What is hair grafting?
Hair grafting or follicular transplant is a cosmetic technique that allows repopulating with hair in areas where alopecia or intense hair loss is present. It uses the patient’s own hair for a more natural result, and is performed under local anesthesia. The main advantages of this treatment are that the patient is the donor and the grafted hair remains permanently.
How long do the results of hair grafting last? Around 25 years, depending on each case.
Is it necessary to shave or shave the hair from the head to perform a hair graft? Yes, so that the follicles in the donor area are well examined, the hair in the donor area must be shaved the same day of the intervention. Normally all the hair on the head is shaved, since the appearance is more aesthetic.
There are different types of hair grafting:
- FUE technique. The FUE (Follicular Extraction Unit) technique is probably the most famous technique today. The FUE technique can effectively treat alopecia and cases of baldness in both men and women. It is a minimally invasive method of hair grafting based on the extraction and implantation of follicles, one by one.
- TIRA technique. The TIRA technique is the most conventional technique, and is based on extracting a band of hair, normally in the lateral or posterior area of the head as the donor area. Subsequently, follicular units are separated into micrografts that are implanted in the recipient area. The TIRA technique has a high success rate and is recommended when there is advanced alopecia.
Why is it performed?
Hair grafting is a booming treatment that is increasingly in demand in our country according to the different medical societies. Although it is usually a treatment more demanded by middle-aged men, more and more women are becoming interested in this type of treatment.
To summarize, it can be said that hair micrografting is a treatment demanded especially by men who have alopecia, although women who experience intense hair loss, or patients who want to increase the volume of hair or cover sparse areas in the beard, eyebrows or genitals also come to it. In many cases patients who have undergone chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment come to the clinic.
Before and after the FUE technique. Source: Meyer&Alcaide
What does it consist of?
It is a microsurgery, a very simple intervention that depending on each case may require one or two sessions. How long does the intervention last? It is a laborious process, so each session can last several hours, and the final time will depend on the patient’s own follicular units, and the intervention can be extended from six to twelve hours, or even need a second consecutive day to finish it, although it usually lasts between eight and twelve hours.
There are several techniques for hair implants, but they consist of extracting hair follicles from populated areas to graft them in the area that needs more hair, thus obtaining a dense and natural look. The main techniques currently used are the Fue technique, the TIRA technique or the FUSS technique.
The results vary depending on the area to be treated and the degree of baldness, although the effects usually begin to be appreciated around two or three months after the graft. On the other hand, the full effects of the hair graft can take between six and eight months.
Hair graft price
The price of a hair transplant varies depending on where it is performed. However, it can be said that in Spain a hair transplant ranges between 3000 and 10000 euros.
The cost of a hair transplant varies depending on the geography and the country in which it is performed. That is to say, in cities such as Barcelona or Madrid it may be more expensive than in other Spanish cities due to the standard of living in both cities.
Traditionally, hair grafting and hair interventions have been related to other countries, such as Turkey, due to its low price and health tourism in this country. Nowadays, a hair micrograft in Turkey costs between 2000 and 3000 euros, a somewhat cheaper price than in our country, although the medical ethical standards are also reduced and the postoperative control becomes unfeasible once the traveler returns to his country of origin.
Preparation for hair grafting
The hair graft does not require previous preparation. The patient should visit the specialist’s office beforehand so that the properties and condition of the follicles can be analyzed, as well as the degree of alopecia, in order to establish what type of hair graft is needed and the number of follicles to be transplanted.
Care after the operation
As it is a simple procedure performed under local anesthesia, hospitalization is not necessary. The body recognizes the graft as its own and it settles without rejection and without leaving scars. During the first days an antiseptic shampoo should be used and saunas, exercise and sun exposure should be avoided. The patient should come to the clinic 10 days after the operation to remove the stitches.