A hair transplant surgery is considered successful when the patient obtains a hair scalp filled with healthy and thick-looking hair after 12 months from their procedure.
Hair density is one determining factor of the hair transplant success.
Here is how the surgeon proceeds in giving good density for the hair scalp and ensuring satisfying results out of hair transplantation.
First of all, it is important to understand that there is a clear difference between hair density and hair thickness.
Hair density refers to the amount of hair on the scalp; whereas hair thickness represents the diameter of a hair.
For patients who wish to undergo hair transplantation surgery, we diagnose sparse or medium hair density.
The goal of the intervention will be to retrieve hair density and making the hair look abundant.
It is important to note that hair density may deteriorate over time; and this might be caused by different factors as: stress, illness, genetics, or aging.
Actual hair growth starts 6 months after hair transplantation surgery. During that period, the patient will feel that their hair is denser, thicker, and longer.
Every hair gains some centimeters in length; therefore giving the overall hair scalp a dense-looking and aesthetic appearance.
Starting from the 8th or 9th month after your hair transplantation, you will be able to rejoice the final results of the surgery; your hair is longer and thicker, and your hair scalp is utterly covered.
After a year (or a year and a half in certain cases), hair growth is definitive and hair density may be ideally appreciated.
In order to give the patient satisfying results, the surgeon will have recourse to different techniques; as well as consider all factors during the hair transplantation surgery.
For instance, in some cases, the surgeon will have to transplant 30 follicle units per square centimeter. For other cases, however, s/he will have to transplant 60 follicle units per square centimeter, or more. This will depend on the patient’s case and the extent of the diagnosed baldness.
Another important factor to consider during hair transplantation is the gender of the patient. If the average hair density for men is 45 follicle units, for women it is estimated to be between 50 and 60 follicle units per square centimeter.
During the hair transplantation procedure, the doctor may use the technique of dense-packing in order to obtain optimal results. The procedure consists in realizing very small incisions using novel tools. The thinner and smaller the incision is, the more follicle units per centimeter square it is possible to transplant. Therefore, the patient may achieve a very dense-looking hair scalp.
As such, different techniques may be used to obtain optimal results of hair transplantation. This is among the reasons why preliminary consultations are of paramount importance. Indeed, it is only during those that the surgeon is able to examine the degree of baldness, its causes, and thereafter evaluate the needs of the patient.
All these factors will help the doctor choose the right procedure and technique to use in order to ensure results that are up to the patient’s expectations.