Hair Transplant test

[Ardvark]

I've been losing hair slowly but surely for the last 5 yrs. I`m 35 now, been on Finasteride for 2 yrs. If I were to opt for a transplant, would it be feasible to have a small test area first to check on growth rates? Before fully committing to a full blown hair transplant consisting of 1000`s of grafts.

If the growth was not as expected, would a doctor still perform a hair transplant if that were my intentions?

 

[Bigmac]

I would say most doctors would do another test area if the growth was very poor and the usual biopsy tests which usually come back inconclusive.

 

[Ardvark]

Why do the tests come back inconclusive?

 

[Bigmac]

Unless you have some obvious disease or scalp problem there is no known reason why some patients experience poor growth providing the clinic they went to done everything correctly.

 

[Ardvark]

Ok thanks.

 

[Bigmac]

No problem,good luck with your research.

 

[Ardvark]

Thanks once again.

 

[Buzz]

Hello all,

I had a procedure more than 3 years ago, I received 1600 grafts to my crown. The procedure did not meet my expectations, I`m not sure why I had inadequate growth, but I`ve learnt that a small percentage of transplants will fail.

I'm considering a second procedure now after much research, a small test area via FUE is the way I will probably go. If this fails or the yield is less than it should be I`ll just keep on buzzing my hair with a #2 guard.

 

[Bigmac]

Hi Buzz,unfortunately some transplants dont meet the expectations of the patient or the doctor,this happens in every type of surgery.

If you`re unfortunate enough to be in the minority that dont have good growth i feel for you,however most first rate clinics have excellent patient aftercare and they`ll do their upmost to rectify the situation.

 

[Ardvark]

What percentage will fail?

 

[Bigmac]

I think it is roughly 2 - 3 % for unknown reasons,maybe the body just rejects them as foreign bodies.

This is an important factor while doing your research,all surgery has a risk to it and hair transplants are no different.

Hopefully by choosing the right doctor (your independant choice) any such risks are reduced.

 

[My WHTC Hair Talk]

Hi Ardvark,

Most Docs will do a test procedure for patient like yourself who are not sure if they want to move forward with having a hair transplant procedure. The test procedure is usually done in an area to where it is not noticeable to anyone but you and you can pay attention to the growth.

 

[drmwamba]

A test is always a good way to get to know the procedure .

Just be carefull to understand the purpose of it .

growth rate depends on many factors :

-size of the procedure because previous study showed that the growth rate may decrease with increasing grafting density per surface unit .

-during surgery , grafts are exposed to the air and cells metabolism outside the body could generate what they call free radical oxygen that could impair the growth .

some clinics use normal saline solution but others prefer to use antioxydants media such as hypothermosol .

Independant factors such as another big surgery after your HT , a serious disease may also affect the final results ,etc...



If you want to do the test to get familiar with the procedure ( anesthesia , placing , cutting grafts ,etc...) , it is OK .Make sure they will do the test at the same density they are planning to do all over the place to get as close as possible to reality .

Otherwise ,the growth you will have may not be reproducible when they will do a big procedure .

Do the test to alleviate the anxiety related to the surgery and it's unknown but not to assess the growth rate because many others factors could make it irrelevant .

 

[Ardvark]

Appreciate your reply Dr. Mwamba, thankyou.

 

[tomsmith2010]

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