Is Hair Transplant Permanent? How long do they last?

Hair Transplants

Hair transplants are one of the least expensive ways to get more hair compared to other hair restoration methods. In hair transplant surgery, hair grafts are taken from your head and body and put in areas of your scalp that are bald or have less hair.

Some of the new hair may fall out in the first three months after a hair transplant. But you shouldn't worry too much because, as part of your hair's growth cycle, your natural hair grows after the transplanted hair falls out.

Even though the procedure helps restore natural hair growth, studies show that 85 to 90% of hair transplants grow back within 9 to 12 months. This article tells you everything you need to know about hair transplant surgery's long-term and permanent effects.

What is a hair transplant?

A hair transplant is a permanent way to stop hair loss and start growing hair again. Hair transplants make it possible for hair to grow on the transplanted or thinning parts of the scalp in a way that looks natural.

During a hair transplant, the surgeon takes hair grafts from healthy, thickly growing sections of hair and carefully puts them in the area where hair is needed. Since the first hair transplant was done in Japan, the process has improved, and micrografts handled with a microscope are now used.

It helps make natural hairlines and precise placement of grafts in areas where hair is thinning, making hair transplants last longer and more stable.

Who is a good candidate for a hair transplant?

Men and women with one or more problems may be good candidates for hair transplants.

Androgenic alopecia (AGA) with good donor sites,

Loss of hair or balding in a certain pattern,

Male pattern baldness,

Hair loss due to trauma, accident, burns, or scars.

However, the two things below must be true to be considered for a hair transplant.

Have enough healthy hair on the head that it can be taken out and put in other parts of the body.

Can grow hair in places on the scalp where hair is thinning.

Your dermatologist will thoroughly examine your scalp to check for the above two things. Dermatologists in Roorkee will also order a blood test to find out what is causing hair loss. Scalp biopsy is another way to check the health of the scalp.

After a thorough evaluation and investigation, your dermatologist will decide if you are a good candidate for a hair transplant and talk to you about its goals and results.

What happens during a hair transplant?

Local anesthesia is used during hair transplant surgery to numb the scalp. The whole thing could take anywhere from 4 to 8 hours. And if the area you want to transplant is big, you may need an extra sitting.

In India, there are two different ways to transplant hair.

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) or Follicular Unit Strip Surgery (FUSS) or Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)

The main idea is the same for both methods, but the methods, length of time, and results differ.

The doctor will take you through the following steps during the hair transplant surgery.

The healthy hair is taken from the donor sites by the surgeon. In FUE, the surgeon will trim the healthy hair before taking out each unit of hair.

In FUT, the whole strip of thickly-haired skin is taken.

In FUT, sutures are used to join the pieces of skin together. In FUT extraction, the hair strips are made and cut based on where the hair is coming from.

At the same time, the donor site is ready, and the single hairs or hair segments are taken out are put in the balder parts of the scalp.

After the transplant, gauze and bandages will be put on the scalp to protect it.

What happens after a hair transplant?

The scalp will be sore and sensitive after getting a hair transplant. You will probably have pain, bleeding, and swelling, so painkillers will be given to you. You may also be given antibiotics and medicines to reduce pain and swelling. After surgery, the bandages will have to stay on for a few days.

But you can return to work and your daily activities 2–5 days after surgery. The transplanted hair may fall out or shed after 2 to 3 weeks. It is normal and can go on for up to three months.

With both FUT and FUE, it usually takes six to nine months for new hair to grow after surgery. Statistics show that 85 to 90% of the hair that has been transplanted grows back. You may also be given extra medicines, like capsules that help hair grow, to help it grow faster. Your doctor will give you instructions to follow after a hair transplant that will help you get better and heal faster. We'll talk about some of them below.

Steroids and cortisone should be avoided because they make you more likely to bleed.

Before and after surgery, you can't drink or smoke at all.

Get enough sleep and try to sleep on your stomach until your scalp is fully healed.

Don't use hair spray, gel, or anything else to style your hair.

Don't do sports or exercises that are hard on your body.

Don't wash your hair for a few days or until you're told to.

Do not style your hair or wear a wig until your doctor tells you to.

What can we expect in the long run?

It can take a long time for a hair transplant to heal. But once the area that was transplanted has completely healed, the hair-growing follicles show up. New hair grows in with the same texture and colour. When you get hair transplanted through micrografting, you can cut, style, and colour it however you want.

Many people wonder if the hair transplant will last for a long time. It's important to know that hair loss can happen as you age because of how your hair grows. But you keep most of the hair that was transplanted for the rest of your life.

But let's say the pattern of hair loss stays the same, and the hair continues to thin. In that case, you will need to talk to your dermatologist about it so that your hair doesn't look patchy.

How long do transplanted hairs last?

It is one of the questions people who have had hair transplants often ask. Most of the time, hair transplants last for the rest of your life. They are made to be permanent solutions that don't need much or any extra work.

The hairline looks better and more hair grows after a hair transplant. The best thing about hair transplants is that they help you get your hair back. People may notice hair loss in the first few days after a transplant. But this will be followed by regrowths.

After a year or more of taking care of yourself after a hair transplant, the results are clear and last for life.

What you need to know before you plan a hair transplant

You need to know a few important things about hair transplants before you go ahead with your plans.

A hair transplant is a type of surgery that is only slightly invasive. Between FUT and FUE, FUT is the more dangerous one because it leaves bigger scars and takes longer to heal. And FUE leaves small scars that look like dots and heals faster than other methods.

When the hair heals and grows back after surgery, it looks just as good as hair that grows naturally. It can be cared for and treated like one if it is done regularly.

Every person's condition and needs are different, so hair transplants and their results are also different.

The technology used in hair transplants is very advanced, and new robotic instruments can be used for more accurate results.

The results of a hair transplant depend on several things, like how experienced and skilled the surgeon and their team are. But how well someone gets better and what happens after surgery depends on how they are cared for and what they do next.

Most transplanted hair grows back after a year, and hair loss and thinning are less likely to happen in the transplanted areas.

Dr Hera’s Skin & Hair Clinic gives patients full follow-up care to ensure they get the best long-term results.

So, as we've seen, most people who get a hair transplant are given drugs to help their hair grow. After a few years, you may need to get another hair transplant. For the best long-term results, you should talk to your doctor about the risks and limits of hair transplantation.

But our treatment doesn't end when the graft is safe, and your scalp has healed. The open-door policy at Dr Hera’s Skin & Hair Clinic means that patients will always have access to professional hair care. You can come back to us any time for more testing and treatment or to get ongoing support and advice on how to take care of your hair and avoid problems.

If you are thinking about getting a hair transplant, our experienced team can talk to you to figure out the best way to treat you. Please call us at +91 7060854824 to set up a meeting.