To answer this question we must first describe why donor hair is taken from the back and sides. Hair loss also often referred to as male pattern baldness (though it is not strictly exclusive to males) happens due to the hormone Dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. DHT is a naturally occurring hormone in the human body, however like all hormones every human being is unique in their DHT profile. Those whose body produces higher amounts of it suffer from hair loss.
The hair on the sides and back of your head is resistant to the hormone DHT which is why baldness generally follows a pattern on the top of the scalp rather than the sides. Currently one of the most studied areas in the field of hair loss by scientists is why the sides and back are resistant to this hormone. It is hoped sometime in the not too distant future scientists may crack this mystery and then enable those suffering hair loss to regrow their own hair but until this mythical day comes to pass Hair Transplantation is the only known method for lasting hair growth.
The first step is to take good quality photos of your scalp from all angles. Then send these photos to Bodyline or upload to your client portal and our surgeons will make estimations on the number of grafts you require.
You should see new growth on your implanted areas quickly. However the big shocker to most people is the fact most of this new visible growth will fall out. Despite how disturbing and deflating this may be, it is completely normal. Only your visible hair is falling out. The roots do not and within a couple months later you will start to notice genuine, live, new hair growing which should last for the remainder of your hair’s natural life.
Both traditional shaved and Long Hair (unshaved) Hair Transplants are performed on an outpatient basis under local anaesthetic. You will be able to return to your hotel room after the surgery. You will be placed under observation for a period of 30 to 60 minutes immediately post-surgery to ensure you have recovered enough from the anaesthesia to return to your hotel safely. A member of our team will be present to assist you to your hotel and make sure you are not suffering from any ill effects.
In the days following surgery you should experience sensitivity around the transplanted and donor areas, but only minimal pain.
A very beneficial treatment which all Bodyline package patients receive is the ALMI Nanofat Treatment. This involves taking a small amount of fat from your inner thigh and harvesting the growth cells within and injecting into your scalp.
Finally all Bodyline patients will receive 6 months supply of an oral medication to help aid hair growth. The Finasteride levels in this medication will be custom tailored to your specific needs.
Smoking contains nicotine which will decrease the blood supply that will interfere with the healing process, so it is advisable to to refrain from smoking as early as possible before your surgery. If you are a high-volume smoker and/or have been smoking for many years it is wise to discuss this with your surgeon during the consultation process and let them decide if your smoking will have a negative impact on the surgeries chances of success.
You should refrain from alcohol in the weeks leading up to your procedure and the weeks following it. Alcohol is known to thin the blood which can harm your scalps ability to heal the small wounds found after your procedure.
Please consult your Hair Transplant Dr regarding these medications. While they are harmless in small doses in most cases your Dr will be able to advise whether these medicines are appropriate. Upon your discharge you will be given painkillers by your Dr.
The procedure is the same as traditional shaved hair transplants with 1 major difference. The hairs are harvested at your normal hair length. To ensure your hair is not thinned out to much in 1 particular area the surgeons will harvest every 3rd hair on average. This then ensures your recovery is quick and often barely noticeable even directly after your procedure.
The short answer is yes. Due to the meticulous effort required to only harvest every second or third hair rather than traditional strip harvesting a U-FUI hair transplant normally takes about 2 to 3 hours longer a traditional shaved FUE Hair Transplant.
Bodyline recommends at least 3 nights in Bangkok. This will provide you with enough time for 2 follow up visits with the Dr and team to have your scalp disinfected/washed and routine examination. Most patients stay on average 4-5 nights. Scalp washing is provided for up to 14 days post surgery.
