Hair loss reasons and Hair transplantation procedure

When one starts to loose hair, if the lost hair is not replaced by new hair growth there is receding hairline and balding on the scalp. The reasons for hair loss can be due to Genetics/Hormones/Physical-Emotional stress/Hyper or Hypo thyroidism/Iron, Vitamin D- B12 or Iron/ Scalp infection/Excessive alcohol/Smoking/Poor nutrition. Certain medical conditions such as diabetes and lupus are also one of the reasons for hair loss. Hair transplantation is a surgical technique where trichologists extract hair follicles from a donor site of the same person which is then implanted into the balding part of the body such as head/eyebrows/beard/mustache/eye lashes/ Chest hair and to fill in scars caused by accident or surgeries which is know as the recipient site. This surgery is a minimal invasive procedure done by Follicular Unit Extraction technique. Previous method of STRIP technique is now not used widely as it causes scars and takes longer healing period. Pre-operative assessment of the patient. After initial consultation with the patient, the surgeon analysis the patients health parameters, blood reports, physical fitness, scalp analysis for laxity and examines the density of the hair to advice the best possible approach and the number of sessions required to get best results of transplanted hair grafts. History of any allergies, medical issues and prior medications if any are also analyzed. Any conditions like high BP, blood thinning medications which might result in intra-operative bleeding would result in poor grafting . Hence BP has to be normal during the surgery and blood thinning medications are to stopped a week before the surgery and for 3 days post surgery. Likewise, alcohol and smoking are prohibited 2 week prior and post the operation as it will cause poor graft survival. Post operation, antibiotics are prescribed to prevent infection to the graft. Use of Minoxidil and Vitamins will benefit the survival and growth of hair follicles. The procedure does not require the patient to be admitted to the hospital for days. The patients is given mild sedatives and the operation is under local anesthesia. The donor and the recipient area are shampooed, trimmed and disinfected before the grafts are harvested.