Hair Transplant
Hair transplants are a very effective way to restore hair.The procedure involves taking hair from the back of the head and moving that hair to areas of loss. With modern advancements hair transplantation is an in-office procedure that is very comfortable, predictable, and provides natural-looking results. In most cases, the areas of grafted hair will begin to grow naturally by 10 to 16 weeks after the procedure and continue to grow as normal.
The Hair Transplant Procedure
Hair restoration treatments are performed in the Vargas Hair Institute and are usually performed using local anesthesia. Patients return home the same day and resume normal activities in a short amount of time.
Restoration Methods
The options include:
Hair Transplant Candidates
Candidates for transplant include:
- Men with male pattern baldness
- Women with female pattern hair loss
- Anyone who wishes to restore or re-shape their hairline
- Patients who have experienced hair loss after illness or surgery
- Anyone with areas of scarring on the scalp preventing hair growth
- Anyone who wishes to thicken or restore eyebrows, eyelashes or beards
- Anyone who wishes to have hair in an area where they have little or no hair
Transplant options are discussed at the consultation where the best option for you and your needs will be recommended.
“I started prematurely balding in my early twenties. Dr. Vargas reconstructed my hairline and now my hair is growing in thick—and fast, too! I love my new head of hair.”
Hair Transplant Q&A
Hair transplants have transformed over the years from “hair plugs” to a now- refined technique that provides very natural results. Hair transplants are used to fill in areas of hair loss and create more volume and can also be used to recreate hairlines. Transplants can be broken into two cases depending on the amount of hair replacement desired.
The most common areas are the scalp, eyebrows, and facial hair. This procedure is popular among both men and women of all ages.
FUE and Strip pertain to the way in which the donor hair is removed. Strip method takes a strip of hair from the back of the head. The strip is taken and hair follicles are cut into units for placement. FUE method takes donor hair by the follicular unit. Many small circular incisions are made with this method.
No. This method is promoted this way since the scars are tiny circles opposed to a line. Many of our patients choose Strip as the method of removal and heal very well with minimal scarring. We offer both options and recommendation is based on the patient’s needs.
A sedative is used in this in-office procedure. Our patients are relaxed and comfortable during the procedure. The donor site is numbed and the necessary hair is removed. Sutures are used with Strip method to close the donor site once removal is complete. Once the hair is removed, it is then cut into smaller units based on the number of hair per unit. Small incisions are made in the appropriate direction for the hair grafts to be placed into. Once the grafts are placed the procedure is completed. During the entire process patients are comfortably watching movies or listening to music.
Directly after the procedure dressings are applied to the area and are left for 24 hours. Swelling and bruising is normal post procedure, in many cases this resolves within 10 days, but can last up to two weeks. Scabbing at the transplant area is normal and can last 7-10 days. Sutures will be removed after one week. Certain activities may be limited until you receive clearance from the doctor.
It is normal for newly transplanted hair to fall out in the six weeks after the procedure. Patient should be aware that new hair growth takes six months to over a year to see results.
Any procedure that addresses cosmetic needs is not usually covered by insurance. In cases where the upper eyelids are affecting your vision you may be reimbursable in part or whole, an eye exam test will need to be conducted to validate the vision impairment. It is the patient’s responsibility for pre-approval of coverage and to process the claim for insurance.
