Hair transplantation is one of the first successful cosmetic operations in the modern era, as devising a way to overcome baldness, thinning hair and the effects of scalp diseases such as alopecia and other things that have preoccupied scientists and researchers since the early part of the last century, and by reference to the history of cosmetic operations we will find The first hair transplant operation was performed in the year 1950 AD and since then this process has become one of the most requested cosmetic surgeries around the world.
Hair transplant operations have evolved several times since their appearance until today and witnessed what can be described as a boom, as this process has become based on a group of highly developed means, the last of which is the use of hair cloning techniques, but this tremendous development did not prevent the recurrence of many questions such as Is hair transplantation successful What are the indications or signs of the success of hair transplantation and others, which will be answered by “cosmetic” through the following paragraphs.
Turkey is at the forefront of the world in hair transplantation
In 2019, Turkey set a world record by attracting more than 52 tourists from around the world.
Being among the top 3 destinations for medical tourism and healthcare services around the world, this was one of the most important factors and reasons for choosing Turkey as a destination for them to meet their needs.
Over the past decade, Turkey has developed plans and strategies through which it has strengthened the medical tourism sector and the provision of health services.
The expectations and ambition that Turkey seeks to achieve is 1.5 million tourists for 2022, and revenues estimated at about 20 billion dollars.
A very special equation achieved by Turkey to reach the forefront of the scene, as it combined low costs, high quality, superior medical staff, legislation facilitating the issuance of residence permits, and various ingredients suitable for many. Indeed, the Arab public has a very safe experience due to the availability of the Arabic language among the services provided. Either administrative or medical.
However, Turkey’s successes in this field cannot be mentioned without highlighting the main axis in this superiority, which is technical and technological progress and development in the health sector.
Specifically in hair transplantation, which was confirmed by a report issued by the Washington Post, in which it confirmed Turkey’s superiority in hair transplantation operations and techniques in the world.
But in general, are hair transplants successful?
The question about the success rate of hair transplantation and its feasibility is one of the most frequently asked questions by those wishing to perform this process, but the truth is that describing hair transplantation for women or men as success or failure is a relative matter that varies depending on the different criteria of success and failure from one person to another or, to be precise, different. Standards between client and specialist.
Clients see the hair transplant process as successful if the results come with what they hoped to achieve through it, and this is often focused on the formal appearance, such as the disappearance of baldness foci, the increase in hair density, and so on. The implanted hairs, the thickness of the growing hairs, and the type and severity of complications experienced by the patient.
Determining the success of hair transplantation or not can only be ascertained after a relatively long period; Although the newly transplanted follicles begin to grow during the first and second month of the procedure, the final result does not appear until after five to six months, when the hair has fully grown and returned to its natural length.
In general, it can be said that hair transplantation operations are successful, and the reports of the International Society of Plastic Surgery ISAPS showed that the largest percentage of those who underwent that operation are satisfied with the results they achieved, and the degree of success of the operation varies according to many factors, the most important of which are:
- The extent to which the patient follows a healthy and balanced diet after the operation
- Taking good care of the hair by using creams and cosmetics suitable for the nature of the hairs
- The extent of adherence to the doctor’s advice regarding hair washing rates and exposure to heat
Hair transplant success rate
Hair transplant operations recorded a very high success rate – compared to other types of cosmetic operations – ranging between 89: 95% of the total number of operations performed annually around the world, and the success rate of hair transplantation is measured according to many estimates, the most important of which are the following:
- The severity of complications resulting from the operation, which is usually the appearance of infections or bruises
- The ratio of hair density to the volume of the affected area of the head that was transplanted
- The length of the growing hairs, their strength and their ability to resist external factors, and this is determined after approximately 3: 4 months
- The nature of the scalp, as the level of success of the operation is sometimes related to the level of elasticity of the scalp and the extent of its susceptibility to the re-implanted tufts.
The chances of success of hair transplantation rise and fall according to the type of technology used in the procedure, which means that the question of whether hair transplantation operations are successful must include a reference to the method by which the operation will be performed, as the more advanced the technology, the higher and lower the estimated success rate of hair transplantation. The patient’s chances of experiencing any of the complications, and the most prominent methods of performing this type of surgery are as follows:
- Hair transplantation with the chip technique: It is the oldest, cheapest and most widespread technique in the field of hair transplantation around the world. This process is carried out by removing a small slice from the donor or donor area and then it is divided into infinitesimal parts, and then those parts are re-implanted in the affected area.
- FUE hair transplantation: The technique of hair transplantation using micro-grafts (FUE) is witnessing a great demand in the world, as it is one of the advanced and medium-cost hair transplant techniques. Sophisticated technologies.
- Hair transplantation by cloning: Stem cell cloning is the latest and most advanced technology used in hair transplantation. This process is performed by withdrawing a group of stem cells from an area under the skin and cultivating them in the affected area, where they interact with the internal parts of the body, resulting in the formation of follicles. Hair and its growth are completely natural and safe. This technique represents an ideal solution for those who suffer from a genetic defect or diseases of the scalp, but it is not widespread and is used only in a limited number of international hair transplant centers due to its modernity.
Factors that contribute to the success of hair transplant operations
The chances of successful hair transplantation increase the more necessary measures are taken before the operation. Therefore, it is recommended to rely on experienced doctors who are members of the International Society of Hair Transplant Surgeons (ISHRS), and among the most important measures that precede the operation in order to determine the appropriate procedure:
- General medical examinations
- Determine the causes of baldness, whether genetic, pathological, or as a result of an accident such as burning the scalp
- Identify the nature of hair and determine the donor area that contains the strongest follicles
- Informing the patient of what he should do during the preparation period, such as abstaining from alcohol and blood-thinning drugs
The process of hair transplantation achieves its intended goal to the fullest, as it restores hair growth in the areas from which it disappeared and helps the patient restore his elegant appearance and the look he desires, but in the end, surgery is not everything. There are a set of procedures that the patient must do after the operation in order to enhance the results. one of the importants:
- Do not rush to use the hair straightener after the procedure
- Do not touch new hair during the first week
- Not to start hairdressing during the period specified by the doctor to avoid head infections
- Hair care by using good hair washes and creams
- Choose a hair wash (shampoo) with a formula that suits the nature of the hair, preferably after consulting a doctor
- Avoid using chemicals on hair such as dyes and others during the first three weeks so that their composition does not affect the hair roots
- Refrain from strenuous exercise for two weeks after the operation
- Avoid direct exposure to sunlight so as not to aggravate the condition of the wounds
- Not covering the head for an appropriate period and in cases of necessity the hat should be loose and not attached to the surface of the head
Signs of successful hair transplant
After answering a question: Are hair transplant operations successful, the second most frequent question comes into play, which is when it can be said that the operation has succeeded, or what are the signs of hair transplant success?
We previously mentioned that saying whether or not hair transplant is successful is a relative matter that varies according to the patient’s satisfaction with the achieved results. However, experts in the field of cosmetics agreed on a set of factors that they saw as the most important signs of hair transplant success, which are as follows:
Reduced complications of the operation
The extent of the success of the hair transplant process can be identified by observing the complications or negative side effects resulting from it and their severity, and the complications of this cosmetic procedure are as follows:
- scalp infections
- The appearance of some dark bruises in the area where the follicles were re-implanted
- Scalp bleeding
- The surgery left visible scars in the replanted areas
The appearance of one or more of these side effects – with the exception of bleeding – is completely normal and safe and does not cause concern, as it is customary to overcome bruises and infections during the first weeks of the operation using some antibiotics prescribed by the doctor, and the scars are It is completely accurate, almost invisible to the eye, and appears only in the case of hair transplantation using slides.
As for bleeding, it is a rare complication, with an estimated incidence of approximately 1%. Its appearance in the donor area during the first day of the operation is normal, but if it continues for more than three days or appears in the transplanted area, it becomes a dangerous indicator and the doctor must be consulted in that case.
The more we say those effects and the less their appearance, the more evidence of the success of hair transplantation and vice versa, and the technique used in the operation affects the level of complications, for example, full recovery takes place within 48 hours in the case of surgery using micrografts, while it may take two weeks or more. More if performed by slides.
Hair density and coverage of the transplanted area
The main goal of performing hair transplant operations of all kinds is to overcome complete or partial baldness, and then the density of hair after the operation and the extent of coverage of the bald area is one of the most important signs of the success of hair transplantation.
Some associate the number of micrografts used in the hair transplant process with the level of hair density, while cosmetologists refer the hair density rates to the area of the damaged hair-free area, as the greater the area of the bald area, the greater the number of grafts or slices required at the same time. Hair density levels decreased.
We show that the mere growth of the transplanted hair and reaching the appropriate length to cover the transplanted area is evidence of the success of hair transplantation. As for its density, it is related to the area of baldness and the number of grafts used. This problem can also be overcome by using a larger number of grafts, but this may cause a doubling. process costs.
The strength and health of transplanted follicles
Hair transplantation is classified under permanent plastic surgery, meaning that whoever performs such an operation does not need to perform any complementary or corrective operations at a later time, and then the health of the new hairs growing in the re-implanted space is one of the most important things that are recognized The success of the hair transplantation process is based on it, and the viability and quality of the follicles can be identified through:
- The length of the developing hairs
- hair thickness
- Hair loss stopped after the operation
- Rare exposure to brittleness and split ends
Is hair transplant permanent?
The results of hair transplantation are supposed to be permanent, provided that the operation is performed on a healthy scalp, and that the donor area is healthy.
It is unlikely that the transplanted hair will fall out in the long term, unless the operation was performed wrongly, or the person was not qualified from the start for hair transplantation.