HAIR TRANSPLANT
Hair transplant is one of the last resort intervention in hair restoration techniques in carefully selected patients whose hair loss/bald patches are diagnosed as permanent. It is an autologous (The recipient receiving own grafts) microsurgical procedure painstakingly carried out under local analgesia, the patient being wide awake. Hair bulbs (follicular units) that generate the hair strands, are extracted from the donor area and grafted onto the bald patches, the recipient sites on the same patient.
 

WHAT TO EXPECT
On the Day of Hair transplant It is preferable that the procedure be scheduled and carried out from early morning.

The procedure takes between 5 to 9 hours depending on the number of follicles to be grafted. It is divided into two main sessions: the harvesting session and the planting session. One to two breaks are taken during the whole period, often with a serving of drinks and meals.

First, pre-surgical markings are undertaken marking out the desired hair line. Both the donor site and recipient sites are shaved clean. These sites are cleaned with antiseptic solution, the head draped with a sterile clothe then local analgesia and tumescent solution are infiltrated, first on the donor area, then later to the recipient site.

Only the first few needles of analgesic infiltration are painful and are much bearable due to the fine and overlapping injecting techniques used.
While the patient is lying on his/her belly (prone position) on the special hair transplant couch, the hair bulbs are harvested using various techniques and thereafter on the same day, planted onto the recipient site.

At the end of the transplant, a patient is given a package for postoperative self-care.  0-48 hours post-transplant the scalp may remain numb up to 8 hours and feel heavy from the infiltrated analgesic mixture after which you may start feeling some pain. There may be some bleeding from both donor (back of head) and recipient (transplanted) areas
There may be facial swelling from the infiltrated analgesic mixture. This is expected to resolve on its own within 48 hours.

3rd to 9 th Day Pain is no longer problematic during this time but tingling & itchiness may supervene as healing process become accelerated. Persistent, throbbing pain may indicate an infection which if it were to occur will do so during this period. Appearance of pus and tenderness pin point towards infection.

Luckily, infection is rare after the procedure because of the necessary precautions taken.
A few areas may still be numb because of needling of small nerves at the donor and grafted areas.

10 th to 21 st day Most of the grafted follicles are firmly anchored at the end of 2 nd week.  A few hairs/follicles
are expected to be shed during this time. They begin to be supplied with new blood vessels and nerves during this time period and itching may increase. 4th to 8th Week Grafts are stable and begin a growth cycle. Itching starts to reduce towards the end of this period. Baby hairs may be seen clearly in this period. 3rd Month Grafted hairs become obvious at this time and soon begin to transform from baby to terminal hairs. All the sites are well healed by now.

FAQs
Q-How many hairs can safely be transplanted in one sitting?
A- It is recommended that up to 2,000 hair bulbs be grafted in one sitting. If additional
grafts are required because of the larger size of the bald patch, the grafting can bedone at 3 months from the initial grafting.

Q- When can the success of take be adjudged?
A- The success of the transplant can be adjudged conclusively at one year.

Q- What is the success rate of hair transplant?
A- When done by appropriately experienced medics combined with proper selection
of patients and scalp treatment that may be required by certain balding patients,
hair transplant is highly successful.

Q- Is hair transplant a medical procedure?
A- Yes, it is a surgical procedure regulated by the Kenya Medical Practitioners’ and
Dentists’ Council guidelines, hence can only be carried out a licensed doctor’s
clinic.

Q-How long does a hair transplant take?
A- 5 to 9 hours depending on the number of follicles to be grafted. However, with
advent of modern machines, the time taken is less than half this duration.

Q-How soon can I go swimming, resume my beer or normal work?
A- Two weeks is ideal to resume all activity including normal hair dressing routine
save that no harsh chemical or heat should be applied