Posts in Topic: Hair Transplant

Will Hair Transplant be Detectable Immediately After Surgery and What is Typical Appearance Post-op?

February 16th, 2006

Q: Is it possible to have a hair transplant that is totally undetectable immediately following surgery?

A: Not unless a person has a fair amount of existing hair that can cover the transplanted area.

Although surgical hair restoration techniques have improved dramatically over the past ten years, and wounds are so small that patients may shower the morning following the procedure, a hair transplant will be detectable for the first week. During this period, there may be some swelling that settles down on the forehead and some crusting and some residual redness.

Please visit the section on the Bernstein Medical – Center for Hair Restoration website entitled After Your Hair Restoration for more details. Also see the Instructions After Your Hair Restoration Surgery page regarding the normal post-op course following a hair transplant.

Topic: Hair Transplant

Tags: / / / / / /

Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 12:18 pm

Can Hair Transplant Procedure Remove Hair From One Person and Transplant to Another?

January 25th, 2006

Q: Can hair be transplanted from one person to another?

A: A hair transplant between individuals can only be performed on identical twins, since they are genetically the same.

In all other cases, including non-identical siblings, the transplanted hair will be rejected.

We are often asked how it is that one can perform kidney transplants from one person to another, but not hair transplants. The reason is that the skin is more antigenic than a kidney i.e. it is more likely to be rejected. The reason is complex, but this makes sense considering that the skin is the first line of defense against foreign organisms.

Topic: Hair Transplant

Tags: / / /

Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 8:48 am

After Hair Transplant, Will Scalp Laxity Return to Normal and, if so, How Long After Transplant?

January 6th, 2006

Q: After a strip procedure, will the scalps laxity return to normal and how long after the hair transplant does it take?

A: The scalp regains most of its laxity in the first eight months following the hair transplant, but it will continue to loosen slightly after that.

It is interesting that if the scalp is tight prior to surgery, the scalp is less likely to have its full laxity return than in patients who had loose scalps to begin with. With average or loose scalps, there is usually no difference. However, over time, the patient rarely, if ever, notices any permanent tightness unless aggressive procedures have been performed or procedures such as scalp reductions and lifts.

Topic: Hair Transplant

Tags: / / / /

Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 3:30 pm

What Causes Hair Transplant Graft Popping During Surgical Hair Restoration?

December 21st, 2005

Q: What causes graft popping during a hair transplant?

A: Popping, or the tendency for grafts to elevate after they have been placed into the recipient area, is caused by a number of factors including:

  • Packing the grafts too closely, particularly when they are placed on a very acute (sharp) angle with the skin
  • Rough placing techniques
  • Bleeding
  • Poor fit between the graft and recipient site
  • Natural characteristics of the patient’s skin, including the elasticity and stickiness of wound edges

The problem with popping is that it exposes grafts to drying (while they are elevated on the skin surface) and trauma (when they have to be re-inserted).

The judgment and experience of the surgeon performing hair transplants is extremely important in minimizing popping. It is important that the surgeon customize the site size to the different size follicular unit grafts and to test the recipient sites as they are made, to make sure that the “fit” is perfect.

Although it is important to place grafts close together to get the best cosmetic result possible, over-packing of the grafts risks popping and other factors (such as overwhelming the blood supply) that may lead to poor growth.

In the end, maximum growth of the transplanted hair should be the primary goal.

Topic: Hair Transplant

Tags: / / / / / / /

Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 10:03 am

Can Hair Transplant be Harmed by Smoking Before or After Procedure?

November 10th, 2005

Q: Is it true that smoking is bad for a hair transplant and why?

A: Smoking causes constriction of blood vessels and decreased blood flow to the scalp, predominantly due to its nicotine content. Also, carbon monoxide in smoke decreases the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.

These factors both contribute to poor wound healing after a hair transplant and can increase the chance of a wound infection and scarring. Smoking may also contribute to poor hair growth.

The harmful effects of smoking wear off slowly after one stops. In particular, chronic smokers are at risk of poor healing after smoking has stopped for weeks or even months.

Although it is not known exactly how long one should avoid smoking before and after a hair transplant, a common recommendation is to abstain from 1 week prior to surgery to 2 weeks after the hair restoration procedure.

Topic: Hair Transplant

Tags: / / / / / / / /

Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 12:48 pm



Pages: «Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next»


© 2009 Bernstein Medical, P.C. All Rights Reserved.