Hairs on the sides and the back of the head are not affected by genetic pattern hair loss. As a result Dr. Yazdan can remove donor hair follicles from these areas and relocate them to the top of the scalp where hair loss has occurred. The newly transplanted hair will grow exactly as it had from the donor region.
There are two techniques that Dr. Yazdan can use to transplant the hair – follicular unit extraction (FUE), where individual hair follicles are extracted and then transplanted, or follicular unit transplant (FUT), where a narrow strip of hair is removed from the donor area and groups of hair follicles are then transplanted to the scalp.
Before beginning a hair transplant Dr. Yazdan will review several important concerns:
- Are you in good general health?
- Do you have any bleeding or healing disorders?
- Your age and degree of hair loss.
- The quality and quantity of your donor hair.
- What is your ultimate cosmetic goal?
Dr. Yazdan will design a hairline that is appropriate based on your hair loss.
Interested in hair restoration surgery?
Schedule a hair loss consultation with Dr. Yazdan
Donor Hair Removal
FUT Strip Method
A FUT procedure takes and lifts a narrow strip of hair and skin from the back of the head. The hair from above will cover the area after suturing. Both the top and the back of the scalp is anesthetized. Patients may be given the option of of a sedative while the local anesthesia is applied. This is usually the only discomfort you will feel during the procedure, and lasts only one or two minutes.
After the narrow strip is removed from the donor area, the skin from above and below is brought back together with a simple running stitch. The stitches are covered by your hair and removed in about ten days, usually leaving a fine scar line that is concealed by your own hair.
It is important to note with the strip procedure that if you shave your hair in the donor area a narrow scar line may show.
From the donor strip, naturally occurring follicular units, usually groups of 1-4 hairs, are separated under a microscope to preserve every follicle. They are then transplanted to the scalp.
FUE – Follicular Unit Extraction
Donor area immediately after FUE’s have been extracted.
With this method, follicular units are extracted individually. There are several mechanized devices like NeoGraft Hair Transplant System, Artas Robotic, AlphaGraph and Safscribe that can be used to safely extract and transplant the individual hair follicles.
In just a few days following the transplant, the tiny incisions will heal and no signs of surgery will be visible.(Learn more about FUE Hair Transplant in Orange County)
Interested in hair restoration surgery?
Schedule a hair loss consultation with Dr. Yazdan
Recipient Sites
Once the grafts are excised whether by FUT or FUE the placement of the grafts is the same. Dr. Yazdan next creates the sites where the follicular unit hair grafts will be placed. Tiny recipient site “envelopes” are made with a specialized instrument at the hairline for the smallest exclusively single hair grafts. As Dr. Yazdan works back he will place gradually larger grafts containing two, three, or four hair follicles. During the procedure, you will be awake and can chat with the doctor and his staff. Procedure time is usually between 3 to 6 hours and you may eat or drink during the procedure.
When your hair transplant has been completed you will be provided with post-operative instructions, medicines and shampoo. You will leave the office with a little or no bandage and will be able to shampoo your hair the next day.
Most patients resume normal activity in a day or two. Tiny crusts will form where the transplants have been placed and usually shed in 4 to 7 days. The small hairs in the newly transplanted grafts normally shed within 2 to 4 weeks after the procedure, and permanent hair growth begins in 8 to 12 weeks. You should expect significant cosmetic hair growth within 6 months and full hair growth within 9 to 12 months.
Only one or two procedures are usually enough to treat a specific area of hair loss. Potential future hair loss is taken into account when any hairline work is performed. The initial consultation with Dr. Yazdan will help individualize the procedure to the patient’s hair quality and density, as well as gain an understanding of expectations.