What is Body Hair Transplant (BHT)?
The Body Hair Transplant (BHT) is a hair microtransplant technique that uses follicular units from areas of the body to implant them in the area with alopecia.
This technique is used to obtain follicular units from other parts of the body for subsequent implantation. The most common body areas from which follicles are extracted are the torso, beard or back.
Why is it performed?
It is a technique used in specific cases of alopecia in which the patient does not have great density in the usual donor areas of the head, such as the back or parietal area.
In any case, the specialist must study and analyze in depth if this type of graft is viable and if the results to be achieved are optimal.
What does it consist of?
Depending on the area of the body where the hair is born, it will be different in genetics, shape and size. Thus, the hair on the head has a different density, flexibility and size than the hair that is born in the beard, back or chest. This will condition the possibility of hair grafting, with natural and aesthetic results.
If the specialist considers performing the BHT, follicular units will be used to cover the area with alopecia, coming from other body areas. Thus, the patient’s possibilities will be evaluated and the donor area will be selected, which will be shaved to extract the follicular units for the hair transplant, with a technique very similar to the FUE technique.
The hair is extracted when it is in the anagen phase, that is, when it is in the active phase and its hair shaft is in active growth. It cannot be done in the telogen phase because the dermal papilla is at rest. Then, if the donor area is shaved in the anagen phase in a few days the hair will come out again, since the hair follicles are active, and can be distinguished from those in telogen phase, and hence, prior to the intervention, the area is shaved about 3-4 days before the intervention.
Body hair is not usually grafted in the most visible areas, nor in the first line. Due to its characteristics, the result would not be natural. Hence it is implanted in middle areas, to give an appearance of greater density and volume. It is a technique that is usually combined with the FUE technique to achieve the benefits of both.
Preparation for the Body Hair Transplant
No special preparation is necessary, but the specialist must be careful with the extraction of the hair follicle, and make sure that it is in the anagen phase.
What will probably be done is to shave the head in order to be able to implant the follicles correctly in the patient.
Care after the procedure
It is a minimally invasive technique that is performed under local anesthesia, so that the patient can return home immediately after the graft. It is a technique that does not require a recovery period and the patient can return to his or her normal routine after the intervention, maintaining relative rest during the first few days. The specialist will also recommend gentle washing of the head.
Alternatives to this treatment
There are other hair transplant techniques, many of which can be combined with the body transplant technique, such as the FUE technique or the FUSS technique.