How doctor´s assess a technically good hair transplant candidate

[Understanding Hair]

A successful hair transplant relies on how much hair is demanded and how much can be supplied, the donor and recipient areas. At the same time, with minimal adverse surgical and cosmetic changes to either area.

Donor Area Analysis

Donor hair density calculation per cm²

Donor Surface Area measurement

Skin characteristics, including scarring.

Hair Characteristics

Average number of hairs per Follicular Unit (FU)

% of hair miniaturisation

Scalp Laxity

Assessment of graft numbers available now and in the future

The best technique to use.


Recipient Area Analysis

Facial bone structure

Skin characteristics, including scarring.

Current hair loss pattern

Future hair loss pattern

New hairline design

Graft numbers to use.

Graft distribution, hair units and density

#hairtransplant #hairrestoration #donorarea #recipientarea #bestclinic

 

[mania]

An ideal candidate for hair transplant surgery is someone who has sufficient hair loss, a dense donor area with healthy hair, a healthy scalp, and overall good general health

 

[mania]

An ideal candidate for hair transplant surgery is someone who has sufficient hair loss, a dense donor area with healthy hair, a healthy scalp, and overall good general health

 

[Mandingo]

What would be the least number of follicular units per cm2 that will create enough density to give an adequate illusion for a non bald look?

 

[Understanding Hair]

To block the reflection of light onto the scalp, giving the look of fullness. It´s not a simple answer as there are many variables. All hair and skin characteristics would have to be optimal, and it would depend on the area of the head being treated. But, for a rough estimate, if the hair had a curl, the hair shaft was coarse, the hair colour to skin complexion was low, the recipient site angle was made to optimise hair coverage and the hair was placed in the correct lay (facing downwards). Then around 20-30 follicular units per square cm², assuming multiple hair follicular units were used. (When the hair has grown out in length to cover the adjacent hairs.)

 

[Mandingo]

Thank you for the explanation - makes sense.

 

[Understanding Hair]

Glad it helped Mandingo. Here´s a good example how the angle of hair placement varies depending on the area. As a result it will change the density placed to create the desired look of fullness. While this can be played with a little to maximise hair coverage, it has to follow natural parameters. This is something that is much easier to control and uniform when the doctor makes custom made recipient sites, rather than the faster direct implant.

 

[Mandingo]

Whats the difference between custom made sites and direct implant?

 

[Understanding Hair]

Dr performed incisions, or custom-made slits (recipient sites) for the graft placement. As the grafts are checked under magnification and separated into their follicular unit sizes, the doctor will begin to create the sites for the grafts to be placed into, and how they want the grafts to be distributed. This is normally performed with a fine blade; the blade can be customed to the width the doctor wants in specific areas. For instance, a finer blade for the immediate hairline where only single hair units is used, compared to a thicker blade for the larger 3 and four hair follicular units.

Besides the odd occasion when a few more sites are required the doctor creates the sites in one or maybe two goes, depending on the size of the procedure. Consequently, the doctor can refine the design of a hairline with bespoke slits how they want the hairs to be placed, this includes the density, depth, angle and orientation they want to create. Creating the entire hairline this way helps with continuity and making those subtle changes to the design, for example when it comes to the temple angles, or a soft hairline blending into greater density going back. The doctor may use dye to highlight the slits and different colours help the placers see when the size of the graft needs to change, also stopping larger units ending up on the hairline, which is much harder as the graft would have to be forced into a smaller slit.

The implanter tool can be used in conjunction with custom slits, the implanter is used instead of forceps to hold the hair when placing into the pre-made recipient site. However, direct implant instruments are probably more commonly known to be used independently, by-passing the recipient site making process. Loading the hair into the implanter and creating the slit and implanting the graft in one movement. With implanters prefilled with grafts the placer simply picks up a new implanter and continues the process.

 

[Mandingo]

Very detailed reply - thank you.

 

[Bigmac]

Great post that will help people educate themself on what information to expect from a consultation.

 

[josh145]

Following your posts because they are very factful.

 

[Understanding Hair]

Following your posts because they are very factful.

Thanks @josh145 , facts are important, occasionally people find them inconvenient and would rather ignore, as if they don´t matter and there is no consequence. Facts can be uncomfortable at times, that´s often because they don´t fit the way we hoped things would be. The performing of a hair transplant varies in standards of quality and skill. It´s important to understand this and accept the facts, regardless of your ultimate decision.