What is a Hair Transplant?
A hair transplant is a cosmetic procedure that moves hair follicles from one part of the body (usually the back or sides of the scalp) to an area with thinning or no hair (commonly the front or top of the scalp). It is a type of minor surgery that involves making small incisions in both the donor and recipient areas, which leads to wounds on the scalp.
Even when performed successfully, hair transplant procedures cause intentional skin damage, as the scalp is punctured or cut to remove and insert follicles.
Conditions Treated
Hair transplants are commonly used to treat:
- Male or female pattern baldness
- Receding hairlines
- Thinning hair
- Scarring hair loss (from burns or injuries)
- Eyebrow or beard hair restoration
Types of Hair Transplants
- FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation):
- A strip of scalp is surgically removed, and follicles are extracted from it.
- Leaves a linear scar on the donor area.
- FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction):
- Individual hair follicles are removed using tiny punches.
- Less scarring, but causes multiple small wounds.
Both methods create open wounds on the scalp that need proper healing and care.
How the Wound Happens
The wounds occur during the process of removing and implanting hair follicles:
- Donor site wounds form where the hair is harvested.
- Recipient site wounds form where the new follicles are placed.
Bleeding, swelling, and scabbing are normal parts of healing, but these are still open wounds that require proper hygiene and protection.
What Happens If Not Treated
If post-transplant wounds are not properly cared for:
- Infections can develop at both donor and recipient sites.
- The scalp may experience excessive scarring or keloids.
- Poor healing can lead to folliculitis (inflammation around the hair follicles).
- Hair grafts may fail to grow or fall out permanently.
- The affected area can become itchy, red, and irritated, prolonging recovery and affecting results.
