Present Hair Transplant Techniques

June 26, 2023 | By : Ms. Divyanshi Singh

Since the past few decades, the field of hair restoration has seen significant changes and advancements. In this era of technology, where almost everything has become feasible, hair transplant surgeries have also reaped the benefits. One of the important factors which patients look for is the duration of the surgery and the time period between the surgery and the results. Thankfully, due to the ever-growing technology and techniques, hair transplant surgeries can be done within 6-8 hours, and even 2-3 surgeries a day. Another big factor is the cost. The general belief is that it is a pretty costly procedure, however it’s not entirely true. It is important to take into consideration that a good infrastructure, an experienced doctor and team and the equipment required lead to a certain cost.

More and more people are looking for hair transplant clinics which provide cost feasible services. In India, hair transplant is a fast-developing field, with highly skilled doctors and infrastructure, with a cost which is significantly cheaper than other countries.

Popular trends in hair transplantation
Although there are many techniques for hair restoration, the most common of them are follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE). The difference between these two techniques is mainly the method of extraction of follicles.

FOLLICULAR UNIT EXTRACTION (FUE)
FUE is a procedure in which individual follicular units are extracted from the donor area, one at a time, and then implanted at the recipient area. The grafts are removed using a micro punch so that the area of the follicle inside the skin is not completely visible. When the scalp donor area is not sufficient, then other areas like beard and upper chest can be used in this technique. The surgery time varies between 6-8 hours and the healthy growth of hair can be seen in 6-18 months. It is a preferred method for less visible scarring and rapid healing and recovery. FUE has also been used for removing incorrectly placed follicular units in patients seeking repair or improvement of previous hair transplants.

With time, this technique has undergone several modifications and variations. Some of the popular variations of this technique are-

Direct Hair Implantation (DHI)- This is an advanced hair restoration procedure where the hair follicles are removed from the donor area individually and then implanted using a special kind of implant device known as a Choi Implanter Pen or DHI pens. One of the key advantages of this technique is that it does not need canal openings in advance. Also, hair shaving is not required in the area to be transplanted. This method causes minimal bleeding and no scars or marks of the implantation.

Neograft Hair Transplant- This is one of the newest hair restoration techniques which is a semi-automated type of the FUE procedure. A special kind of wand is used to extract the hair follicles, which are then harvested in the recipient area using a specialized tool. As this procedure is done using a special tool, it is considered that the damage to the follicles will be much less in comparison to the conventional hair restoration techniques. Moreover, this method doesn’t require any incisions, stitches or staples, which results in better looking results.

Bio FUE Hair Transplant- Bio FUE Hair Transplant is a combination of Bio therapy and the traditional FUE procedure. Bio therapy is built on the concept of human cell germination, which can restore and rejuvenate themselves. In this method, the grafts are stored in a solution rich in regenerative cells (PRP), obtained from centrifugation of blood. The growth factors in the solution help in faster healing of the donor area and facilitates quick regrowth. Although this process isn’t completely scar-free, the quick recovery hides almost all the scarring. In addition to this, the strength and the density of the hair also improves.

FOLLICULAR UNIT TRASPLANTATION (FUT)
This procedure is also known as the ‘strip method.’ This method involves removing a piece of tissue from the back of the head or the sides, after which individual follicular units are extracted from the strip and implanted in the recipient area. People usually opt for this procedure, due to its manageable recovery time, lesser graft damage rate and almost no visible scarring. It also covers maximum bald area in a single sitting.

Along with these two main techniques, various other new procedures are also becoming increasingly popular

PLATELETS RICH PLASMA HAIR THERAPY (PRP)
PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) is a non-surgical treatment for hair growth wherein the patient’s blood, which contains platelets, is drawn and then injected into the scalp to promote hair regrowth. Since the person’s own blood is drawn, there isn’t any risk of communicable diseases, but there may be temporary swelling on the treated area. It’s a fairly quick process, with each session taking about just 40-45 minutes. This treatment works best in patients who suffer from hair thinning but not complete baldness.

LONG HAIR TRANSPLANT
This is a popular hair restoration technique as no hair is cut or trimmed on the donor or the recipient area. This is a modified version of the FUT method, where a strip of hair is extracted from the donor and then individual grafts from the strip are extracted and implanted. Special care is taken to prevent damage to the existing hair as the grafts are implanted in between the space between them. The prime reason why people choose this procedure is because of its instantaneous results. It is best suited for those who have to attend important ceremonies and events at a short notice and wish to get their transplant done.

How to choose the best hair transplant procedure for your hair?
Choosing the right kind of surgery is the most important step for your hair growth. You and your doctor should consider factors such as the amount hair in the donor area, grafts required to achieve the desired outcome, design of the hairline and the cost. Discussing these factors properly will help you get the best possible treatment.