Brief Answer:
Advice regarding hair restoration surgery

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us at healthcaremagic

I have gone through your query and I have understood it.

Hair transplantation is achieved by removing grafts from the back (occipital area) of the scalp which are more resistant to hormonal changes, and placing them in areas of scanty growth or baldness.

Yes, there are two methods to remove the grafts.

-Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and
-Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

Both the methods are equally good and depends on the skill and experience of the surgeon.
There are advantages and disadvantages with each method which you can discuss with your treating doctor in detail.

In FUT method, a strip of scalp is cut out from the back of the head and is dissected into individual grafts

FUE method of hair transplantation involves taking the individual follicular units/grafts from the back of the head one by one by cutting around it through a punch machine and removing them.

Advantages of FUT method:

-Larger areas of baldness can be covered in fewer sittings.

-The resection rate (the grafts that get cut and therefore damaged, whilst removing) may be lesser providing superior results.
However, resection rate depends on the skill of the operating surgeon and resection rate may not be as high as is said to be with FUE, if the surgeon is experienced.

Advantages of FUE method:

-This method does not involve taking an entire strip of scalp from the back of the head like in strip surgery, there are no cuts or stitches

-The recovery time is much quicker with the patient often returning to work the next day itself.

-There is no linear scar.


Swelling of the scalp, face is common for a few days. You will be on antibiotics, steroids, painkillers for a few days and will be asked to use Minoxidil and/or Finasteride for the rest of your life.

The transplanted hair will eventually fall out after two weeks and the new growth will be seen anywhere between three to six months.

In FUT method, post-op wound care of the scar is important and the sutures are removed after a week.

Besides hair transplant Platelet rich plasma therapy (PRP) has also been very beneficial for treatment of androgenetic alopecia. It is done as Mesotherapy.

Platelet rich plasma OR PRP, is an autologous concentration of human platelets in a small volume of plasma has a higher platelet concentration (4-7 times) above the baseline. It is obtained from the patient's own blood after processing in an automated centrifuge and it is injected subcutaneously into the area of alopecia.

The beneficial effects of PRP in Androgenetic Alopecia can be attributed to various platelet-derived growth factors causing improvement in the function of hair follicle and promotion of hair growth.

Advantages: It is safe, cheap, and non-allergic and it appears to be a useful adjuvant in the management of AGA.

To get satisfactory results, 2 - 3 treatments should be performed at intervals of 3-4 months. You need to use Minoxidil and finasteride along with PRP.

If you want to choose between PRP and Hair transplant, hair transplant is definitely long lasting.
However, If your hair fall is still progressing then it is better to go for PRP first because hair transplant is not done for an evolving androgenetic alopecia because while you may get new hair growth from transplanted hairs your may develop bald patches/hair thinning elsewhere, as your alopecia would still be evolving.

Hope this helps.

You may contact Dr. R. K XXXXXXX dermatologist, Indraprastha apollo hospitals.

regards

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