Hair Transplant Step by Step
As soon as you arrive at the clinic, the customer care staff will be waiting to greet you prior to your scheduled meeting with an Eternal Hair Specialist. You may enjoy a beverage whilst waiting to be escorted to the diagnostic department. Friends and family are welcome to wait, or they may accompany the patient to the diagnostic room.
What is Involved in a Hair Transplant Diagnosis?
Proper and timely diagnosis is the basis for the best treatment of hair loss. For this reason, we provide our patients with a complete, personalized and in-depth diagnosis. During the diagnostic procedure a thorough dermatological examination of your scalp is carried out as well as recordings of the quality and density of the donor area to assess the suitability and capacity of the area to provide donor hairs for your transplant.
Evaluation
The growth of the new hair is achieved gradually after the transplantation. Some of the transplanted hair is preserved and starts growing from the very first days post-operatively. Some hair might fall off during the next 2 to 6 weeks from the hair transplant. The gradual growth of the new hair follows a process that is completed after 8 – 12 months post-operatively. The final aesthetic effect is usually achieved after 12-18 months.
We encourage that patients come see us 2,6,9,12 and 18 months after their procedure to monitor progress. We will send out reminders to encourage patients to book their evaluation appointments. If unable to come visit us, we encourage patients to book virtual follow-ups with us and/or to send us photos of their progress.
How is the Extraction of Hair Follicles Done?
The hair follicles are selected and extracted one-by-one from the back of the head using a specially designed disposable tool with a diameter of 1 mm or less. These hair follicles naturally never fall out and grow for life. These properties remain after implantation.
What Kind of Anesthesia is Used During the Procedure?
The local anesthesia used contains 1% Lidocaine and a solution of adrenaline 1:200,000, is administered to the donor area by using a series of small local injections and a very small needle. This guarantees your comfort throughout the procedure.
How is the Operating Room Prepared?
The procedure rooms are professionally sterilized and disposable instruments are used. Eternal Hair uses single-use disposable punches and needles for every session, with a diameter of 1mm or less. Strict protocols are applied to all processes and at all levels to guarantee 100% safety.
What can you Expect after your Initial Consult?
If you are identified as a suitable candidate for hair transplantation, and once a session is booked, a detailed set of pre-operative instructions will be sent out.
What Should I Expect the Day of my Procedure?
As soon as you arrive you will be greeted by our customer care staff, who will escort you to meet with the doctor to discuss your specific needs, go over some required paperwork and take photographs.
After being photographed, you will be guided to the procedure room where you will be prepared for the session.
How Will I Be Prepared for the Procedure?
You will be provided with a surgical gown and asked to lay down on a specialized comfortable chair specifically designed for hair transplant procedures. The doctor will then confirm the design and distribution of the hairs as discussed during the consultation process.
Eternal Hair procedure rooms are equipped with entertainment systems where you can enjoy music and movies throughout your hair transplant procedure.
Do I have to Cut my Hair for a Hair Transplant?
Most patients do not need to cut their hair for their hair transplants. If you do need to get your haircut prior to a transplant, our expert medical team will let you know and discuss options with you to proceed with your transplant.
What Happens to my Hair Grafts After they are Extracted?
The extracted hair follicles are kept at a specific temperature (40C) and in a special solution that enhances their growth after placement. We do not separate, cut or generally process the cuttings to avoid any risk of damage, thus achieving an industry-leading graft viability rate.
Do I have a Break During the Hair Transplant Procedure?
Once the extraction phase is completed, the patient is provided with lunch. If there exist any meal preferences and/or dietary restrictions, we kindly ask to be informed prior to the session.
How are Hair Follicles Placed in a Hair Transplant?
The placement of the hair follicles should be such that the upper part of the follicle is either on the surface or slightly above the epidermis, and in no case below it. This condition practically equals with a length of 0.5-1 mm of the follicle’s tissue above the plain of the surrounding recipient skin.
The hair follicles are implanted one-by-one directly into the area suffering from hair loss using the DFI Lions Implanter and without the prior creation of cuts or slits, to provide for a completely natural result.
Full control of the depth, direction and angle of the placement of each graft ensures 100% natural results, maximum viability and that the implanted hair will never fall out and will grow for a lifetime.
What Happens after the Session is Finished?
At the end of the session, the doctor will carefully inspect the recipient areas, to ensure that the placement and positioning of the grafts is according to the patient’s preferences and gauze will be placed over the recipient area.
The doctor will then accompany the patient to the diagnostic department, where they will be provided with the post-operative instructions and a post-operative care kit, which will contain gauze, post-operative medications and a bottle of saline solution. In addition, photographs will be taken of the patient’s donor and recipient areas.
What Happens After a Hair Transplant Surgery?
The first total wash of the donor area will need to be carried out 24 hours after the hair transplant surgery procedure. The implanted recipient area should be washed 3 days following the hair restoration procedure. Using an extra-mild shampoo, and with circular movements and light pressure, the entire head should be washed. With every wash, the pressure applied needs to gradually increase, to aid in the removal of the residual crusting which might have formed. The patient may come to the clinic during the first few days after the session where the clinic staff can demonstrate how the washes should be performed.”