Hair transplants

How do hair transplants work?

To start with, a small strip of skin is taken from the hairy region of the back of the head or the temporal region. With the assistance of special microsurgery techniques, individual hairs or micro- and mini-implants are obtained from this tissue. The edges of the removal area are sutured so that the small scar which subsequently emerges is entirely covered by the hair growing over it and thus remains invisible.

At the same time, the individual hair transplants are dissected with the finest precision work and the microtransplants are prepared under the microscope. After the treatment of the bald receiving area, the transplants are planted using lasers or microdrills (see diagram). This new technique represents a breakthrough in hair surgery. While older techniques often produced unsatisfactory results, by using micro- and mini-implants, it is now possible to achieve a natural and aesthetic appearance.

Implanted hair doesn’t fall out again!

KEY: 1. Donor region, 2. Hair strips with hairs, 3. Mini-implants, 4. Micro-implants

It takes from 12 to 16 weeks for the new hair from the implanted hair roots to become visible. Usually, all of the implants also begin to grow. The transplanted hairs retain their previous genetic growth programming in their new location as well for the whole of their lives (the male hormone testosterone does not affect the transplanted hair roots) and thus do not fall out again.

Procedure for a hair transplant

In principle, a hair transplant is carried out on an outpatient basis under local anaesthetic. The patient remains free of pain and conscious throughout the entire operation, which, according to its extent, lasts from one to four hours. In order to pass the time, most of our patients watch a video. Patients may leave the clinic again two hours after the end of the session. According to the type and extent of hair loss, a total of one to four sessions may be necessary.

For whom are hair transplants recommended?

Younger patients may also submit to this method and need not wait until a full bald patch appears. For younger patients, we also recommend the medicine “Propecia” (a hormone receptor blocker for hair roots threatened by loss) as a preventive measure.

Complete hair loss evidently can no longer be remedied by surgery. The operation is most appropriate for patients suffering hair loss in the region of the forehead and crown who still have good hair growth on the back of the head. Patients with weaker hair growth may also create a natural and aesthetic appearance through a professionally designed hairline on the forehead. Circumscribed hair loss around scars and burns to the scalp also shows an excellent response. According to the latest knowledge, this method can also be successful in treating the immune disease Alopecia areata.

Which follow-up treatment is necessary?

As little as a day after the session, the hair may be washed with a special shampoo. Extreme exposure to sunlight should be avoided for two months after a session. Since minor traces of the operation are visible for several weeks after the operation, we recommend that our patients cover their heads with a loose baseball cap.