Micrograft hair implant and hair transplant, What to do in case of hair loss

What to do in case of hair loss

Are you worried about your hair loss? Are you considering a hair transplant? Doctor Gobin, a qualified physician in anti-aging morphological medicine, is authorized to perform hair micro-grafts. We will describe in this chapter, first of all briefly the surgical technique of hair transplantation (FUT) then, in a more detailed way, the technique of micro hair transplantation by hair implant (FUE) , practiced in the cabinet of anti morphological medicine. Lyons age.

Surgical treatment for alopecia FUT

FUT=Follicular Units Tranplant or follicular transplantation technique

The FUT hair transplant is a surgical procedure performed exclusively in the operating room.

The principle is to take hair from the region of the Hippocratic crown, where it is guaranteed that it will never fall for genetic reasons, then transpose it  to the regions of the forehead and the tonsure  (vertex). The surgeon takes a strip of scalp 1 to 2 cm wide from the hippocratic crown, and the length of which can go from one ear to the other up to 20 cm.

The donor area is closed with sutures or staples.

This strip of hair is then cut into small fragments each containing one to three hairs: these are the hair grafts.

Each graft is then implanted in the region of the baldness by first making small slits with a scalpel in the scalp. The sampling area (strip) is then sutured. A scar remains but it is usually hidden by the crown hair.

The advantage of this method is its relative speed compared to the FUE method (presented below). The main drawback of this surgical technique is the presence of a scar. It is also difficult to repeat this intervention when it is necessary to graft other areas later because it is very “consumer” of grafts.

Micro hair transplantation by the FUE technique

FUE=Follicular Units Extraction or follicular extraction technique.

This technique is practiced in this cabinet of Morphological Medicine

The principle of hair micro-grafting is based on a redistribution of hair from the hippocratic crown (donor area) to a sparse area of ​​the scalp.

The technique of FUE hair implants is a simple technique, without strip, without scalpel, effective and durable (no rejection). It is very painless.

The postoperative consequences are light, the result is natural, and there is no socio-professional eviction.

This technique of hair micro-grafting is also called “transplant without scar”.

Its advantages over the strip technique (FUT) are numerous:

it leaves no visible trace (scar) at the sampling area, and is therefore ideal when wearing short hair.

there is no risk of damaging nerves.

The aftermath of the operation is almost painless.

it is indicated when the scalp is very tense at the back of the head with low hair density.

it allows to correct old enlarged scars at the level of the crown.

it can be used for eyebrow and beard transplantation.

it can be repeated several times (depending on the capital of grafts in the donor area).

the donor area is 20 to 50% larger than with the strip technique.

The 3 stages of micro hair transplantation

1) Extraction of follicular units

At the level of the previously anesthetized sampling area, the doctor performs the extraction of the follicular grafts which include 1 to 4 hairs.

The extraction is carried out using a "punch", a very fine cylindrical instrument whose diameter is between 0.8 and 1 mm. This device does not leave a scar.

The removal is usually done manually by drilling the skin, at the level of the hippocratic crown previously shaved on a more or less large rectangular area. The drilling of a very high precision must be carried out perfectly in the axis of the hair, using magnifying glasses, in order to avoid cutting in depth the hair roots. (follicular transection) and thus preserve the integrity of the graft. The drilling is done step by step and when the grafts are cut, they are detached one by one by traction using micro-tweezers. Very fine grafts containing 1 to 4 hairs each (ultra-micro-grafts) are thus extracted directly from the crown and stored temporarily in a preservation solution (physiological saline) before their reimplantation.

2) Preparing the implantation area:

After a new local anesthesia at the level of the region intended to receive the graft, it is necessary to make numerous small skin incisions of about 1 millimeter in width called slits or slits using a sapphire microblade or a triple-beveled needle.

3) Implantation of hair follicles:

The last step consists in implanting the grafts one by one in the micro-slots using a micro-tweezer or an implanter. Each graft is inserted in its entirety, gently into each slot a few millimeters deep. 1-hair grafts are preferentially implanted in the frontal area for a more natural look.

The duration of the intervention largely depends on the total number of grafts to be implanted. It varies from 3 to 7 hours.

The number of grafts implanted in one session varies from 500 to 1500. A graft providing on average 2.5 hairs, 1000 grafts implanted correspond overall to 2500 hairs.

4) The consequences of the intervention:

It is a long procedure but very painless. The patient can shampoo on the third postoperative day, rubbing very gently, followed by very gentle rinsing with lukewarm water. It is advisable to avoid the first days the use of a hair dryer, one rather uses a towel by dabbing. The resumption of social and professional activity is immediate upon leaving the medical office.

However, patients with work in an unclean environment are invited to take a few days off (3 to 7 days).

Small crusts in the reimplanted areas are present for 7-10 days.

Do not practice intense sport or put your head under water (pool or sea) for 15 days. Traditional sports activities can be resumed after 8 days.

Wearing a cap or a wide hat is quite possible and also recommended for patients working in a dirty atmosphere (agriculture, construction, etc.).

The patient does not leave the practice with hair on his head! The transplanted hair will fall out but from its bulb, a new hair will appear after 3 months (between 1 and 6 months). The final result can only be appreciated after 6 to 12 months, when the hair has reached a sufficient length, hair regrowth occurring at a normal rate of 1 cm per month.

Complications of the FUE method

Complications of micro hair transplantation are rare.

The usual or inevitable manifestations inherent in hair transplantation are:

edema (swelling) in the forehead and eyes. It mainly appears during a hair transplant in the frontal area. It resolves in 48 to 72 hours on average. It concerns one in two patients.

microcysts (small pimples on one or more micro-implants), sometimes occur during the regrowth phase, that is to say after three months. We can compare this phenomenon to beard hairs which, stuck under the skin, become infected. Healing is spontaneous most of the time but sometimes local care and antibiotic treatment are necessary.

The complications inherent in any medico-surgical act (infection, inflammation, hemorrhage, hematoma, necrosis, allergic reactions to one of the products used, etc.) are exceptional in the field of hair implant micro-grafting by FUE.

Further information on the FUE

It is possible to perform a micro-graft at any time of the year.

Large bald spots with a weak donor area (stage VII of the Hamilton classification) cannot be treated.

It is possible to perform several micro-grafts in one's life, but the depletion of the capital of grafts in the donor area is the limiting factor, the hair reserves diminishing with each session. This is the reason why, for young patients, it is appropriate to adopt a strategy aimed, always the long term and the treatment of baldness on all its surface, but with a moderate density of hair, rather than to treat a single location with maximum density, without being able to treat the rest of the skull, "lack of stock".

Hair transplantation in mature men (over 45) is much easier to consider, for the simple and unique reason that from the age of fifty, baldness has reached a certain level of stability, and that it no longer evolves, or that it evolves, but slowly and gradually.

The transplanted hair is genetically programmed not to fall out. They are as strong as the original. We can therefore do brushings, perms, colorings.

Some hair types cover more surface area than others. Blonde, white or “pepper and salt” hair is excellent for micro-grafting because it reflects a lot of light. Dark, fine hair has lower covering power. Naturally thick hair also covers more. The number of grafts is therefore also a function of these factors.

The only reason for (relative) dissatisfaction with a micro-graft may be the lack of hair density obtained in a single session. This is why it is sometimes necessary to perform a second transplant session in addition to the first. All this must be explained at the time of the first visit.

Local treatments intended to slow hair loss (minoxidil) must be stopped 30 days before the procedure and resumed approximately 1 month later.

A simple dressing is placed next to the donor area. It will be removed the next day. The patient leaves the practice as he arrived. We recommend wearing a shirt or jacket to avoid snagging the implants when dressing.

It is possible to return to your hairdresser after 3 to 4 weeks.

Medical follow-up is essential after FUE. Patients are systematically reviewed at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and one year after FUE. The fees for these consultations are included in the initial price of the FUE.

Consultation

The consultation is a very important and essential step before undertaking a micro hair transplant. She must first of all look for all the information relating to the medical or surgical history, to the treatments in progress but also to the family history of baldness. It is then necessary to take an interest in the personal history of hair loss (date of appearance, possible triggering factors, etc.).

It is necessary to look, especially in women, for certain diseases that can be responsible for hair loss (thyroid dysfunction, iron deficiency, etc.).

The consultation allows to examine in detail the degree of baldness, the quality of the crown, its flexibility, its capillary density, the texture of the hair...

In the field of hair transplants, to guarantee a good result there are 4 criteria to be taken into consideration:

Patient expectations

The stage of alopecia.

The characteristics of the hair (quality, texture, thickness, etc.).

The capital grafts of the donor area.

Ultimately the doctor will devote all the time necessary to give the patient enlightened explanations on the technique, on the implementation of a strategy in the short, medium or long term. It is important that the patient and doctor agree on honest and achievable goals for the procedure.

A quote will then be given to the patient.