Before undergoing a hair transplant, it is always important to know the factors and characteristics of the patient that most influence the results of the hair transplant. In this phase of the first consultation, the trichologist performs a hair trichoscopy, thanks to this diagnostic technique we can detect the causes of alopecia and the characteristics of the hair.
It depends on whether the alopecia is female or male, we must know that alopecia in men is more localized. In women, alopecia is more diffuse throughout the head.
The younger the patient, the less stable the alopecia. Many patients wonder what is the best age to put hair, we can not give an exact age, as medical factors influence, which must be studied previously.
During the hair analysis, the trichologist will analyze and obtain an accurate diagnosis of the state of alopecia.
Degree of alopecia
This may be the most important criterion, as advanced alopecia does not require the same number of follicles as early alopecia. Advanced alopecia may also require more than one hair transplant.
During the consultation with Dr. de Freitas, the patient's expectations will be determined and an honest and professional prediction of the outcome will always be given.
The patient is advised that more than one hair surgery may be necessary depending on the degree of progression of the alopecia.
The hair surgeon who diagnoses the alopecia must try to stabilize it so that it does not continue to progress, this is achieved with continuous follow-up treatment.
The donor area is the area from which the follicles are extracted to be implanted in the recipient area.
The donor area must have sufficient capital to be able to cover the areas of baldness or alopecia for 1 or 2 interventions, if necessary.
The results will always be more favorable in patients who have a good donor area and a small recipient area.
More advanced alopecia can be partially restored with moderate densities, requiring future operations for complete repair.
In addition, stability also allows us to be more aggressive with the density used in the affected area, as we do not expect significant progression of the alopecia condition.
Hair density is the number of follicular units per square centimeter.
If there is a higher density in the donor area, more follicular units can be transplanted in the recipient area.
Patients with a hair density of less than 60 follicular units per square centimeter are poor candidates. These patients have a very low hair density.
Average extraction of follicular units to be implanted
We know that follicular units can have between 1, 2, 3 or even 4 hairs.
Our objective in the extraction is always to have between 2.0 and 2.5 hairs per follicular unit. When the patient does not have the desired units and the range is less than 2.0 hairs per unit, the coverage suffers.
Asians tend to have a predominance of follicular units of 1 hair. They have very straight hair and it tends to be less dense than Caucasians.
Caucasians tend to have a predominance of 2- and 3-hair follicular units and have a higher density.
People of African descent of color tend to have curly hair and a lower follicular density and more 1- and 2-hair follicular units.
What many do not realize is that the hair is finer than that of a white individual.
Hair thickness is a key factor when it comes to hair transplantation.
Hair less than 40 mm in diameter is fine hair and does not give us good hair density.
Hair of 50 to 60 mm in diameter is considered to be of normal thickness.
Those with a hair diameter greater than 70 mm are considered to have thick hair.
Hair structure depends on the type of hair the individual has in relation to whether it is straight or curly.
Straight hair has greater hair density.
Curly hair needs more follicular units to obtain greater density.
Black hair: has a greater visual effect when the hair color contrasts with the skin color of the scalp, giving the appearance of greater hair density.
White or blond hair: also have a good visual effect, blond hair is usually thinner than black hair, there are patients with blond hair with an acceptable thickness.
The characteristics and factors mentioned above are the ones that can influence when performing the surgery, since they can alter the difficulty of the procedure and the results, always depending on how advanced the alopecia is and the availability of the patient's donor area.
At Clínica de Freitas we are backed by a long and wide range of successful cases and satisfied patients, we have helped fight alopecia for more than 8 years.
Therefore, you can contact us for a free initial consultation.