Introduction
Hair transplant surgery is a popular procedure for restoring lost hair and boosting self-confidence. However, there are several myths about hair transplant surgery that often lead to confusion and misinformation. In this article, we will debunk these myths about hair transplant and present the facts about hair transplant in Turkey, shedding light on its effectiveness, safety, and suitability for both men and women.For further information, there are many successful hair transplant before after results on our platforms like social media and through websites. To take the first step towards regaining your confidence and achieving a fuller head of hair, contact Vera Clinic today.
Myths About Hair Transplant
Hair transplant is a surgical procedure that involves removing hair follicles from one part of the body (usually the back of the head) and implanting them in the bald or thinning areas of the scalp.
MYTH
You Need to Take Medication For the Rest of Your Life (One Needs to Take Medication For the Rest of Their Life)
FACT
Transplanted grafts are resistant to androgenetic hair loss (hair loss caused mainly by genetics and androgens), as these follicles are not prone to the activities of DHT hormone, which triggers hair fall. Thus, once transplanted, if there’s no major circulation problem, these hairs should be permanent and shouldn’t require specific treatments. For the non-transplanted hairs, however, to reduce their sensitivity to DHT, surgeons might advise medical treatments.
MYTH
Hair Transplant Stops Further Hair Loss
FACT
Surgeons cover the balding area with grafts from the DHT-resistant zone, and these grafts last forever on the recipient area, thanks to the DHT-resistant properties of donor hairs. However, the patient’s existing hairs (not the translated ones) on the recipient area or the rest of the DHT-sensitive zone are still sensitive to genetic hair loss, and one might still experience further hair loss depending on their specific genetic traits. This further hair loss can be prevented or slowed down with the treatments advised by your surgeon.
MYTH
Hair Transplant Give Instant Results
FACT
The truth is, after a hair transplant Turkey operation is performed, patients usually go through a temporary shedding phase before witnessing permanent hair growth. These grafts will start regaining, experiencing immense growth by the end of month six and providing a drastic change in the following six months. One might need to wait 12-15 months to see final results on the frontal region, whereas crown results can be seen fully only after 15-18 months.
MYTH
The Results of Hair Transplant Are Temporary
FACT
It must be understood that “newly transplanted” grafts will experience a temporary shedding phase around 4-8 weeks after hair transplant Turkey procedure, which is a common phenomenon. This is called temporary shock loss of transplanted grafts and should not cause any worry, as these are only the upper parts of the implanted grafts, and patients still have the roots under the skin. New hair will start growing out of well-anchored roots in the following weeks, and since they’re taken from DHT-resistant donor regions, the results will be permanent.
Facts About Hair Transplant Surgery
MYTH
Hair Transplant Is Not a Painful Procedure
FACT
Even though Turkey hair transplant is a minimally invasive procedure and does not require general anesthesia, considering that there are a lot of free nerve endings on the scalp, we can not say it’s a pain-free, and surgeons still need to numb the scalp with local anesthetic medications. After these local anesthetic injections, patients should not feel pain or discomfort during the procedure. While numbing, usually short-acting (lidocaine, mepivacaine, etc.) & long-acting (tetracaine, bupivacaine, etc.) medications are employed together to prolong the numbness until the end of the operation. As patients may experience mild pain once the effects of anesthesia wear off, the surgeons would prescribe pain-relieving medications to mitigate pain and discomfort for 2-3 days.
MYTH
Hair Transplant Is Only For Men
FACT
Most people associate hair loss or baldness only with men and thus tend to think that hair transplant is a man’s thing. This myth has led many women to accept hair loss because they don’t believe any viable solution exists. Yes, women and men tend to experience different patterns of hair loss. Still, hair transplant techniques such as follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE) are suitable for both men and women. Especially with recently developed techniques like DHI (Direct Hair Implantation), patients can undergo a hair transplant in Turkey procedure without shaving the recipient site, which makes this procedure preferable for women.
MYTH
Hair Transplant Results Are Not Natural
FACT
One common criticism of early hair transplant methods was the general perception by the public that the results of hair transplant before after looked unnatural in appearance. During these years, the standard of hair transplant procedures involved the extraction of round patches, each containing 20-30 hairs, and the look was referred to as “doll’s hair.” With the advanced techniques developed in the millennium, grafts are extracted one by one with a motorized micro-punch device and implanted to mimic natural growth patterns, allowing patients to have remarkably natural-looking (hair transplant) results.
MYTH
Extracted Hairs Grow Back in the Donor Area
FACT
To answer your question in short, no, they don’t. A hair transplant Turkey procedure is performed by moving hair follicles from one place to another (donor and recipient regions, respectively), and it consists of 3 main steps:
- Extraction of individual grafts from the donor region
- Making recipient incisions on the transplant area
- Implantation
Extracted grafts will not return from the extraction point; they’ll grow in the recipient region instead. It is one of the primary reasons why surgeons work with larger donor areas and extract strategically (less from less dense areas and more from denser areas). This is critical to maintain the homogeneous look of the donor region and make the decrease in density less noticeable. The remaining grafts on the donor region will naturally grow back.
MYTH
FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) Does Not Leave a Scar
FACT
During extraction, a motorized micro-punch device is utilized to make circular-shaped cuts around the individual hair follicles. Once the grafts are removed from the donor region, dot-shaped empty spots will appear, and these will heal to form tiny scars. Compared to one continuous linear scar associated with FUT hair transplant surgery, these scars are considerably less visible with terse haircuts. FUE scars are considered cosmetically insignificant and fade away over time.
MYTH
Balding Areas Can Be Covered in One Session / The Bigger the Number of Grafts Transplanted in One Session, the Better
FACT
When it comes to hair transplant in Turkey, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The extent of hair loss and hair loss pattern vary for each individual, and the unique donor capacity of each patient highlights the importance of tailoring the operation plan to meet specific needs. While extracting, not all follicles can be extracted simultaneously, and a strategic approach involves leaving some grafts untouched between the extracted ones. This preserves the cohesive appearance of the donor area, with fewer grafts taken from sparse areas and more from denser regions. In the extraction of several neighboring grafts, the extraction area would be devoid of grafts, leaving the patient with a hard-to-fix donor region, posing challenges for any potential follow-up sessions. Therefore, patients with good donor capacity and small balding areas might have full coverage within one session. In contrast, a second session might be necessary for some patients to obtain full coverage. Your surgeon will determine whether additional sessions are necessary.
MYTH
Hair Transplant Can’t Be Performed During Summer
FACT
The myth that hair transplant is not done in the summer is also untrue. The weather has far less of an impact on the success of your hair transplant than how well you follow the aftercare instructions. Yes, avoiding excess sweating and direct sunlight for a few weeks after the procedure is advised, but that does not mean hair transplants can not be performed in other seasons. It means that some extra measurements need to be taken. And patients tend to schedule surgery at a time that best suits them in their social and work calendars. To summarize, there is no best time, season, weather, or temperature to get a hair transplant in Turkey. As long as you undertake proper aftercare, you can achieve the best results, no matter which time of year you decide to have your procedure.
Hair Transplant Facts
MYTH
Only Rich People Can Afford Hair Transplant
FACT
Another common misconception is that hair transplants are accessible only to the rich, which is inaccurate. Previously, the options for hair transplant were limited, and the techniques were far too invasive. Thanks to recently developed approaches like FUT and FUE techniques, hair transplants have become less invasive, alleviating the burden of postoperative care and making it more preferable than ever. As the popularity of hair transplants increases, more individuals may consider undergoing the procedure, leading to increased investments in this field, thereby enhancing the accessibility of equipment and staff, resulting in a global reduction in costs. It’s also worth noting that factors such as the extent of baldness, the number of sessions required, and the clinic’s location can impact the overall cost. Moreover, it can eliminate the need for continuous investment in alternative treatments and medications, making it a potentially economical choice. However, one must never compromise quality with price.
MYTH
Only Young People Can Get a Hair Transplant
FACT
While it’s widely believed that hair transplants are only appropriate for younger individuals, this is not entirely accurate. To undergo a hair transplant procedure, specific criteria must be met. Overall good health, a stable pattern of hair loss, and a healthy donor region. Age is not a determining factor for candidacy for hair transplant as long as the patient has good overall health and sufficient healthy hair follicles to transplant.
MYTH
Patient Can Use Donor Hairs From Someone Else
FACT
The immune system plays a crucial role in protecting the body from foreign entities, and when organs from another individual are transplanted, the immune system often recognizes them as foreign and initiates a response to reject them. This is why recipients typically need to take immunosuppressive drugs for the rest of their lives to prevent the immune system from attacking and rejecting the transplanted organ. These drugs, however, come with their own set of risks and complications, including an increased susceptibility to infections and other disorders. Hair transplanting faces similar immune rejection issues, and using anti-rejection drugs is deemed impractical due to associated risks.
MYTH
Anyone Can Have Hair Transplant
FACT
Hair transplant procedures can be appropriate for many individuals. However, several key factors influence whether someone is an ideal candidate. An ideal candidate considering a hair transplant should possess overall good health, sufficient hair loss, good donor area hair, a healthy scalp, and reasonable expectations regarding the procedure’s outcomes. It’s essential to consult a qualified medical professional to determine if it’s a suitable option.
MYTH
Hair Transplant is Not a Surgical Procedure
FACT
Even though with the recently developed techniques, hair transplant procedures have become minimally invasive, they still involve the use of anesthesia, incisions, and precise surgical techniques. Therefore, a complete medical history, including surgical history, family medical history, allergies, and current or recently discontinued medications, should be obtained before a comprehensive examination. It’s important for individuals considering a hair transplant to understand that it, indeed, is a surgical procedure and should be carried out by trained medical professionals in a sterile environment.
MYTH
One Cannot Style Their Hair After Hair Transplant
FACT
The myth that patients cannot style their hair as they wish after a hair transplant does not reflect reality. Once the sensitive period following the operation has passed, typically after about a month, patients can safely trim and shape their hair with scissors or a hair clipper. However, it is advisable to avoid using a razor, as it can lead to ingrown hairs and acne on the recipient and donor regions.
FAQs about Hair Transplant Myths
What is hair transplant?
Hair transplant is a surgical procedure that involves removing hair follicles from one part of the body (usually the back of the head) and implanting them in the bald or thinning areas of the scalp.
How much does a hair transplant cost?
The cost of a hair transplant can vary depending on various factors such as the extent of hair loss, the number of grafts required, the surgeon’s experience, and the geographic location. On average, hair transplant procedures can cost anywhere from $4,000 to $15,000.
What is the price per graft for a hair transplant?
The price per graft for a hair transplant can range from $3 to $10, again depending on factors such as the clinic’s reputation, location, and the complexity of the procedure.
What can I expect in terms of hair transplant before after results?
Hair transplant surgery provides permanent results, but it takes time for the transplanted hair to grow. It is common to experience shedding of the transplanted hair within the first few weeks, followed by gradual regrowth over the next several months. Full results can usually be seen after 6 to 12 months.
Is hair transplant painful?
Hair transplant surgery is usually performed under local anesthesia, minimizing any discomfort during the procedure. After the surgery, some patients may experience mild soreness or discomfort at the donor and recipient sites, which can be managed with pain medication prescribed by the surgeon.
Why is hair transplant in Turkey popular?
Turkey is a popular destination for hair transplants due to affordable pricing, high-quality medical facilities, experienced surgeons, and the availability of all-inclusive packages that often include transportation, accommodation, and post-operative care.
Is hair transplant a permanent solution for hair loss?
Yes, hair transplant is generally considered a permanent solution as the transplanted hair follicles are resistant to the hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone) which causes male pattern baldness. However, it is important to note that hair loss can still occur in other parts of the scalp not treated by the transplant.
Summing up: Facts About Hair Transplant
Hair transplant surgery is a proven and effective solution for hair loss, offering long-lasting and natural results. It is important to debunk the myths abıut hair transplant surgery and focus on the facts. One clinic that stands out in terms of expertise and professionalism is Vera Clinic. With their specialized team, they have achieved remarkable hair transplant before and after results, transforming the lives of many individuals. Vera Clinic also offers a free consultation, where you can learn about the hair transplant process and receive personalized advice based on your specific needs. To take the first step towards regaining your confidence and achieving a fuller head of hair, contact Vera Clinic today.