Do Hair Transplants Really Work & How Long Does It Last?

Many people face the problem of hair loss and look for some fair solutions. Hair transplantation is one solution that dates as far back as the 19th century. However, hair transplant surgery is still greatly misunderstood by many people; as they believe the new hair that grows after the procedure, is fake or it falls out soon. Well! This is not true. Again, hair transplant is not a miracle cure for hair loss. In this article, we will look at if hair transplant really work and how long does it last.

About Hair Transplant

A hair transplant is when hair follicles are moved from one portion of an individual’s body to another portion. The hair follicles that are moved from an area with hair is known as donor area and are placed in the area where there are no hair and is known as recipient area. That’s it! So, the new hair that grows is not new at all. It is just old hair in a new place. It must be mentioned that it is real, natural and also grows like your normal hair does. These newly implanted hair lasts forever, as these hair follicles are generally taken from areas which are genetically resistant to hair loss.

Do Hair Transplants Really Work?

Do Hair Transplants Really Work?

It is very much obvious that those who keep interest in hair transplant must be willing to know if the procedure really works. A good hair transplant will look completely natural and also grow as hair normally does. It also will last a lifetime. Well! We must also mention that a hair transplant really works based upon certain factors. Let us take a deeper look upon this.

The Result of Hair Transplant Vary From Surgeon To Surgeon

Hair transplant techniques have improved, and so also the results of the procedure. Today, top-class hair transplant surgeons can consistently achieve a graft success rate of about 95%; meaning nearly all transplanted hair goes on to grow naturally. However, as mentioned, the result varies from surgeon to surgeon. And, for your information, today there are, a lot of sub-standard hair transplant surgeons out there. So, you need to do your thorough research before booking a hair transplant procedure with any surgeon.

Hair Transplant Does Not Work For Everyone

Hair transplant procedure does not work for everyone. Men and women having an advanced hair loss, whose hair follicles have remained dormant for 2 to 7 years, will have poorer results from the hair transplantation procedure. The results will be very poor if you hair is very thin and has been so for many years. So, it is true that though hair transplant work in some individuals, it is not at all a miracle cure. It is likely that you will require one more hair transplant in the future in case hair loss continues beyond the areas transplanted into.

Limitations of Hair Transplant

Continued Loss of Existing Hair: A hair transplant would not stop your existing hair from continuing to fall out. It means, even though the newly implanted hair should last a lifetime, it does not mean that the hair surrounding it will. So, it is really important to maintain your hair even after a hair transplant.

Hair Transplant Density Depends on Donor Capacity: Your donor area capacity will limit how many hair follicles can actually be used in hair transplant surgery. It means, a large donor area with plenty of hair will offer more grafts to use for a hair transplant. However, if your donor area is sparse, you may require to adjust your expectations for density or coverage.

Risks: Just like any other kind of surgery, hair transplantation has some risks, including bleeding and infection. Around the time new locks begin to grow, some people have inflammation or an infection of the hair follicles, known as folliculitis. Antibiotics and compresses can get you relief from this problem.

Shock Loss: It is also possible to lose suddenly, some of the original hair in the area where you got the new strands, known as shock loss. However, this is not a permanent hair loss.

Scarring: There are chances for scarring and unnatural-looking new hair growth in some cases.

How Long Does Hair Transplant Last?

Post hair transplant, most individuals will see 60% of new hair growth after 6 months to 9 months. Some medications may also be prescribed for quicker hair growth after the transplantation. However, when we talk about how long does hair transplant last, it would be pretty good to mention that about half of the patients would possibly require one more hair transplant within 10 years of the first procedure. So, a majority of patients undergoing the hair transplant, lose more hair in the long term. There are few reasons for this on why hair transplant does not last for some of the patients.

Non Compliance: Refusal of patients to consider taking medications like minoxidil or the prescription drug finasteride.

Hair Thinning: The surrounding non-transplanted hairs keep on getting thinner.

Age: With age, the hair shaft diameter will lose. For instance, a 70-year-old person will notice that their hairs are not as thick as when they were in their age of 30. So, even if all the transplanted hairs are still growing on the top, the result will not look as dense if each hair has half of the diameter as it used to earlier.

Conclusion:

So, from the above, it can be said that most patients will be recommended medication for hair growth after the hair transplant surgery and also may require a second hair transplant in some cases after few years. It is very much essential for you to talk with your doctor about the limitations and risks of hair transplant.

Also Read:

Slide Show:

Team PainAssist
Team PainAssist
Written, Edited or Reviewed By: Team PainAssist, Pain Assist Inc. This article does not provide medical advice. See disclaimer
Last Modified On:August 6, 2018

Recent Posts

Related Posts