If you have severe balding, you may feel like a hair transplant is the only way to restore your confidence. Indeed, this can definitely be the case, and many people who have suffered from balding prematurely or extensively have transformed their lives after having this procedure. It really can give you a new lease on life and make you feel good about yourself.
But, there is one common worry that people have. They are concerned that their balding is so severe that they do not have enough donor hair for a successful hair transplant. What happens in this type of case? Will you not be able to enjoy this procedure? Here is a guide to get you up to speed on what happens.
Where Does Donor Hair Come from for a Hair Transplant?
Typically, most people will have donor hair taken from their scalp for a transplant. In particular, many surgeons like to use the nape area, which is located between your ears. Often, even if there is extensive balding, healthy hair follicles can still be taken for the surgery. They can be moved to other areas of the scalp to achieve natural-looking results. Indeed, they will be the right color and texture.
But, what happens if you are bald all over your head? Does this mean that you cannot enjoy a hair transplant? Well, this is not necessarily the case. Surgeons can be innovative in their search for enough hair follicles and they can explore other parts of the body. Therefore, if you are bald and do not believe you have enough donor hair, know that it can come from other areas. For example, this can include:
- Armpits
- Legs
- Chest
- Underneath the chin
Surgeons will assess the area on these parts of the body and whether there is enough for a successful hair transplant. The goal is to find suitable hair that will look natural on your head to reverse thinning or balding. For example, Dr Yaman knows that a hair transplant is a delicate and precise operation. This is why he will carefully examine the scalp before looking at other body parts. He always ensures that the best hair follicles are used to achieve the best results.
How Do You Know If You Have Enough Hair on Your Head?
Again, most surgeons prefer to take hair grafts from the scalp. This is the best way to replicate hair and to create a style that people will love. Therefore, you might be in a position where you want to know if this can happen for you. Without going to a surgeon for a consultation, it can be difficult to know how many good hair follicles you have. For instance, you may think there is enough, but you know that you also have balding. But, there are a few things you can do to estimate.
You can look in the mirror and get a rough idea of whether you are a good candidate. Namely, if you have a lot of hair on the back of your head and the sides of your scalp, you should be able to enjoy a transplant. Typically, these are the donor areas that follicles will be taken from. If you are already balding in these areas, this can mean that you are not suitable for a hair transplant.
Before any hair transplant can begin, a surgeon must examine your scalp. They need to see whether you have enough donor hair for the process to be successful. During the examination, they are going to let you know their findings. Namely, they will analyze the common donor areas, including the sides and back of the head. They will make sure that there are enough healthy hair follicles for a transplant to work. They also have technology to help them, which can give a more accurate picture.
It is not just the donor area that will be inspected. You also have to consider the recipient area. For example, if you are experiencing thinning, you might require fewer hair grafts than more serious balding. So, the donor area might be enough for this process. Again, a surgeon will take a look and know what is suitable and whether you can go ahead with a transplant. In particular, they will advise on how many hair grafts will be necessary for the transplant to begin. This will also be something that affects the price you pay for the surgery.
