell if you have had a hair transplant procedure or not if you have enough hair to conceal the grafts. With the FUT procedure, the patient’s hair is transplanted in small groups of 1-4 strands of hair. This allows you to enjoy natural-looking, fuller hair without revealing much about the procedure you have opted for.

4.    No additional scarring
Despite the number of procedures you undergo while opting for a FUT transplant, you just have one scar to manage. The FUE procedure leaves a small round scar behind each follicle unit harvested. FUE recovery is almost instant and you will be able to resume your everyday tasks in no time.

The success rate of FUT hair transplant
The success rate of any hair transplant procedure depends on the expertise of the doctor performing the procedure. Any experienced professional can assure a success rate as high as 95-98 percent. You need to remember that it is normal for the hair transplanted follicles to fall out before the new ones grow. This is something that is a part of the transplant process as well as the natural lifecycle of your hair.
It is also recommended to check FUE hair transplant before and after pictures of the procedure performed by the doctor you are considering on other patients. This will help you decide whether you need to avail of their service or not.   

Which hair transplant method is the best?
Both the procedures are excellent for men and women struggling with thinning of hair and rapid hair loss. While choosing between FUT and FUE, you need to make sure to discuss both options with your surgeon. They will help you decide which one is the most suitable procedure depending on your hair type.  
During the consultation process, the doctor would inform you about the expectations, goals, the number of FUE grafts that would be required to achieve complete coverage. They will also inform you about your final hairline design during the discussion phase.

The takeaway
Hair transplant procedures are very much in demand with more and more people losing hair and experiencing thinning of hair because of leading a hectic and stressful lifestyle. If you are concerned about your appearance, then opting for a suitable hair transplant procedure would be the safest and the best option for you. With numerous procedures available, it is essential to choose one which is right for you.

This guide explains what actually hair transplant is and what the FUE procedure is. It covers everything about the procedure, and what you can expect before and after the treatment.