Have you been secretly toying with the idea of getting a hair transplant? Are you clueless on how it’s done, its effectiveness, and whether you’re eligible for it? Well, then you’ve come at the right place!
Hair loss is something most people have to contend with, for different reasons. Luckily, technology and medical advancements have made it possible to get a hair transplant without spending a fortune. In this post, we’ll be discussing some of the latest hair restoration techniques, including what’s known as DHI hair transplant.
However, it’s worth nothing that there are considerations before doing the procedure.
Here is what you should know before getting a hair transplant;
- Eligibility for the hair transplant;
It is essential to understand what makes one a perfect candidate for hair transplants; this will help you have realistic expectations and prevent future disappointments in case the exercise is unsuccessful.
Some of the factors that determine the eligibility include;
- Causes of hair loss; you are eligible if your baldness is from trauma, traction alopecia, or androgenic alopecia. If you suffer from full androgenic baldness (an autoimmune disorder, or alopecia totalis) then you are not eligible for a hair transplant. These conditions are however, extremely rare.
- Age; age is an essential factor. Patients above 21 years are the right candidate for the surgery. By this age, hair loss patterns will have stabilized, and so a hair transplant will yield good results.
- Abundant donor hair; this is another critical factor. The more adequate donor hair regions of a patient, the more hair you need for implantation. Patients without sufficient donor hair density are not the right candidate for the surgery.
Choosing the hair restoration method;
There are many treatment methods available, and this can be a difficult decision to make especially if you don’t know much about hair transplants.
It is essential to understand the procedures for each technique and its advantages, eligibility, and how the treatments differ. Common hair treatments include; surgical and non-surgical.
The surgical methods include the FUT, FUE, and its variants, sapphire FUE and DHI Choi. The non-surgical include Finasteride, Minoxidil, and PRP therapy.
Surgical hair transplant treatments;
The steps involved in hair transplant surgeries include;
- Drawing the hairline
- Shaving
- Administering local anesthetic
- Extracting grafts
- Separating follicular units
- Opening channels
- Implanting grafted hair in the incisions.
Surgical hair restoration methods;
- Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE);
It is a modern approach to hair restoration method. Most patients prefer it as the scarring; it’s hardly noticeable with the naked eye. The surgeons perform it under the use of local anesthesia. The hair follicles are extracted from the patient’s donor area directly, and by the use of a specialist micro surgical needle, they transplant the hair.
- Sapphire follicular unit extraction (FUE);
It is a variant of FUE and has the same steps and work chart. The difference is in the materials of the surgical equipment and its impacts. It uses scalpel blades made from sapphire gemstones. This blade creates an incision for implantation in the recipient area. It has a V-shaped end, and it allows for more specific and immaculate minuscule punctures and prevents damage to the healthy follicles.
- Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT);
This surgical hair restoration method is similar to FUE except for the difference in the donor hair collection process. When the surgeon removes a strip of tissue from the donor area, after extraction, they are cut into follicular units. He then makes some small cuts in the scalp and places the follicular unit grafts.
- Direct Hair Implant (DHI) Choi pen;
The hair transplant technique is similar to FUE. It follows the same procedure until the incision and implanting step. It uses a pen-like hollow needle, known as the Choi implantation pen. The pen combines the two stages. After loading the pen with grafted hair, it will then create channels and implant hair follicles by loading them as it makes the incisions.
Why people go to Turkey for hair transplants
Turkey’s medical tourism, in particular, for hair transplants, attracts many patients from across the world. The country is currently leading in the world for hair transplant operations.
There are about 5000 foreign patients per month coming into the country for hair transplants; a majority of them are from the Middle East and Europe. Turkey is dedicated and committed to offering the best services to their clients. Some of the best clinics in the country include Cosmeticium.
The benefits of getting a hair transplant in Turkey include;
- Cost;
Compared to Europe and the US, Turkey offers low cost of hair transplants without compromising on professionalism.
An average hair transplant by a certified surgeon can cost between $ 2000 and $5000 in Turkey. The prices are fair compared to what you’d pay, for instance in a Los Angeles clinic; this is what lures potential patients from far and wide.
- Medical guidelines;
The medical clinics in Turkey abide strictly by the medical guidelines. There are frequent inspections by the ministry of health to check the credibility of surgeons and the quality of care.
- Internationally Accredited facilities;
The Turkish government accredits the hair transplant industry via the ministry of health; international medical associations and hair transplant boards like the JCI, and ISHRS also certifies the professionals in this sector. The country has the highest number of health care institutions to be accredited by JCI. Because of their strict work ethics and legit medical practices, many patients choose Turkey.
- Experienced surgeons;
Due to a high number of clients in the country, the surgeons go through continuous training for the different hair types. The average hair surgeon has performed thousands of surgeons, and this results in them being overqualified and experienced surgeons of the highest caliber.
The cost of hair transplant
The price usually depends on the procedure type, the hair loss extent, and the quality of the clinic and the surgeons. It can range from as little as £700- to as much as £5,000.
The risks of a hair transplant;
For a few days after a hair transplant, one is likely to experience;
- Achy, tight and swollen scalp
- Temporary scabbing
- Difficulty sleeping as your head must be straight.
Summary;
Just like in any other operation, hair transplants come with some risk of infection or excess bleeding. Sometimes one may suffer an allergic reaction, but the surgeon can deal with them. The best thing is to conduct your research well and ensure that you find a reputable hair transplant clinic like Cosmeticium which is the best when it comes to DHI hair transplantation treatment. Here, you’re assured of professional care and treatment, at very affordable rates.
