How should hair transplant surgery results be evaluated?
When it comes to hair transplant surgery results first we need to check with the purpose of this surgery .The purpose of hair transplant is to achieve an aesthetic improvement.The the meaning of this varies from person to person. People want to have a hair transplant operation in order to feel better or to have a higher self-esteem To be attractive, look younger, be more competitive in their professional life or for other personal issues might be the reason.This strong motivation to have hair transplant reflects on our expectations from the hair transplant surgery results, too.
- How will I look after hair transplant?
- When will my hair begin to grow after the hair transplant?
- Will my hair transplant operation give a result as successful as my friends got?
- Will the hair transplant surgery result last for a lifetime?
The patients should have discussed all their questions in detail with their physician before the hair transplant. Two significant issues should definitely be understood by the patients.
- The results are specific to the patient; no one-to-one comparisons should be made with the other patients who have undergone hair transplant.
- The final result obtained will reflect the demands of the patient, and the physician needs to consider many variables in order to obtain the ideal result.
- The age and gender of the patient
- The hair loss pattern
- Whether hair loss is continuing or not.
- Hair type and color
- Form of the patient’s head and face
- The anatomical and physiological characteristics of the hairy scalp.
The results obtained with the patient can be evaluated only by considering all these variables.
Will my hair transplant operation give a result as successful as others?
Even of the same age and gender, comparing the hair transplant surgery results of two persons would be like comparing apples and oranges. The most prominent features are the shape of head, and the pattern and extent of hair thinning. But numerous factors have an impact on the results obtained.
- Thickness of hair shaft,
- The number of hair shafts contained in every hair follicle,
- Characteristics of hair (straight, wavy or curly)
- Color of hair
- Contrast between the hair color and the scalp
Having an equal number of hair follicles transplanted also does not guarantee the same results for everyone.
It is apparent that a denser result will be obtained with thick hair follicles that contain a higher number of hair shafts compared to the results obtained with thin hair follicles that contain a single hair shaft. Similarly, curly hair shafts can give a better impact of camouflage. And as the contrast with the scalp decreases, a denser appearance is obtained.This means, the result of hair transplant with a combination of gray hair and fair skin gives a denser hair appearance compared to a combination of black hair and fair skin.
The plastic surgeon considers these variables before the hair transplant operation.After these considerations he makes the best treatment plan to obtain the desired result. Use of a personalized plan and personalized hair transplant techniques ensure maximum satisfaction regarding the patient’s expectations.
When will I enjoy the result of the hair transplant operation?
It is not possible to give a 100% successful estimation regarding the final result of the hair transplant operation on the first 6 months. The characteristics of the hair follicle, the technique used, the wound healing pattern and the hormonal impacts vary from person to person.
In general, %80 of the transplanted hair follicles fall out on the the first month following the hair transplant surgery .The transplanted hair begin to grow on the third month.By then first signs of the result starts to be visible.When we reach at the 6th month we mostly see 60-80% of the final result. Finally after 12 months we will be seeing the final result.
Hair loss and hair transplant surgery results are specific to the person. Any kind of comparison to be made would be like comparing apples and oranges. click for surgery result photos
What are the characteristics of hair that ensure an appearance specific to the individual?
The hair characteristics that give a specific look to a person are:
- Hair color- blonde, dark, black, brown
- Hair shaft thickness- thin, medium or thick hair shafts
- Form of the hair shaft- straight, wavy or curly
In addition to these, there are some other factors to be considered such as the contrast between the color of the scalp and hair, and the number of hair shafts contained in the hair follicles.
Characteristics of hair have a significant role in a natural-looking, successful hair transplant surgery results . Thickness of the hair shaft is the most influential characteristic. For instance the hair follicles extracted from the central area contain thick hair shafts.That’s why they are used behind the hairline in order to ensure a better density and thickness.On the other hand the hair follicles extracted from the area close to the ears and neck contains single and thin hair shafts.So they are mostly used to form the new hairline. The location and the form of the new hairline is a decision that, more than any other decision, requires a deep insight and experience on the part of the surgeon.
The impact of hair characteristics on the hair transplant surgery results of the hair transplant
Aesthetics per the standards of today refers to the natural look of the result rather than simply ensuring that the transplanted hair follicles do not fall out. When we talk about natural look we mean that the result should look like the appearance you had before hair thinning.
Hair transplant is a surgical intervention based on scientific knowledge.The main goal aims to achieve an aesthetic result. The physician who performs the hair transplant operation should have aesthetical evaluation skills as well as surgical knowledge and capability.
The characteristics of hair may have a direct impact on the result of hair transplant.
- Curly thick hair shafts give a denser appearance.
- Less the contrast between the hair color and the scalp , the denser the result will look.
This means that similar results can be achieved with a smaller number of hair follicles for a patient who has thick and curly hair shafts compared to a patient with thin and straight hair. Similarly, it may be possible to achieve similar results with a smaller number of hair follicles with a light-skinned patient who has fair hair compared to a light-skinned patient who has dark hair. It is obvious that hair transplant performed with hair follicles that contain two or three hair shafts will give more satisfying results compared to that performed with single-shaft hair follicles.
