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Hair loss - Causes
Androgenetic alopecia is considered the most common cause of hair loss in men. It can also happen to women, but more rarely. By androgenetic alopecia we mean the gradual thinning of the hair on the upper part of the head. This thinning can begin from the temples and slowly progress to the back and center, or begin all over the upper part of the head simultaneously.
The causes of hair loss are a combination of different factors, the main one being genetic predisposition. The hair on the top of the head is usually more sensitive to androgen action. As a result, the hair in this area weakens, gradually becoming thinner and thinner, and eventually disappearing. Another factor that affects hair loss is biological maturation. This is the reason why hair loss does not happen to everyone with the same intensity.
Hair Loss - Hair Transplant
Improve your appearance and psychology with hair transplants.
Hair Transplant: The solution to hair loss
The solution to hair loss is hair transplant. By hair transplant, we mean that surgical procedure during which the doctor transplants hair follicles from areas of the head where they exist in large numbers, to the area where residual numbers are present and reinforcement is necessary. The area from which the doctor collects the hair follicles is the area of stable hair growth (in the back and side of the head). The hair follicles on the back and sides of the head present genetic resistance to androgens, resulting in hair growth preservation almost for life. In rare cases, increased hair loss may occur in the area of the stable hair growth zone.
Hair transplant - Procedure
To begin the process of the hair transplant, the doctor first collects hair follicles from the areas of stable hair growth, which are the back and the side of the head, and implants them on the top and front of the head or on the top and back, wherever reinforcement is needed.
Transplanted hair follicles have the genetic predisposition to resist androgens, even when implanted in the upper part of the scalp. These hair follicles do not tend to fall off the top of the scalp where we have implanted them and have the significant advantage of providing density in the areas where there is a lack of hair follicles. After the plastic surgeon, Apostolos Gaitanis, examines your scalp, the area in which the hair will be implanted will be designed with precision.
Not damaging the already existing hair follicles on the top of the head is an important priority, as well as designing the area where the hair transplant will be done in such a way that the result will be natural. The doctor will draw the area where the hair transplant will be done on the head with a pencil, so that the patient can see in the mirror which area will be filled with the hairs which will be taken from the back and the side of the head.
It is worth noting that the number of hairs in the donor area (back and side of the head) is so large that you no problems or any form of thinning will be created when the hairs about to be transplanted to the new area are removed.
Hair Transplant - Transplant Techniques
The techniques used to remove hair from the back of the head and implant it in the front are the following:
The strip method is considered the oldest, during which the doctor removes a piece of skin from the back of the head which, after undergoing a special process, has its hair follicles cut to then be implanted in the receiving area. After the skin removal -which is done under local anesthesia- sutures are applied to the area, the wound heals and a line is left on the back of the head.
In the single hair implantation method, the hairs are removed from the donor area one by one, with the help of a special surgical tool, 2 mm in diameter (punch). They are then subjected to a special process, in order to be ready for implantation in the receiving area. After examining the areas, the doctor will discuss the method that is most suitable for each case with the patient. The most effective method is generally considered to be the one in which the hairs are transferred one by one, from the back to the top of the scalp.
This specific method has the comparative advantage of leaving no scars on the back of the scalp, and the only disadvantage that could be mentioned is that the operation lasts longer. So, while the strip hair transplant takes roughly 2-3 hours, the single hair procedure may last from 4 to 6 hours. Both of these techniques are done under local anesthesia, under completely controlled conditions, since Dr. Gaitanis and his associates ascertain that the patient receives the highest level of comfort and safety.
Experienced Medical Team
The medical team dealing with hair implantation in the clinic of plastic surgeon Apostolos Gaitanis, consists of 2 doctors and 2 nurses. All members of the medical team -with experience of hundreds of cases in their belt- ensure the comfortable and safe application of the hair implantation.
Instructions before the hair implantation:
A necessary condition before proceeding with a hair implantation is a medical examination by the plastic surgeon, during which, after taking a complete medical history, he will explain all the details about the application to the patient. The number of hairs to be implanted will also be predetermined and a picture regarding the density of the result will be given.
Day of the implantation:
On the day of the operation, the patient should visit the doctor after having a light breakfast. The implantation procedure is done -under local anesthesia- in the fully equipped clinic of the plastic surgeon Apostolos Gaitanis.
After the hair implantation:
After completing the application, the patient is given antibiotics and detailed instructions for his postoperative course. If the single hair method has been used, the back of the scalp will need to be washed the next day and after 2-3 days -when the area will have almost healed- lightly shampooing, without much pressure on the top of the head.
Special instructions will also be given about spraying the top of the head (receiving area) to maintain moisture in the graft area. Most grafts recede within the next few months, but the base of the hair (hair follicle) will have vascularized in the donor area and the new hairs will grow back after about 4-6 months.
Returning to work usually happens 2 days after the hair transplant -a fact that depends on the type of work as well. Returning to intense physical activity (exercise) is recommended after 1 week.
HAIR LOSS - ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT METHOD
An alternative -promising- method regarding hair loss is the treatment of the scalp with autologous growth factors (My Cells). With this method, performed in the plastic surgeon’s clinic, a small amount of 10 ml of blood is removed from a peripheral vein, and following undergoing a special process, the plasma and blood platelets are isolated, which are rich in growth factors.
Afterwards, this material is injected with the help of a small needle with small stings in the entire area of the scalp. This method shows drastic results in still active hair follicles which show a thinning image. Growth factors stimulate the hair follicles into producing better quality hairs and, in some cases, stimulate precursor cells into transforming into hair follicles.
It is a painless treatment, which can be applied at any time and is suitable both in cases of alopecia areata, as well as the androgenetic type. Two applications within a month followed by a repeat treatment after one year are usually recommended. Both treatments suitable for hair implantation offer a natural result.
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