Hair transplant surgery is the most reliable and successful hair restoration procedure for individuals experiencing hair loss such as thinning and male pattern baldness. Thanks to technology, hair transplants now look as natural and undetectable as possible, allowing you to restore your mane and regain your confidence. For people experiencing hair loss, the question as to whether hair transplant will restore the balding area to original density often crops up. Read on to find out what it takes to achieve natural-looking hair density after transplant surgery.
The Possibility of Attaining Original Hair Density
Normally, the original hair density falls around 80 to 100 follicles per square centimeters. Most people only realize that their hair is thinning when they have lost at least 50% density of their hair. Typically, a hair transplant surgery will restore between 40% and 50% of your original hair density. This means that you cannot completely go back to the original density as surgeons can only graft between 45-60 follicles at once. While it may be possible to transplant more than that, the original hair density is not attainable for the following reasons.
- Transplanting hair at the original density may overwhelm the blood supply and cause shock loss in the surrounding native hairs;
- Risk of damage or alteration of blood supply in the scalp which can result in problems like necrosis
- Original hair density is not necessary as the results of hair transplant sufficient to provide the required coverage without a noticeable difference in hair density
- If you suffer from partial baldness or seek to restore hair on a given area of your scalp, a well-done hair transplant surgery will offer satisfactory results without necessarily restoring your original hair density.
Factors determining hair density after transplant
The coverage and density that hair transplant surgery offers differ from one person to the next depending on the following factors.
- Amount of donor hair. The supply of donor hair greatly determines how much hair density you can achieve after a transplant. If your donor area supply has a high hair density, you get more follicles to be transplanted which translates into more dense hair in the recipient area without ruining the donor area’s aesthetics.
- Type of transplant procedure. Different hair transplant techniques offer unique advantages and limitations on the number of grafts that your surgeon can carry out. For example, FUT allows for between 3000-3500 graft transplantation under one session, while FUE allows for between 2000-2500. Sapphire FUE, on the other hand, allows for placement of grafts in tighter grids due to the precision it offers which facilitates a denser look. By adopting a technique with the least risk of trauma and infection, you can restore your hair to a higher density as it preserves the quality and enhances survival. Technique combinations are also an option as they can allow for up to 4500 grafts transplantation in one sitting leading to denser hair.
- After Surgery CarePoor after surgery care can lead to your new hair falling off or dying, leading to less hair density than you hoped to achieve. For this reason, sticking to the aftercare directives given by your surgeon will boost the survival rate of transplanted which means higher hair density. This includes taking medication as advised, avoiding swimming pools and heat on your hair, as well as preventing infection on the transplantation areas.
Although hair transplant surgery may not restore your original hair density, individuals with initial stage baldness are highly capable of attaining dense hair with one sitting. Advanced stage hair loss, however, may require several surgery sessions to provide some density to the hair.
While most providers of hair restoration services conduct multiple procedures on their patients, Dr. Williams is a cut above the rest. He not only performs extensive surgery procedures in a single session, but also utilizes the latest technology and advanced techniques for successful hair transplants. You won’t need to make return visits in the near future as he gets the job done right the first time. If you are struggling with hair loss, contact us today to schedule a consultation and discuss your hair restoration needs.
