Things to Know About Hair Loss and Hair Transplantation
More than half of men experience hair loss at some point in their lives after a certain age due to various reasons. Most of these cases are permanent and are referred to as “androgenetic (male pattern) hair loss.” This process begins in three stages and is typically classified into seven levels:
Stages of Hair Loss:
1 – Receding hairline at the temples
2 – Thinning hair at the crown area
3 – General thinning and hair loss in larger areas, particularly in the front, top, and sides
In addition to these common stages of hair loss, other types of hair loss can also be observed.
Before performing a hair transplant, the severity and stage of hair loss are determined. This is essential to set the objective of the procedure and ensure successful treatment outcomes. The most commonly used method for classifying these stages is the seven-level “Norwood-Hamilton Scale.” The number of grafts required for the transplant is also determined based on this scale.
Norwood-Hamilton Scale :
In women, hair loss can visibly affect up to 40% of individuals before the age of 40. The most effective and only permanent solution to permanent hair loss is hair transplantation. In this procedure, hair follicles are taken from the donor area (usually the back of the head, where hair is densest) and implanted into balding areas.An important and often misunderstood point is the number of hair follicles, or grafts, extracted. A graft can contain 2 or 3 hairs. In hair transplantation, it is not individual hairs but the hair follicles (grafts) containing the hairs that are permanently transplanted. The reason for preferring the back of the head as the donor area is that the hair in this region is insensitive to testosterone and therefore does not fall out.
Since the hair taken from the donor area retains the natural characteristics of the person’s own hair, there is no incompatibility. The transplanted hair continues to grow normally in the implanted area, blending seamlessly with the existing hair and maintaining a natural appearance. In rare cases, if there are not enough grafts available in the donor area, grafts can be taken from other parts of the body, such as the chest. However, as this may lead to incompatibilities or undesirable aesthetic outcomes, we do not recommend this procedure.
Before starting the hair transplantation process, the most important point is the correct determination of the so-called “hairline.” This involves precisely planning the contours of the hairline and the gradual increase in hair density from sparse to dense. The hairline should be accurately defined by an expert, considering the person’s age, to achieve the most natural appearance.
After completing the hair transplantation, the first hair wash should be done two days later under the careful supervision of an expert. During the first one to two weeks, the person should avoid injuring the transplanted areas and be cautious against any bumps or impacts. We recommend wearing a wide-brimmed hat during this period.
About 20 days after the transplantation, a phase called “shock hair loss” typically occurs. During this phase, all transplanted hair suddenly falls out as a physiological response during the scalp’s healing process. This phase can vary from person to person. The earlier this phase occurs, the more advantageous it is, as new hair starts to grow permanently from the roots afterward. This marks the beginning of the transition to the natural growth process.
