Like our health, most of us took our hair for granted- not until all our hair fell out. For many people, getting a hair transplant comes right after their mind to bring back the lost hair. However, there are times that you contemplate and question yourself, like, is it worth getting a hair transplant?

If your hair’s thinning bothers you, talk first with your doctor about the things to expect during and after the surgery, if you are considering getting a hair transplant.

What to expect on hair transplant surgery

Just a quick summary of the hair transplant procedure is a type of treatment that moves hair follicles on areas affluent with hair to fill a field with little to no hair. If you think that this procedure was just discovered recently, you are wrong. Doctors have been doing this procedure since the 1950s, but the methods have been continuously improving over the years.

The hair transplant surgery has two methods, namely: follicular unit strip surgery (FUSS) and follicular unit extraction (FUE). Your doctor will choose one of the ways, depending on the results of his/her assessment.

Though the two methods vary slightly on the procedure and the duration, they do share the same result, such as replacing the baldy spot on your scalp with a new follicle coming from you.

Depending on the size and area of the transplant you are getting; usually, it will often take around 4 to 8 hours depending on your condition’s severity. If you are still losing hair after the procedure or want a thicker hair, you may consider getting another method later.

Post Surgery

Following the hair transplant surgery, the areas where hair follicles are harvested and where they were relocated may feel swollen, tender, and bruised. No worries, since it’s just normal and will disappear after a few days. You may be prescribed a painkiller to ease the feeling of discomfort for several days.

Your surgeon may advise you to wear bandages on your head for a couple of days. He may also prescribe antibiotics for prevention against infection. Most patients can resume their usual activities about a week following the surgery.

After two to three weeks, the transplanted hair will typically fall out, but you will notice the growth of new hair within the first few months. Most people will see 60% of their new hair will grow after 6 to 9 months. Besides the medications prescribed, your doctor may prescribe a hair-growing drug such as Minoxidil to stimulate hair growth after the treatment.

How much is the cost of the surgery?

The cost of the procedure varies depending on the amount of hair you are moving. Usually, the process costs around $4,000 to $15,000, and sadly, most insurance plans do not cover this type of procedure.

Takeaway:

As with this kind of procedure, you should be aware of the risk of bleeding and infection. There’s also a chance for unnatural-looking hair as a result and even permanent scarring.