Why our Hair Transplants Work

Men can be assured that usually hair transplants do work, but it depends on the overall density of his hair. The hair that is transplanted is usually removed from an area where the patient has more hair (the donor site) to the place where the patient has less hair (the recipient site). It is the ideal solution to baldness because it uses a person’s own hair.

Hair transplants work because hair removed from the permanent zone in the back and sides of the scalp continues to grow when transplanted to the balding area in the front or top of one’s head. The reason is that the genetic predisposition for hair to fall out resides in the hair follicle itself, rather than in the scalp. Therefore, transplanted hair keeps right on growing because the hair follicle keeps its original genetic coding, and thus it does not attract Dihydrotestoserone (hormone that is the cause of male-patterned baldness). In additon, despite being moved into a formerly bald area, it continues to behave like donor area hair. This predisposition is an inherited sensitivity to the effects of DHT, and when DHT resistant hair from the back of the scalp is transplanted to the top, it will continue to be resistant to DHT in its new location and grow normally. The scalp is also very vascular, so immediately after the follicular unit hair grafts and micro-grafts are transplanted, the surrounding tissue begins feeding the transplant follicle and healing begins. The hair shaft may also shed, but the hair follicles remain and often go into a resting phase. It is surveyed that hair graft survival rates are nearly 100%.

How much hair is restored depends on the patient’s degree of hair loss and their desired result. Some needs are met in one hair transplant procedure while the goals of others may be best achieved over multiple hair transplant surgeries. Furthermore, the patient should be sure to do research before choosing a hair transplant specialist. It is important for a person to have a doctor who is honest and able to cater to the patient’s needs, and make him feel as comfortable as possible. At the DermHair Clinic in Los Angeles, board certified hair surgeon and dermatologist Dr. Umar has had years of extensive training and practice.