Losing one’s hair can be distressing and bothersome. While a small amount of hair loss is normal for everyone, persistent or excessive hair loss can be cause for concern. Often, we tend to overlook the initial signs of hair loss, only becoming alarmed when it progresses to baldness.

Certain types of hair loss, such as male and female pattern baldness, are permanent. These types of hair loss typically have a genetic component and can be influenced by environmental factors, diet, stress levels, and more.

On the other hand, there are instances of temporary hair loss that may be triggered by illness, cancer treatments, stress, rapid weight loss, hormonal imbalances, or iron deficiencies. Temporary hair loss is reversible. The real challenge lies in dealing with irreversible or permanent hair loss. It can be so daunting that it can shatter one’s self-confidence and, in some cases, even lead to clinical depression. Therefore, it is advisable to seek a solution at an early stage.

Treatment Options

Individuals experiencing permanent hair loss often explore various treatment options. This typically begins with the purchase of cosmetic products such as lotions, shampoos, conditioners, or hair oils that claim to reduce hair loss or promote hair growth. However, the effectiveness of these products has not been proven. Other options to conceal baldness include the use of prosthetic hair, hair wigs, suction wigs, hair extensions, or complete shaving of the head. Unfortunately, these options do not provide a natural-looking result and require high maintenance.

In terms of medication, there are two options available for hair loss: Minoxidil, an over-the-counter lotion applied topically, and finasteride, an orally consumed medicine. These medications work to slow down hair loss and potentially enhance hair growth. However, it has been discovered that the benefits of these drugs are temporary, and once discontinued, baldness tends to return.

The market offers only one permanent solution for hair loss, which is hair transplant surgery. However, it is crucial to have the procedure performed by a skilled and artistic surgeon in order to achieve excellent results. Otherwise, the outcome could be disastrous. Dr. Suneet Soni, the owner of Medispa Hair Transplant Clinic, is renowned as one of the best hair transplant surgeons in India. With over 20 years of experience and more than 20000 successful cases, he has consistently delivered outstanding, natural-looking results. Dr. Soni holds an MCh qualification, the highest surgical degree awarded in India, and has received numerous national and international accreditations in the field of hair transplant. 

Hair transplant is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that involves extracting healthy hair follicles from donor sites with high hair density and resistant roots to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). These follicles, along with healthy tissues, are then carefully placed at the targeted bald area. The success rate of any hair transplant surgery is determined by two crucial steps: graft harvesting and hairline design. There are two basic techniques used for performing hair transplant surgery:

FUT hair transplant (Follicular unit transplantation or strip technique): Here, your surgeon will cut a strip of scalp tissue usually from the back side of the patient’s head, size of the strip depends upon the number of follicles needed to cover bald spots. This strip is then dissectedin the graft separation room under high resolution microscope to isolate individual grafts. These are then placed in the target recipient bald area. 

FUT hair transplant:  The FUT hair transplant, also known as Follicular Unit Transplantation or strip technique, involves the surgeon cutting a strip of scalp tissue from the back of the patient’s head. The size of the strip depends on the number of follicles needed to cover the bald spots. This strip is then dissected in a graft separation room using a high-resolution microscope to isolate individual grafts. These grafts are then placed in the targeted recipient bald area. 

FUE hair transplant: The FUE hair transplant procedure, also known as Follicular Unit Extraction, involves the extraction of individual hair follicles using a punching device. Subsequently, these extracted follicles are carefully transplanted to the desired bald area of the recipient.

How can the long lasting results be confirmed?

Ensuring lasting outcomes is crucial when it comes to hair transplants, especially with the increasing number of failure cases. To achieve natural-looking results, there are several factors to consider. Firstly, selecting an ideal surgeon is paramount. 

1. Experience and credentials are a must: Checking their qualifications, training, and experience is essential for excellent outcomes. Opt for a licensed and board-certified hair transplant surgeon, and review the feedback and photo galleries of previous patients to gauge their expertise. Additionally, evaluating the experience of the supporting staff is important, as teamwork plays a vital role in the success of the procedure.
2. Process of treatment: The treatment method involves careful consideration and the application of knowledge in the real world to choose the appropriate approach based on the patients’ needs. Factors such as age, gender, degree of baldness, number of grafts required, and the quality and quantity of hair in the donor area determine the approach selected. Skilled surgeons should only use each procedure sparingly, as they require extreme dexterity. The FUT technique, although more complex and demanding more experience, offers numerous advantages over FUE. On the other hand, FUE hair transplantation is a straightforward procedure that requires accuracy and technique sensitivity to avoid overharvesting of grafts or higher hair follicle damage rates.
3. Post-transplant care:  After the transplant, the patient’s diligent efforts are crucial in addition to the expertise of a qualified surgeon. To ensure permanent outcomes, strict adherence to post-transplant protocols is necessary. Since this surgery is less invasive, the post-transplant care is followed for a maximum of 10 days.
4. Technology and armamentarium: Hair transplant surgery, like any other field, utilizes innovation and technology to enhance results. It is crucial to select a clinic that possesses state-of-the-art equipment and performs each stage of the procedure under strong magnification to achieve the highest quality outcomes.