Types Of Hair Transplants

There are a few types of hair transplants. As you know, hair transplants involve moving small pieces of scalp grafts from the donor site to a bald or thinning area.

The grafts vary by size and shape. Punch grafts are round and contain about ten to fifteen hairs. The mini-graft has two to four hairs. The micro-graft has one or two hairs. Slit grafts contain four to ten hairs each and are inserted into slits that are cut into the scalp. Lastly, strip grafts are long and thin and contain about thirty to forty hairs.

Several sessions may be required to achieve the results you are seeking. Several months of healing are between each session. It may take up to two years before the final transplant series is complete,

Tissue expansion is a procedure usually done in reconstructive surgery to repair burn wounds and large injuries. In this technique, a tissue expander is inserted beneath the scalp that lies next to a bald area. The expander is filled with salt water over several weeks. This causes the skin to expand and grow new cells. A bulge will be created beneath the hair, especially after several weeks. When the skin has been stretched enough, another procedure is done to bring the expanded area over the bald area.

Flap surgery is used to quickly cover large areas of baldness. This procedure is customized for the patient. The size of the flat and where it is placed depends on the patient’s goals and requirements. One flap can cover an area that 350 or more punch grafts would cover. A section of bald scalp is removed and a flap of skin with hair is lifted and brought to the new location, while still attached to the rest of the scalp.

Scalp reduction is occasionally referred to as advancement flap surgery because sections of scalp are "advanced" to fill in the bald crown. This type of surgery is for the top and crown of the head as it does not benefit the front hair line. A segment of bald scalp is removed – this segment varies in size and pattern, generally an inverted Y, U, pointed oval or other figure. Then the skin around it is loosened and pulled together and stitched closed. A strong tugging and occasional pain is felt at this point.

All these surgeries are done with an anaesthetic. You should feel very little pain and discomfort.