How to get the best quality hair transplant
Nov, 18 2019 | By Dr. Sangay Bhutia (Hair Transplant Specialist in Delhi)
Making decisions is never easy. The famous line from the Shakespearean play Hamlet sums up this dilemma quite beautifully - ‘to be or not to be, that is the question’. And we confront different dilemmas on an everyday basis. From buying clothes, to choosing a restaurant, to planning a holiday, you are spoilt for choices. However, making an informed decision becomes all the more difficult when it concerns your wellbeing and your appearance. There is a sense of permanence to your wellbeing and the way you look, and that is why we are always very sceptical about anything that is dramatically different than what we are. Think losing or gaining weight? Or long or short hair? Or to keep a beard or go clean shaven, we do think through these things. Imagine how hard it will be for anyone to first make a decision about Hair transplant and on top of that, ensure that it is of the best quality and done by the best surgeon. That takes some doing. But first let’s talk about hair loss, which can be extremely stressful especially if it starts at an early age.
No one is really prepared for it, no matter how strong willed we are. Despite our best efforts, balding at an early age can be a major jolt to our confidence. The best of us can be affected, and in some extreme cases it can be depressing. It can impact our professional as well as personal lives, and it is not just the individual - it's the people around them that get impacted as well. So, in such cases - what should be done?
First things first, if you or your close ones are in such a situation, then seek professional help. The expert is best positioned to give you detailed answers about your wellbeing, hair fall, baldness, and remedial measures. Baldness can be genetic or is triggered by a variety of reasons. It is not just about your hair - but also your wellbeing in general, and it is important to understand that. Over and above, the expert can suggest solutions to your baldness - it could be medication or a transplant procedure - depending on the nature of your specific problem.
When you finally decide that you will go for a hair transplant procedure, then how do you ensure that you get the best quality? Once again, a lot depends upon the surgeon/expert you consult. You must do a thorough research on the concerned expert as well as the clinic. Read as much as you can. You can also speak to past patients and learn from their experiences. It is only when you are very sure and satisfied that you should go ahead. At this stage, you should also be a little careful and not cut corners. There are many clinics out there that advertise hair transplants at a significantly lower cost than the prevalent market rate. It is important to not fall for cheap marketing gimmicks.
Many of these clinics don’t have trained professionals to perform a surgery. Oftentimes it is cosmetic surgeons trying their hand at hair transplants. If a clinic is offering transplant at throwaway prices, they are definitely cutting cost somewhere, it could be in the form of an inexperienced surgeon, an inexperienced team, a shoddy and unhygienic clinic, and so on. All of these have a great influence on the final result of your transplant.
To understand the importance of an experienced surgeon, let’s also talk about hair transplant procedures that are available today, that have made possible what was unthinkable a few decades ago.
Hair transplant procedures today are minimally invasive and give great results. Procedures like Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) are among the most popular techniques today. FUT involves removing a strip of scalp from the donor area, dividing it into tiny grafts, each of which contain a few hairs, and then transplanting them into the bald spots. Whereas FUE involves extracting individual follicles from the donor area and transplanting them through small slits on to the bald spots. Both the procedures have a very high success rate and there are clinics that use international best practices while offering these services.
So, once you make up your mind to go for a hair transplant procedure, do your research. Talk to experts and then make a decision. It is hard to define what is good and best. However, what will determine what's best for you is your comfort level with the surgeon. Your ability to communicate exactly what you want and its eventual delivery. Only a true expert will be able to decide how many grafts you need exactly to cover your bald spots aesthetically, what is the kind of hairline that will suit you best, and how best to do the transplant so as to not let future hair loss make it look bad. A good surgeon will follow the smallest details like taking into account the direction of hair growth while placing the implants or which areas need more implants to make the final result look aesthetically pleasing.
A good surgeon will also ensure that you have minimal scarring.
What is also important for a good transplant is the post surgery care. The surgeon will share a set of post-operative care rules to follow, including sleeping upright, shampooing with a gentle product, not smoking or drinking for some time post surgery. Only a good clinic will ensure that the patients understand the smallest nuances of post-surgery care.
Therefore for best results, choose carefully and wisely, and never settle for a quick fix which comes too cheap.
