Sapphire scalpel to make incisions in a hair implant
April 19th 2023

What is a hair graft? All the information

Hair loss is a problem that affects a large part of the population, both men and women. In many cases, this hair loss is not reversible, that is, the hair that falls does not grow back, causing baldness. In this context, more and more people decide to undergo a hair implant to recover hair that has fallen due to alopecia. But what is a hair transplant? What is the procedure? What results does it offer?

It is very frequent that multiple doubts arise when we consider what a hair graft is. For this reason, since Hospital Capilar, an expert hair transplant clinic in Madrid, Murcia and Pontevedra, we tell you everything you need to know about hair implants.  

What is a hair graft?

The first thing you should know is that the hair graft it is a surgery. Although it is a minimally invasive and ambulatory surgical process, it is necessary that doctors and qualified personnel carry it out in operating rooms prepared for it. The process of a capillary graft consists, broadly speaking, of extracting healthy hair follicles that contain the hair of the donor zone, the one that is not affected by alopecia, to implant them in the bald area. It could be understood as extracting hair from a dense and populated area to place it in the area where there is no hair.

There are two ways to perform the hair implant: with the FUSS technique (Follicular Unit Strip Surgery) and the FUE technique (Follicular Unit Extraction). Currently, when explaining what a hair graft is, reference is usually made to the FUE technique since it is the most widespread. The difference between one and the other is that the FUSS technique requires removing a part of the patient's scalp to subsequently extract the follicles; while in hair grafting with the FUE technique it is not necessary to remove skin, since the follicles are obtained with a micromotor directly from the patient's scalp. Thus, the FUSS left a visible scar in the area where the skin was removed, while FUE leaves no visible scars.

The hair transplant procedure consists of several stages. Next we will tell you what is the step by step of a hair graft.

Diagnosis doctor

The first thing that is done when a patient is interested in hair grafting is a medical diagnosis. This is fundamental and necessary, since in this capillary analysis the medical team assesses the feasibility of the intervention, since not everyone is suitable for a capillary graft, determines the type of alopecia, estimates the number of follicular units needed and reviews the general state of health of the patient. An analysis of the patient is also requested to verify certain values ​​necessary for surgery.

In this diagnosis, the patient can get an idea of ​​what his particular intervention will be like and the results that are expected to be obtained. Each case is different, and therefore personalized evaluations of each patient are needed.

Design of the recipient and donor area

Once the medical team approves the feasibility of the hair implant, we proceed to carry out the front line design, crown if necessary and donor area. This is done by the surgeon taking into account the physiognomy of the patient, their tastes and the number of follicular units that can be extracted.

Shaving the donor area

In order to perform the capillary graft, the hair needs to be shaved, leaving it with an approximate length of 2 millimeters. In cases of hair transplant without shave, Only the donor area from which the follicles are extracted is shaved, and the recipient area is not shaved. In any case, we recommend shaving the entire head for the comfort of the patient and healthcare team.

anesthesia application

Hair grafting is a painless process thanks to the application of Anesthesia local. General anesthesia is not necessary, it is only used locally, so the patient remains awake and conscious during the intervention.

The phase of injecting anesthesia is the only one that can cause certain discomfort. For this reason, in Hospital Capilar we make available to our patients the pre-anesthesia. It is a device that, through kinetic impulses of lidocaine, numbs the area, preparing it for anesthesia injections.

Follicle Extraction

Once the area is anesthetized, the healthcare team proceeds to extract follicular units that have been previously estimated. The follicles are extracted one by one from the donor area using a punch with micromotor. With this technique, no visible scars are left in the area, unlike the FUSS technique. The extracted follicles are placed in Petri dishes for better conservation.

Making the incisions

After the extraction is complete, the surgeon makes incisions in the receiving area. This supposes a precision exercise by the medical team since the angle, natural direction of the hair, quantity and space between incisions, among others, must be taken into account. In Hospital Capilar we make the incisions in a capillary graft with sapphire scalpel with which a better result is achieved and favors the healing of the area.

Follicle implantation

The last phase with which the hair graft surgery is concluded is the implantation of the hair follicles. The health team one by one and with the help of tweezers graft the follicles into the previously opened cavities.

After this, the patient can return home with relative normality taking into account the indications of the postoperative.  

Crown capillary graft in Hospital Capilar

In which cases is a hair graft viable?

As we have commented previously, not everyone can have a hair transplant. A prior capillary analysis is required for the medical team to determine the feasibility of the intervention based on the type of alopecia, degree of alopecia and general state of health of the patient.

There are different types of alopecia that lead to irreversible hair loss. The most common type of alopecia is androgenic alopecia, hormonal and genetic. Androgenic alopecia in most cases is operable giving very good results. However, another type of alopecia of autoimmune origin such as alopecia areata They are more complex to treat.

On the other hand, a hair graft is feasible in patients whose degree of alopecia is not excessively advanced. This is measured in cases of male alopecia with the hamilton norwood scale, while in female alopecia it is measured with the Ludwig scale. In patients where baldness is widespread, they are usually candidates not suitable for hair grafting, since the donor area is not enough to cover the baldness, so the results would not be as desired. However, In patients with a good donor area, they are usually, in most cases, good candidates for hair grafting..

Results of a hair transplant: Are they forever?

When it comes to knowing what hair grafting is, it is essential to know the results that this method offers. One of the reasons why surgeries are booming is precisely because of the results nature it offers. As the patient's own hair is used to cover the areas without hair, the result is more natural than other techniques that simulate hair. In addition, the FUE technique does not leave visible scars.

The final results of the hair implant are given after the first year after surgery. The process, as can be seen, is somewhat slow, however at 6 months you can already see the first changes. To stabilize alopecia and prevent hair from falling again, it is necessary to continue with the prescribed medical treatment in each case. In this way, the results of the hair graft are definitive.

What to keep in mind about a hair transplant

Once explained what a hair graft is, it is advisable to take into account a series of important aspects.

It's a long process

It is not a method that offers an immediate solution. As we have previously commented, the results of a hair graft are given one year after the surgery. It is a process that can take a long time, but it will be worth it.

Importance of the postoperative period

Achieving results that meet expectations depends not only on the skill of the medical team, but also on the postoperative care provided by the patient. It is important to continue with the postoperative instructions to avoid possible complications that may intervene in the correct evolution of the implant.. Otherwise, the result may not be as expected.

A month after surgery, the hair falls out

About a month after the hair graft, the implanted hair falls out. There is no need to be alarmed by this, as it is a completely normal process. This is known by the name of shock loss, the process by which the implanted hair falls out due to the trauma suffered during surgery. The follicles remain intact, so the hair that falls out will grow stronger and thicker.

The extracted hair does not come back

One of the questions that usually arise when we find out about what a hair graft is is if the hair that is extracted grows back. The answer is no. The follicles that are extracted do not come back. The medical team studies each case and performs the extraction in such a way that the donor area does not end up damaged and the hair implant is completely hidden.

Unique method to recover hair

Currently there are hair treatments aimed at stopping hair loss such as hair mesotherapy or Platelet Rich Plasma. These types of techniques stabilize certain types of alopecia, but in no case will they make new hair grow in bald areas where there is no follicular activity. In this sense, hair grafting is presented as the only method today to recover hair that has fallen due to alopecia.

Expert doctors are required

The hair implant is still a surgical process, so it is necessary that it be a experienced medical team who does it This is why it is advisable to go to a hair clinic in Spain that has specialist doctors in this area.

Not everyone can perform a hair implant  

Another of the key points about hair implants to keep in mind is that not all patients can undergo a hair transplant. If the alopecia has advanced too much, it is possible that we receive the unfit for hair transplant. That is why It is important to go to a hair clinic at the first signs of baldness or hair loss.

Results of a hair graft

Your medical diagnosis at no cost in Hospital Capilar

Do you want to know if you are suitable for a hair graft? In Hospital Capilar we make it simple for you. Request your medical diagnosis at no cost remotely or in person at our clinics in Madrid, Murcia or Pontevedra and put yourself in expert hands. 

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