Hair Transplant in the Philippines

Hair transplant surgery is usually performed in a physician’s office-based facility or in an outpatient surgery center. Rarely does it require a hospital stay.

Procedure:
1. Anesthesia
Hair transplant surgery, no matter what technique is used, is usually performed using a local anesthesia along with sedation to make you relaxed and comfortable. Your scalp will be insensitive to pain, but you may be aware of some tugging or pressure.

First, the surgeon cleans your scalp and injects medicine to numb the back of your head. Your doctor will choose one of two methods for the transplant: follicular unit transplantation(FUT) or follicular unit extraction (FUE).

2.1. Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)
With FUT the surgeon removes a 6- to 10-inch strip of skin from the back of your head. He sets it aside and sews the scalp closed. This area is immediately hidden by the hair around it.

Next, the surgeon’s team divides the strip of removed scalp into 500 to 2,000 tiny grafts, each with an individual hair or just a few hairs. The number and type of graft you get depends on your hair type, quality, color, and the size of the area where you’re getting the transplant.

2.2. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
If you’re getting the FUE procedure, the surgeon’s team will shave the back of your scalp. Then, the doctor will remove hair follicles one by one from there. The area heals with small dots, which your existing hair will cover.

After that point, both procedures are the same. After he prepares the grafts, the surgeon cleans and numbs the area where the hair will go, creates holes or slits with a scalpel or needle, and delicately places each graft in one of the holes. He’ll probably get help from other team members to plant the grafts, too.

Depending on the size of the transplant you’re getting, the process will take about 4 to 8 hours. You might need another procedure later on if you continue to lose hair or decide you want thicker hair.

3. Recovery
Hair transplant surgery is completed on an outpatient basis, meaning patients are free to return home immediately after their appointment. Following the procedure, the scalp will be reddened, sore and sensitive to the touch. Common side effects include scabbing, itching and numbness that will persist for a couple of weeks.
Hair transplant patients will need to avoid touching their newly-transplanted hair until the grafts heal, about one to two weeks after surgery. Patients can shower the next day but will need to avoid direct water pressure on the scalp and may not shampoo their hair. Brushing and combing will need to be avoided as well so as not to uproot the new hair. Hats can be worn during this time to cover up visible effects of the procedure, so long as they are not overly tight.