With the patient’s input, Dr. Williams revisits the priorities previously discussed in the original consultation. The hair line location is established utilizing anatomic and artistic guidelines to ensure an undetectable, natural result.
The patient receives local anesthesia in the hairline region and below the donor area. A thin, superficial piece of skin 1cm wide and 10-30 cm in length is comfortably removed and the edges approximated utilizing small clips which will be hidden under the hair and removed in 7-10 days without being noticeable.
The hair follicles will be individually removed from the piece of skin under stereoscopic microscopes to be transferred individually. Natural groupings will have 1 to 4 hairs in the follicle and will be strategically placed creating the hair restoration. The advanced technique provides ultra-dense packing of single hair grafts in the hairline utilizing custom made blades. Special attention in the hairline is required to provide an artistic, irregular pattern to obtain an undetectable and best result possible after only one procedure.
The third step is the creation of recipient sites in the areas needing hair. Recipient sites are tiny openings in the scalp that receive the grafts. During hair restoration, the physician makes a specific number of these incisions based on each individual's particular hair loss pattern. Typically, the range is 1000 to 3500 sites. The actual number of hairs transferred is usually 2500 to 8800. The size, spacing, and direction of the recipient sites are the foundation for a natural looking hair restoration procedure.
The fourth step is the placement of the hair follicles. Each graft is meticulously placed at the correct, natural angle, direction, and depth into the recipient sites by an experienced and skillful team. After all of the hair follicles have been placed into their respective recipient sites, the procedure is complete and the healing process begins. Because the graft recipient sites are small, they heal in a few days. A bandana is placed over the scalp to be removed the next day. The hair can be gently washed the next day.
Although the procedure may take all day, it is an enjoyable day of movie watching, enjoyable conversation along with a catered lunch from a gourmet restaurant. Breaks are allowed at any time and many patients bring work from the office. Patients can use their computer or make phone calls in a private, adjacent office. The team performs many hours of tedious and painstaking microscopic and magnified work preparing and placing the grafts.
Is waiting for the hair restoration to grow. Virtually all transferred hair follicles survive and eventually grow hair; however the process takes time. Although some clients notice growth in 4 months, typically 8 - 12 months are necessary to witness optimum growth of the newly restored hair. The progress is so gradual that it goes unnoticed and is natural at every stage.
To learn more about hair restoration, contact our office.