Educate yourself to the principles of a hair transplant before you have a hair transplant.
A hair transplant is the placement of hair from one area of the scalp to another area. Because of genetics it will not suffer from Male Pattern Baldness...............
Does this mean it is suitable for everyone?
The area of hair loss can be divided into three regions: the front, the mid-scalp, and the crown or vertex.
The total area of hair loss may vary from 5 to 250 square centimetres. The potential size of the crown can create an insatiable demand for donor hair, which, as we have seen, is limited.
If we consider the mathematics of this; the frontal area from the hairline back to a line drawn between the two temporal angles measures an area of roughly 50 cm2. The top of the head, from behind the frontal area to the front border of the crown may be about 150 cm2. The crown, as we pointed out can vary widely in size, but in a Class 6 or 7 patient can be as large as 175 cm2. Even if we transplant a minimal density (15 FU) to a fully bald crown (175 cm2) we have used roughly 2600 FU. If we transplant a higher density, 40 FU, then we have used 7000 grafts, this is more than the average person has available in their donor area and this is just in the crown.
It is impossible to place like for like density in most cases, therefore some of the art of a good hair transplant is to give the cosmetic effect, or illusion, that the density is the same. This is possible because the signs of thinning are first apparent when light reflects through the hair and back off the scalp, showing areas of thinning. If we had to place like for like this would make total restoration impossible, but by blocking out the reflection of light makes a hair transplant a viable option in regaining the look of a head of hair; because a lower density can be placed but still give a realistic and thorough density. Some will have to be satisfied with less of a coverage but decent density rather than spreading the hair over the entire recipient area and having a low density, which will look unnatural.
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The density is not the primary factor in determining coverage when treating hair loss; the diameter of the hair shaft and the number of hairs per follicular unit play an important role. Hair calibre or diameter is more important than density. If the hair is miniaturised the thinning hair is not totally gone, just the hair is so thin that the person looks bald. The person didn’t lose density he has lost calibre.
This is an aspect that makes a hair transplant individual and not carte blanche; understanding the limitations of your hair will ensure that, although you may be disappointed as to what can be achieved, you will be aware of what the result that is realistic and not live with false hope and chasing something that is not possible.
