What does hair transplant mean?

Hair transplant is a process where hair is transferred from a healthy scalp area to a bald scalp area. The healthy scalp is called the donor area. In men, this is usually behind or at the sides of the head. Transplanted hair then grows on through a person’s life, as the hair roots transplanted into a bald area do not lose their ability to grow. Domination of the donor scalp is the basis for a successful hair transplant.

Hair transplant candidates are persons with excessive hair loss, who have a sufficient amount of healthy hair in the donor area, which is then used for transplant to a bald area. In the past, many bald patients did not have a suitable donor area, but to date, science has advanced so much that new techniques have brought about many new hair restoration procedures, so that nowadays, large numbers of men do have a suitable hair transplant donor area.

Basic hair transplant conditions

For men, baldness can be a sign of aging, unattractiveness or lack of vitality. Though none of these signs is necessarily true, clinical studies have shown that hair loss constantly causes a poor self-image and a low self-esteem in men and women. Around 70 percent of men and 50 percent of women experience some degree of hair loss in their lives. Hair loss is impacted by several factors, and the three predominant ones include the genetics, hormones, and advanced age.

In the past, men and women were rather desperate at the excessive hair loss, as no effective hair loss prevention methods existed. However, hair restoration methods have accomplished great advancements in the recent years, and many men and women are opting for effective hair transplants because new hair on the head brings added quality to life and improves the person’s self-esteem. Effective scalp transplants at present constitute an optimum treatment against baldness.

An average person may shed 50 to 100 pieces of hair in a day. If your hair grows regularly, and regrows, baldness does not occur.

A combination of emotional instability, nervousness, stress, poor nutrition, illness, drug and alcohol consumption causes excess hair loss. Luckily, these factors are normally only temporary, where hair growth and scalp restoration continue in a natural way.

However, problems begin to arise, when this is not the case. Around 70 percent of men and 50 percent of women experience excessive hair loss in their lifetime. US research has shown that 80 percent of bald men are highly affected with a low self-image due to baldness, and are highly stressed, as they usually begin sheding their hair in their early twenties, and are most likely to suffer a low level of self-assurance. Permanent hair loss is due to the fact that the hair follicles become thinner and weaker, and hair production in hair roots completely stopps. Androgenetic alopecia is the scientific name of the male type baldness.

1. Hair transplant using the F.U.T. method

Hair transplantation is a minor outpatient procedure where the hair follicles are transferred from the donor area of the scalp to the bald area. The procedure begins by first removing the hair follicles from the donor area of the scalp, which is most commonly located just above the neck at the back of the head. Local anaesthesia is applied during the procedure to prevent any pain and discomfort. The donated follicles are divided into three parts:

  1. Follicular unit comprising one piece of hair.
  2. Follicular unit comprising two pieces of hair.
  3. Follicular unit comprising from two to four pieces of hair.

Medical technicians then isolate individual hair follicles from the donor strip and insert them into the transplant area. The follicles are inserted into the pre-cut micro and mini tips, which are strategically designed for the aesthetically correct and specific designing of the existing hairline and for a full coverage of the bald areas.

Hair transplants have the maximum success rate if the patient has a high quality donor area. This procedure triggers no long-term or side effects. By consistent taking of the prescribed medications provided within the procedure, any possible complications are avoided (i.e. infection or swelling). The procedure usually takes 4-5 hours and depends on the number of hair follicles. The patient normally feels no pain, or barely any pain, and is able to return to work the next day. Afterwards, you should handle the transplanted hair as your own hair, as it grows from your own hair roots.

Transplanted hair will begin growing within three to six months, and will be of the same color, composition, length, lifespan and strength as the remaining natural hair, your own hair. Within eleven months from the procedure, you can begin treating your hair as prior to procedure – you may dye, remodel the hair, or apply any cosmetic products to the hair, and similar.

2. Hair transplant using the F.U.E. method

1. Designing the hair line

First, the need, desire and aesthetic preference of each patient regarding an adequate hair line on the head is evaluated.

2. Extraction of individual hair follicles

On completion of hairline design, the extraction and collection of hair follicles from the patient’s donor area is carefully executed. Such extraction produces no scars.

3. Adjusting and positioning the hair follicles

Hair follicles are positioned at a special angle and with millimeter precision in previously marked areas until the entire surface is filled as densely and completely as possible. This is a painless and non-invasive procedure.

3. Why a hair transplant?

It is a fact that hair loss may significantly affect a patient’s quality of life. Appearance of a person is invariably strongly linked to his or her psychological stability. Many people do not want to accept hair loss and its aesthetic changes and effects. It is not uncommon for patients to suffer emotionally for many years, which can even lead to depression, especially if hair loss begins in a person’s early twenties or shortly thereafter.

Professional hair transplant ensures reliable treatment, simultaneously improving the quality of life and regaining high self-esteem. The Hair Clinic of Slovenia lays great stress on the importance of appropriate planning and application of treatment against baldness. Our goal is an outstanding result, and for this reason, we provide for such hair follicle density that guarantees best possible aesthetic results.

Treatment results are permanent and absolutely natural and in line with the patient’s expectations, who is then in a position to really rejoice in his or her new aesthetic appearance without any signs of treatment. It is important to point out that in a single visit to the Clinic, a great hair density may be achieved, and quick recovery of the patient.