There is no tests that can predict the fate of your hair loss, in other words, when it will stop. As this is a genetically transmitted problem, one might look at the hair condition of the men among the relatives, particularly ones on the mother’s side as a clue. Dr.Demirkan advices to have the hair transplantation when it really becomes a nuisance for you and in a period the hair loss is at least partiallly stabilized. During the earlier years in life is the physical appearance is psychologically more important and most of the time there is another chance for a second hair transplantation. Moreover, the lesser the hair loss, the better the result is.

It is a procedure which is not very painful, thanks to the new devices that apply the anesthetic solution to your scalp. The so called “needle free anesthesia” does actually uses a pressure pump effect to disguise the pain related to the injection. Due to the anatomy of scalp innervation, after a one-line peripheral anesthetic injection, the whole scalp can be anesthetized.

Smoking decreases the blood flow in all tissues. There is no direct relationship between the success of hair transplantation and smoking, however, as this is a grafting depending on blood circulation in the recipient area, procedure it is better to stop smoking 2 weeks prior to surgery and keep that abstinance 2 more weeks, after the transplantation. Just decreasing the amount of smoking has no positive effect.

The amount of roots you need depends on the extend of hair loss and the diameter of your hair follicles in the donor area. For a rough estimate the following table may provide some information for you:

When the amount of transplantation exceeds 4000 in FUE and 2500 in DHI, a two session transplantation is adviced because the transplantation time will be to long. Implanting hair over these limits may have untoward effects such as:

• A new dose of anesthesia may be required and that may exceed safe total daily amount of the medications
• All hair follicles has to be harvested before the implantation phase as the posture will be changed from prone to supine. If there are too many roots to harvest,, the duration of waiting of roots in the petridish before implantation will exceed 2,5 hr which will decrease their survival.

If you need a total graft amount more than 4000 in FUE and 2500 in DHI techniques you will need a second session. A second session is usually performed 9 months after the first tranplantation when the results are obatained. By this way the older transplantation area can be revised if necessary. You may plan the pattern of implantation for each session with Dr.Demirkan according to your priorities. The usual approach is to cover the frontal area first then doing the top part in the second session.

The maximum amount of hair follicles that can be harvested from the back of the head is about 6000 in average. It may be less according to the diameter of the hair and the amount of hair loss.

Dr. Demirkan suggests you to use finasteride for at least 1 year after the transplantation as this is the most effective medication that will halt your hairloss. By this way you may more clearly see the results of your haiir transplantion which will come out after 9 months. The hair brought from the back do not fall once they survive the first 3 weeks of transplantation.

If there is any hairloss afterwards it is usually the native hair at the recipient site intermingled between the implanted hair. However, it is difficullt for patients to understand which is which as the tranplanted hair do fall down after 4 weeks and come bacter after 3 months.

The edema formed in the hairy scalp swell significantly after the transplantation and this edema fluid will travel downwards towards your face by gravity after the transplantation. Therefore a hairband may be useful to decrease the facial edema.It can be used for a week.

It is better not to wear any hat after the transplantation because while putting it on and off you may accidentally dislocate some of the transplanted hair follicles. The band part of the most hats may sit directly on the recipient follicles something that must be avoided.

The donor area usually heals without any scar. There may be a temporary redness for a few weeks.

The results will be available only after 9 months due to the long life cycle of hair follicles.

The results are permanent when the transplanted hair follicles survive the critical early postoperative period which is about 3 weeks. They will be resistant to the effects of androgens and will stay even if the native hair around them may fall. If the native recipient area hair falls after the transplantation a peculiar ‘negative2 image will occur as in the following case:

Here you may see the transplanted hair in the new hairline and frontal part survives while the native hair falls. The right photo is after the second hair transplantation.

• Infection of the hair follicles: This might originate from a break in sterility during the implantation procedure or from post operative contamination. The latter usually happens from sweating too much or scratching the scalp. Being exposed to dust or bad air conditions may be another risk factor. A hair follicle infection reflects itself in the form of a pimple that might be overlooked:

• Follicle root trauma during harvest and implantation: The hair roots are sensitive to forceps pressure and may die due to harsh handling. A good transplantation team with a respect for tissues is required.
• Follicle Ischemia: Hair follicles are screened and counted after their harvest but has to be kept moist for some time in petridishes before implantation. If this period exceeds 2,5 hours, the hair root may die as there is no circulation or fluid around it necessary for the cellular activity. Dr. Demirkan gives significant importance to this ischemia time and also uses special preservation solutions that are used in organ transplantations to extend their survival.
• Mechanical Trauma: This is another common cause of hair loss after the tranplantation. Any friction or rubbing in the recipient are may dislodge the implanted follicles during the first three weeks. This may happen by hitting the head accidentally, from turning around too much during sleep, scratching, or washing the hair without care.

You may go back to work 1 to 2 weeks after the hair transplantation with necessary precautions (not wearing a hat, protecting from trauma, sweating, etc). However it will be obvious that you had a hair transplantation due to the swelling, hair cut and some redness in the area.

You can have a haircut 1 month after the transplantation.

It is better to wait for at least 3 weeks before any sport activities because it will increase sweating, sweeping and trauma risks.

The area from where a hair root is harvested will stay empty. Therefore one in every 3 or 4 roots in a row is harvested to keep the donor area in good shape.

You may have 2 effective hair transplantations, a third one is usually not possible.

If you have other medical problems you should mention these early during your consultation. Diseases like diabetes may affect your wound healing and graft take. Hypertension may cause more bleeding and crusting around follicles. More importantly these medical problems may exacerbate and create additional health problems during hair transplantation if they are not under adequate control.

Hair transplantation costs differ significantly between countries and even within a same city. The prices for sapphire FUE and DHI are higher as special equipments and more trained personnel are required in these procedures. Please see our Packages for the pricing.