Index
A hair that is leafy, shiny, and full-bodied is the dream in all the cultures of the world.
Hair has always been an essential aspect of people’s physical appearance.
Statistics reveal that one out of every two men worldwide suffers from alopecia and typical male hair loss of genetic origin.
The hair transplant is a practice increasingly requested by men.
This procedure consists of taking a piece of skin located in the back region of the head, preparing them, then performing an implant in the required areas, and obtaining a natural appearance.
This type of transplant does not produce any rejection, as it is an autograft.
Causes of alopecia
Generally, cases of baldness are a condition and not a disease.
A genetic predisposition often causes baldness.
There are other causes of alopecia, which may be definitive or transient and may be caused by:
- The alterations of psychological type.
- Dermatitis on the scalp.
- Ectodermal dysplasias of the congenital type.
- Immunological disorders
- Presence of endocrine diseases.
- Stress.
- Sequelae of scars due to surgery or trauma.
Diagnosis for the recommendation of a capillary implant
It is necessary to make a differential diagnosis of the causes of baldness, to define if it is due to congenital diseases, immunological diseases, or psychogenic diseases.
Different tests are needed to evaluate whether hair transplantation is possible or indicated in such cases.
Because alopecia is a hereditary condition in most cases, it is not possible to combat this genetic predisposition.
However, the production of hormones can be inhibited thanks to the administration of an androgen antagonist such as finasteride.
To prevent the advance of alopecia and preserve the amount of hair, the administration of finasteride with minoxidil is recommended.
We combine a vasodilator and hair follicle stimulant, which becomes a very effective treatment.
Other treatments include a series of vitamins, amino acids, hair lotions, antiseborrheic shampoo, and dietary supplements.
These are treatments for hair follicle nutrition, but they will never get the hair out again.
The hair implant represents the only solution to recover hair density in those wholly or partially bald areas.
The capillary implant is effective in cases of alopecia of cicatricial, inflammatory, degenerative, or psychogenic origin.
So, this treatment is indicated to solve those consequences caused by some scalp conditions.
Process
Men and women over 18 are candidates for a hair implant procedure.
This technique is minimally invasive and is performed on an outpatient basis since it does not represent a risk factor for other conditions of the patient.
The surgeon will evaluate the most suitable implant for each patient.
The specialist who can perform a hair transplant is a qualified medical surgeon.
A doctor with studies in the principles of tissue transplantation and the biology and graft plasty, a plastic surgeon with extensive experience and training in hair transplantation.
The procedure is based on the graft of units of follicles that move from the donor area of the same individual to the receptor area called the alopecia area.
The follicles that will be implanted are extracted from the posterior and lateral sides of the head because these areas are not genetically susceptible to the fall caused by the hormones.
The follicles obtained in these areas and transplanted to the recipient’s zone will be vascularized, carrying out their normal growth cycle.
In addition, because grafts are used, scarring in the bed of the thinning areas will facilitate graft incrustation for life.
Before performing the treatment, the surgeon outlines, together with the patient, the most appropriate design taking into account the degree of alopecia, age, and aesthetic characteristics desired by the patient.
This extraction of the tissues is a quick practice and is performed under local anesthesia.
Usually, a 20 cm long x 1 cm wide strip of tissue from the scalp in the occipital region is removed, or some mini incisions are made with specific instruments.
The wounds left by this extraction are closed by suturing.
This part of the procedure leaves a linear scar in the case of the strip or is almost invisible when it comes to the mini incisions, which are disguised with the patient’s hair.
The advantages of this technique lie in the fact that there is enough tissue to be used by the patient himself without any inconvenience due to rejection.
Once this tissue is removed, each follicle is separated to perform the immediate implant by the group of plastic surgeon assistants in charge of this task.
When the implants are performed, they will be executed one by one, and an average of 5000 follicles per session can be transported.
This allows the covering of a surface of a size equivalent to the palm for each session.
In those cases with advanced alopecia, it may be necessary to practice the implant in several sessions (from 2 to 3).
You should wait about 12 months between the practice of one session and the next to recover the elasticity of the scalp.
To avoid excessive bleeding, a vasoconstrictor mixture is applied that prevents it, injected at the time of extraction and when the implant is made in the receiving area.
In addition, due to the depth of the implant, which does not reach more than 2 to 3 mm, it is not possible to damage any vessel, nerve, or essential structure in the head.
Thanks to the use of local anesthesia, this procedure is not painful. Only a certain discomfort caused by anesthetic injections is perceived; the patient remains awake throughout the process.
Sedation will only be performed if the patient is nervous or prefers to be sedated.
Postoperative care of the hair implant
Once the implant is made, the patient must follow minimum postoperative protection measures.
The bandages used to cover the area of the wound once the implant is made are eliminated the next day.
It must be protected from the sun during the first days, and the realization of intense physical activity is not recommended until at least three weeks after the procedure.
In case of edema, the local application of ice and an anti-inflammatory prescription is recommended, which usually eliminates the swelling in 2 or 3 days.
Once the capillary implant session is over, the doctor usually prescribes drugs such as antibiotics, analgesics, and anti-inflammatories for three days, to prevent infections and inflammations that may occur.
The patient must maintain regular hygiene after performing the procedure.
A head wash should be performed once a day, with the help of a small cosmetic brush and followed by applying a gentle massage of the area of the implant with the tips of the fingers.
This practice guarantees the asepsis of the grafts, they remain clean, and it is possible to detach those small cicatrizing scabs that form after the implant.
The growth of implanted hair follows the normal growth cycle.
After three months of the implant being performed, hair growth occurs at an average rate of approximately 1 cm per month.
It is necessary to wait nine months to observe the final results.
The efficiency of the capillary implant
Approximately 90% of the grafts are effective.
This efficacy can go up to 95% in some patients or decrease to 80%.
But in either case, the percentage of effectiveness observed is sufficient to ensure excellent results with adequate amounts of hair in the implant area.
The ultimate goal of this implant is the individual’s satisfaction with achieving a more significant amount of hair.
A well-made capillary implant will achieve a completely natural appearance.
In this procedure, the patient’s hair is used, and hair is done by the hair, following a correct orientation, with the concept of aesthetic design that must be consistent with the harmony of the face.
In addition, special microsurgery instruments are used to minimize injuries to produce outstanding results without leaving traces of the procedure.
Hair implants made in patients with dark, thick, or curly hair produce better results than those with blonde, fine or straight hair.
Once the implant is done, no special care is required.
The hair can be washed every day, allowed to grow to the desired length, and combed with the same frequency as would be done with natural hair.
It can be dyed or handled according to the patient’s preferences since these follicles infer the same strength as normal hair.
