SINGAPORE ASSOCIATION OF PLASTIC SURGEONS

Hair Transplantation

HAIR TRANSPLANTATION

It is a surgical process that involves removal of hair follicles from any site in the body and planting them on the hairless portion. This process is also used in transplanting hair in lashes and brows. The results are permanent and follicular clusters of hair are transplanted. This process is called Follicular Hair Transplantation (FUT) which can be done in two ways, strip harvesting and follicular unit extraction (FUE).

In strip harvesting, skin strips with good hair growth are planted on balding areas and in follicular unit extraction hair clusters with their roots are manually removed and planted at the hairless site.

Strip harvesting leaves a small scar at the donor site and full recovery is expected within two weeks.

FUE can be done in a single or several settings. It is a manual and time consuming process but gives natural results and minimal scars. Sometimes, robotics is used to reduce the time and simplified the process. 


STEPS

Commonly hair follicles from the back of the head are removed and relocated to the balding areas.
  • Donor site preparation

    Before the surgery starts, the hair in the donor area are trimmed and local anesthesia is given.

  • Tissue and hair follicle harvesting

    A small piece of scalp containing healthy hair follicles is then removed surgically and the donor area is sutured.  The sutures in the donor area are well hidden and are removed 2 weeks after.

  • Isolating folicular unit grafts

    Microscopes are then used to view the donor tissue for dissecting and preparing follicular units hair grafts.

  • Bald recipient area prepared

    The balding recipient area is given local analgesia and cleaned for the surgery.  

  • The surgery

    Follicular Unit Grafts are placed in the tiny incisions that are made in an irregular pattern in the recipient area.

  • After Surgery

    After the hair surgery, tiny incisions with short hair would be visible and the incision marks heal naturally in one week.

RECOVERY

Hair transplant is a minimal invasive procedure and could be repeated on outpatient basis. Mostly patients are allowed to shampoo after two three days although the scalp needs to be protected from sun and infections for a while after the surgery. Antibiotics and cream will be provided for a few days.

FACTS ABOUT HAIR TRANSPLANT 

The transplanted hair behaves like natural hair and sheds between two to four weeks of transplant. The roots thereafter start sprouting hair naturally and continue to do so for a lifetime.

Use of local anaesthesia makes it a painless procedure and the patient can go home the same day.
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