HAIR IMPLANTS

PRE-OPERATIVE

• Provide us with your medical history and lab exams
• Discontinue using Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naprosyn, and Vitamin E for one week before and a few days after your procedure as these act as blood thinners
• It is advisable not to smoke for at least two weeks prior and one after the surgery as nicotine can impair circulation and healing Avoid sun exposure as not to irritate the skin

SURGERY

Grafting is an outpatient procedure. Follicular units from the back of the head are dissected into smaller units and then implanted in the front of the head. Micro grafts contain only 1-2 hairs per graft, while slit grafts contain between 4 and 5. Follicular hair implants achieve a natural looking hair line. By implanting healthy hair follicles from the back of the head to balding areas, the follicles continue to grow permanently. With each session, 100 to 1000 hair-bearing segments are transplanted. "Donor" sites are closed with stitches, which are then concealed by the surrounding hair.

POST SURGERY

Patients leave the clinic bandage-free. Mild pain pills are taken, if at all, for the first night or two to make sleeping more comfortable; any discomfort is from the donor site where the stitches are located. Two days after the procedure, patients can shampoo and comb their hair and return to work and to most regular activities. Weight-lifting, heavy exercise and swimming can be resumed after four weeks. The transplanted hair begins to grow in three to four months with satisfactory results within six months.

SUMARY

• Surgery length: Average of 4 hours
• Anaesthesia: local with sedation
• Clinic or hospital internment: day clinic
• Post surgery: removal of stitches after 10 days
• Physical activities: resume after four weeks