Hair Transplant Surgery (Hair Restoration)

By Brandie Umar, Executive Director of ContentLast modified: November 29, 2011

Hair loss is natural and to be expected in men and women as we age. Men and women normally lose around 50 to 150 strands of hair daily; hair follicles live up to 3 months and hair is continually falling out. This is referred to the hair renewal system. When the hair follicles stop reproducing, hair that falls out is not replaced and balding begins.

The cause of premature hair loss is often alopecia, a condition in which round patches of hair loss is suddenly apparent. Alopecia is caused by the patients immune system attacking the hair follicles, preventing regrowth. Hair transplant surgery does not provide a cure to alopecia but can cover the effects of alopecia hair loss.

What Is Hair Transplant Surgery (Hair Restoration)?

Hair transplant surgery is a procedure which offers patients a solution to hair loss. Patients who experience premature balding, suffer from alopecia or have experienced health problems which have caused hair loss may be a suitable candidate for hair transplant surgery.

Hair transplants involve taking healthy hair follicles from a donor area of the scalp and relocating the donor hair into the areas of the scalp where hair loss has occurred (recipient area).

Because hair transplant surgery uses the patients own hair, the hair regrowth is natural. Hair transplant surgeons are experts at inserting the donor hair so that hair regrowth is invisible.

There are two method options for hair transplant surgery : Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) (FUT). The type of hair transplant most suitable for each candidate will depend on the cause of and the extent of the hair loss and the desired hair style post-surgery.

A Good Candidate For Hair Transplant Surgery (Hair Restoration)

Men and women of all ages who are dealing with significant hair loss may be suitable candidates for hair transplant surgery. If you notice bald patches appearing or your hair becoming noticeably thinner, a hair transplant could restore this hair loss.

Hair transplant surgeons will determine how much hair loss has occurred using the Norwood and Ludwick scales. Surgeons must then determine if there is a suitable donor area on the scalp or body with healthy hair follicles present. If a potential hair transplant candidate does not have enough healthy follicles to provide donor follicles, hair transplant surgery may not be possible.

Most people who visit a hair transplant specialist for a consultation are suitable candidates for hair transplant surgery.

Hair Transplant Surgery (Hair Restoration) Results

The cost of hair transplant surgery depends on the type of hair transplant needed. FUE and FUT transplant costs vary due to the differing techniques used and the difference in time taken to perform the procedures.

Hair transplant clinics calculate the cost of hair transplant based on the number of grafts a patient needs to cover the hair loss area. Hair transplant surgeons will be able to provide exact quotes for the cost of the hair transplant surgery on an individual basis following a consultation with the patient.

The cost of hair transplant surgery may be cheaper abroad than in the UK and United States. Traveling abroad for hair transplant surgery is becoming increasingly popular as patients can save up to 50% on the cost of treatment.

Find Hair Transplant Surgery Centers near you.

Candidates for Hair Transplant Surgery

Men and women who suffer from hair loss due to age, trauma or disease may be good candidates for hair transplant surgery. Hair transplant surgeons will first measure the stage of hair loss to determine one's candidacy

Causes of Hair Loss

There are many reasons for hair loss and hair transplant surgery offers a solution to restore hair loss in men and women. Learn more and contact a hair transplant surgeon to enquire about the FUT or FUE methods of hair restoration or book a hair transplant surgery online.

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is a medical advancement in the which individual hair follicles are harvested for hair transplants. Using advanced Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) methods, the cosmetic surgeon is able to classify and remove a single follicle from the donor area at either the back or side of the head and then transplant that follicle into a puncture in the patient's balding or thinning area.

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)

In the FUT method of hair transplantation, a strip of skin is removed from an area the scalp, and from that strip, “follicular units” are transplanted in small graft sections from the strip to areas that are balding. This type of transplant mimics natural hair growth, and is identical to one’s original hair growth pattern. In fact, this technique can be used to create different levels of density to allow for a more natural look. These tiny grafts can also be placed into very small recipient sites, where minimal damage is caused to the skin, as the healing takes a few days and leaves no marks.

Hair Transplant for Women

Hair loss is not just a male problem - hair loss in women is common and has a number of causes. Female pattern baldness affects one in three women. Hair transplant surgeons can restore female hair loss using hair transplants methods and by lowering the hairline.

Facial Hair Restoration

Facial hair restoration is a procedure designed to restore hair to the eyebrow, eyelash, beard, sideburns or mustache region to thicken existing hair or to provide hair growth where there is none. Facial hair balding and thinning could either be due to genetics, plucking, prior electrolysis, prior laser hair removal, trauma from surgery, burns, or other accidents.