Restore your hair as well as your confidence

Hair loss can sometimes mistakenly be associated with ageing men but in actual fact, many young men experience hair thinning and hair loss as well as women who tend to experience hair thinning and hair loss as the mature and their hormones change. Alopecia is the general medical term for hair loss and there are many different causes.

Male-pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss that affects men with Female-pattern baldness being the most common type of loss for women. It is proven that Male-pattern baldness is hereditary (runs in the family) whereas this has not yet been proven in women’s cases. 

Symptoms of hair loss

Male-pattern baldness starts with progressive thinning of the hair on the scalp usually beginning at the temples and hairline, it recedes and eventually leads to baldness. In some cases, early signs of hair loss in men begins with thinning of the hair around the crown (top of the head).

Female-pattern baldness follows a similar pattern to male-pattern baldness although women’s hair loss can follow a different pattern. Hair loss in women is generally normal with age. During the menopause, up to 60% of women can experience hair loss.

Both men and women find it difficult to know whether or not they are losing hair at a normal rate or if it is at a more advanced level. Some men will panic at the sight of a couple of hairs in a comb and vice versa women in-particular are unsure of how much hair they should be shedding considering it is normal for them to lose hair regularly. If you notice a difference in the amount of hair your losing in comparison to what you are used to seeing this might be an indication that more attention should be paid to how much hair you’re losing. Also, if your friends or family comment on your thinning hair then this could be an indicator that the hair loss is at a more advanced level and may need attention.

Areas of hair loss that can be treated;

Men: Head (most commonly treated area), beard, eyebrow/s
Women: Head, eyebrow/s

Follicular Unit Extraction aka FUE Hair Transplant

The most popular types of hair transplantation procedures include Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT aka ‘strip technique’). At FACEmed we only undertake the FUE procedure which is the extraction of singular units of hair from the donor site (usually back of the head) rather than the ‘strip technique’ which requires taking a large area of hair from the donor site in one go. The ‘strip’ procedure carries more risks of complications such as infection and also leaves a more visible scar.

What to expect during your procedure

After the surgeon has located a good donor site of hair (this is usually the back of the head), local anaesthesia will be administered in order to numb the area so that you don’t feel any pain.

During the FUE procedure, the surgeon and his team of hair transplant technicians will use refined titanium punches for the extraction of the donor’s hair. The punches have a diameter of .75 – 0.8mm which enables the specialists to extract follicles containing on average 2 hairs per graft. No suturing is required after extraction and usually, no visible scarring is left behind.

The FUE procedure requires slightly more time than the FUT procedure. As the FUE procedure can be quite lengthy (and sometimes boring for you!) depending on the amount of hair you are having transplanted, you will have the option to watch a movie, listen to some music or your favourite podcasts.

Good density with volume is the main desired outcome for any hair transplant. At FACEmed we have joined forces with British Hair Clinic surgeon Dr Zabeeh Ullah to provide only the best hair transplants for men and women. Dr Ullah has outstanding patient outcomes and feedback and we are delighted that he is performing the FUE transplant procedures in theatre here at FACEmed.

What happens post-operatively?

Immediately after your procedure, you will be able to see the shape of your new hairline or hair follicles within the area which has been transplanted to. It may look slightly bloody or scabby but this is normal. The tiny scabs will be quick to heal. Swelling is to be expected in the donor site which is temporary, in some cases, this can last a few months. Our team will be available to speak with you throughout your post-operative journey and advise on any concerns that you may have. Numbness can develop in the donor site but is temporary. Minor tenderness and soreness is to be expected in the implantation site for a few days. Your surgeon will discuss with you the best ways to care for your transplant areas. They may advise on sleeping positions (more upright) and also hair washing restrictions.

Approximately two weeks after your procedure the newly transplanted hairs will start to fall out. Don’t panic, this is normal. The follicle from which the hair grows will still be in place and the old hair falling out is making way for new hairs belonging to the graft site to grow. It will take a few months for your new hair to grow. After 4-5 months you will notice a big difference. It can take as long as 18 months for the full hair transplant to be visible. Again, the clinic and team will be available throughout your post-operative journey to allay any concerns that you might have.