Hair loss is one of the most common problems in men, but also in women. Since it is a common problem, hair transplantation, which is the only solution to hair loss, is a very common procedure today. However, for this reason, there is a lot of information pollution in the society about hair transplantation. Dr. Mahmut Alan Kaya gave information about the known mistakes in hair transplantation.
Myth: Hair transplantation is not done in only the summer time.
It is one of the most common misconceptions about hair transplantation. Hair transplantation can be done in 4 seasons of the year. It is only necessary to be careful about the issues to be stated by your doctor after the operation. For example, we do not recommend swimming in the sea or pool for the first month after a hair transplant. People can have hair transplant in any season by making their plans on these kind of issues.
Myth: Hair transplantation can be done by the grafts taken from the beard or chest hair only.
Hair transplantation is basically transferring the hair follicules from donor zone also called safe zone to the balding areas. The area used as a source is the area starting from the back of the ear and going towards the nape. Everyone always has hair in this region called donor area. The hair in the safe zone is the hair resistant to shedding. Sometimes when the roots in the donor area are not sufficient, roots can be taken from the chest or beard to support the donor area. For example, while the patient needs 4500 roots and only 4000 roots can be harvested from the nape, the remaining 500 root can be completed from the beard. However, it is not correct to perform hair transplantation by taking roots only from the beard or chest. These zones can only be used for support purposes. The priority is always the nape area, because the hair follicles in this area are permanent and have a high survival rate.
Myth: Sapphire method is better / DHI method is better
There are great manipulations especially about DHI and sapphire techniques.While only centers performing DHI state that the best and newest method is DHI; Sapphire making centers also claim that the sapphire method is the best. This cause a significant information pollution. Both techniques give better results when used in the appropriate patient, and in some cases, they may even need to be used together.In the Sapphire Fue method, after the roots are taken with the FUE method, first the channels are opened with the sapphire tipped pens selected according to the thickness and length of the roots, and then the roots are placed in these channels. In the DHI method, the roots taken are placed in the DHI pens one by one. DHI pen tips are selected according to the thickness and length of the root. Roots are transplanted directly to the balding areas without incisions. In some patients, totally hairless areas are first transplanted with sapphire fue pens, and then the rest more hairy areas thickened by DHI Method. So the two methods can be used together. These two methods do not have any advantage over each other. DHI is a better method in order not to damage the existing hair, especially in patients who have a lot of thinning and need to be thickened. Sapphire Fue is more advantageous in patients where the gap is obvious and large numbers of transplants are required. The choice of method is decided in the pre-consultation of the doctor.
Myth: In hair transplantation there is no complication risk
Hair transplantation is in the group of minor surgical procedures. Therefore, as with all surgical procedures there are potential side effects and complication risks. This risk increases depending on whether the operation center is a proper health institution and whether the its done by people who has sufficient experience and knowledge. Most common side effects are infection and necros. Infection is a side effect usually seen in non-sterile clinics. There is a risk of infection most frequently in centers that are not sterile and do not use personalized materials. Even infections such as HIV and hepatitis can be transmitted from other patients.Necrosis, on the other hand, is a partial gangrene-like condition that occurs while doing incision causing disruption of blood circulation. In very severe cases of necrosis even skin tissue collapses can be seen. Sometimes, patients can have permanent damage that will require very serious correction operations.
Myth: Unshaven hair transplant is suitable for everyone
without of shaving hair transplantation is a method desired by everyone, especially because it provides a great advantage for early return to social life, but unfortunately not every patient is suitable for unshaven transplantation. The biggest disadvantage of unshaven transplant is that a limited number of grafts can be implanted in one transplant session. If hair transplantation without shaving the hair is planned for those people with big balding area multiple sessions are may required.
Myth: A doctor will do my hair transplant in any center I go to
The biggest handicap in hair transplantation in many centers is that the people who perform the procedure are not even medical personnel, let alone being doctors. One of the most important problems in many centers is that preliminary interviews are made with the doctor and the procedure is not done by the doctor. Generally, patients do not see the doctor when they come to the procedure. Transplantation is performed by random technicians. Especially for patients abroad, this situation breaks the trust to our country. At the time of the operation, patients should know which technique will be used as well as who will do the operation. For this reason, it is very important that the procedure is carried out under the control of the doctor from the beginning to the end.
Myth: FUE method is a implantation method like DHI and sapphire
One of the most confusing issues in hair transplantation is that the FUE method is thought to be the transplantation method. Actually, the FUE method is a root extraction method. In other words, the hair is harvested with the FUE method and implanted with the sapphire or DHI methods.
