About Hair Transplants

What is a hair transplant?

A hair transplant is a surgical procedure where hair follicles are surgically removed from the back of the scalp, called the donor area, and planted into desired areas on the top of the scalp, called the recipient areas. There are two types of hair transplants, Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) or Strip Method and the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) method. During your consultation, Dr. DiStefano will confirm whether you are a better candidate for the Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) or the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) method. 

What is a hair transplant like?

On the day of your surgery, Dr. DiStefano and his experienced staff will ensure you are completely comfortable and will have a great experience. Typically, hair transplants can take anywhere from 5 to 8 hours to complete and the patient is awake and comfortable as they will receive local anesthesia. Prior to the procedure, you will meet with Dr. DiStefano to confirm the plan and finalize where to place the grafts to ensure a natural look. Some local anesthesia will then be used to numb up the donor area of the scalp. Depending on the type of treatment, FUT or FUE, the method for removing the donor follicles will vary. Dr. DiStefano will then get the recipient area prepared to receive the follicles. With over 8,000 hair transplants completed, Dr. DiStefano has the experience needed to ensure the follicles are planted in a way that looks extremely natural with the native hair. 

What is the Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) method? 

With the FUT method, a strip of grafts about 2 CMs wide and 15 to 20 CMs long in the back of the scalp (donor area) is extracted and then the individual follicles are divided and planted on the top of the scalp. Most women would typically get the FUT method, as you are required to shave the back of your head with the FUE method. The FUT method does leave a small scar in the back of your head, but it is hidden by your hair.

What is the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) method? 

With the FUE method, each follicle is extracted individually using a small punch and then planted in the recipient area. Many patients prefer the FUE method as there is no linear scar in the donor area like with the FUT method. However, with the FUE method, it is often required to shave the back of the head in order extract the follicles.

Are women good candidates for hair transplants?

Prior to offerings like Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy and Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), hair transplants were really the only option for women. Unfortunately, not all women are great candidates for hair transplants, which is why the consultation with a female hair loss expert is so important. In order to be a good candidate, it is necessary to have a strong donor area, but female hair loss is more diffuse, which means the hair loss occurs all over and can affect the donor area. If the donor area is weak, we would not recommend a hair transplant. At Medi Tresse, we have one of the world’s leading hair restoration surgeons on staff who meets with any patient that may be interested in a hair transplant surgery.

Are any women good candidates for hair transplants?

Not all hair loss is the same and some women can be good candidates for hair transplants. If a patient has Female Pattern Hair Loss (FPHL), but the donor area is strong, she could still be a candidate for a hair transplant. Patients whose hair loss is caused by a scarring alopecia could be good candidates, particularly when the frontal hair line is affected. Scarring alopecia often affects a specific area of the scalp so the donor area should be stable. However, for a patient with scarring alopecia to be a candidate, they affected area would need to be unchanged for at least one year.