How does a hair transplant work?

A hair transplant works because the transplanted hair follicles are taken from areas of the scalp (or body) that are genetically resistant to hair loss, typically the back and sides of the head. These areas are referred to as the "donor region."

The hair follicles retain their genetic properties even after being moved to the balding or thinning area, allowing them to grow naturally in the newly transplanted location.

Donor region after harvesting 2,500 FUE grafts.

Key Reasons A Hair Transplant Works:

DHT Resistance:

    • Genetic Hair loss (like male-pattern baldness) is often caused by dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that shrinks hair follicles.
    • The hair follicles at the back and sides of the head are genetically resistant to DHT.
    • When these genetically programmed follicles are transplanted to thinning or bald areas, they retain their genetic characteristics and continue to grow hair.

Follicle Viability:

    • Each hair follicle is a self-contained unit that can survive transplantation because it is your own body tissue, just relocated.
    • Once implanted in the new site, the hair follicle integrates with the blood supply and skin, enabling normal hair growth.

Genetic Properties Are Retained:

    • Hair follicles maintain their original characteristics regardless of where they are transplanted.
    • For example, hair taken from the back of the head will grow the same way in the front or top of the scalp (or even the tip of your nose).

Natural Hair Growth Cycle:

    • Transplanted follicles continue their normal hair growth cycle (growth, rest, and shedding phases).
    • The transplanted hairs normally shed after the procedure in two to three weeks and begin new hair growth in six to twelve weeks.

Your hair routinely goes through four growth cycles. These are anagen, catagen, telogen, and exogen.

  • Anagen: The growth phase, where the hair follicle produces a hair shaft. This phase can last for several years.
    • Proanagen: The follicle proliferates hair progenitor cells.
    • Metanagen: The new hair shaft appears on the skin's surface.
  • Catagen: The transitional phase, where the hair follicle undergoes regression. This phase can last a few weeks.
  • Telogen: The resting phase, where the hair follicle is dormant. This phase lasts approximately three months.
  • Exogen: The shedding phase, where the hair is shed.

 

Why Doesn't It Fail?

The success of a hair transplant relies on the principle that hair taken from the donor area is permanent hair. Since it does not respond to the hormones that cause hair loss, it will remain and grow in the recipient site for a lifetime.

How is a hair transplant performed at AlviArmani?

At AlviArmani our surgeons only perform the FUE technique for hair graft harvesting. This means that our surgeons meticulously excise every follicle or follicular unit individually, and then the grafts are cleaned and prepared under a microscope for implantation into the bald or thinning areas of the scalp.

The incisional sites that are made in the recipient area are angled to replicate the growth pattern of the patient’s original hair so that the new hair flows correctly and looks completely natural.

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