The cause of hair loss

The cause of hair loss can be hereditary, metabolic, or physical. Febrile illness, severe trauma or operation, medications (beta-blockers, vitamin A derivatives, anticoagulants, propyl thiouracil, etc.) and dietary changes (low protein diet), iron deficiency anemia can cause hair loss.

Hair may fall out in thyroid diseases, severe liver and kidney failure, rheumatic diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus), and cancers.

Androgenetic Alopecia (Male Pattern Hair Loss)

Androgenetic hair loss is the most common type of hair loss in men and women worldwide. Androgenic hair loss is also called male pattern hair loss. The main reason for hair loss is the negative effects of male hormones (androgens) on genetically sensitive hair follicles.

Hair in the front, middle and top parts of the head are sensitive to androgens. For this reason, hair loss occurs in these areas.

Hair follicles in the nape between the two ears, which are the donor area for hair transplantation, are resistant to the effects of androgens, so no hair loss is observed in this area.

Although it is called “male pattern hair loss”, androgenetic hair loss can also affect women and is also one of the most common types of hair loss in women.

Hamilton-Norwood Scale

The male pattern hair loss staging method is applied according to the Hamilton-Norwood Scale.

Hamilton-Norwood scale for hair loss stages is a scale used to determine the level of male pattern baldness. According to this scale, baldness is graded between I and VII.

– Hair Loss Stage 1

In general, the hairline is within clear limits. Since it is confused with seasonal or stress-induced hair loss, it is mostly the stage without the use of treatment methods. Supportive treatments such as vitamins, PRP and Mesotherapy are recommended as the continuation of hair loss in young people carries the risk of losing the hair line.

– Hair Loss Stage 2

It is the first stage of baldness. The frontal hairline receded to the midline without leaving an islet in the middle. It is the first stage of baldness. The front hairline receded to the midline without leaving an islet in the middle. It includes the deep regression of the mature hairline with no hair or very little hair on both sides of the temples and the minimum hair loss that can be considered as baldness.

– Hair Loss Stage 3

The frontal hairline recedes more clearly. However, the middle part of the head area also begins to lose hair at this stage. It is the period when hair loss is accepted by the person.

– Hair Loss Stage 4

As in Phase 3, the temple and top area scalp become more visible. It is the period in which hair loss clearly manifests itself. It is more common in the 28-35 age group.

– Hair Loss Stage 5

Hairless areas in the temple area and on the top are enlarged. The hairy strip between the two areas almost disappeared or became sparse. It is also called the critical stage. The transition from Stage 4 to Stage 5 is quite fast, and patients usually pass to Stage 5 without realizing it. Hairless areas are more visible, hair structure is weaker and lifeless.

– Hair Loss Stage 6

A thin hair is observed in the frontal area, and just behind it, prominent baldness is observed. There are sparse areas on the back and sides that are still hairy.

– Hair Loss Stage 7

At this stage, the hair bridge is completely disappeared. The temples, anterior, and vertex hair loss are combined. There is no treatment option, including hair transplantation. It is the stage where the hair scale is completed.

What is a hair transplantation?

Hair transplantation, which is very popular today, is a surgical procedure performed under local anesthesia.  It should be performed under the supervision of a plastic surgeon and with trained teams. It is the natural and permanent way to gain hair for the people who suffer hair loss. Hair transplantation is the transplantation of the patient’s healthy hair taken from the nape area to the area where the hair is lost.

The nape area is coded not to have a hair loss, and hair transplantation operations give the person his own hair permanently as if it had never been lost before. The same methods can be performed for beard, mustache, and eyebrow transplantation. Anyone who has a suitable general health condition and enough hair follicles in the donor area can have hair transplantation. Hair follicles taken from the nape area are divided into special containers as single, double, and triple hair follicles. For the transplanted hair to have a natural appearance, single hair follicles are transplanted to the front areas at certain frequencies. The angle and direction of the hair strands to be transplanted are determined exactly. By respecting these angles, the targeted natural image is achieved with the indented sowing technique.

What are hair transplantation techniques?

– Fue Technique

Fue micromotor is the most used hair transplantation technique. It is a technique performed by taking hair follicles in the donor area of the person one by one with tips called micromotor punch with a diameter of 0.6-0.8 mm and transferring them to the bald areas. Successful results are obtained in people with healthy skin and donor areas.

– DHI (Pencil) Technique

It is a method that can be applied in patients with incomplete hair loss. Existing hair is not damaged. It is a method of hair transplantation performed without shaving the hair. At the same time, it is performed without any incision on the skin.

– Manual Technique

Manual hair transplantation is a very special technique. It is the process of taking the hair with the help of a punch that is attached to the end of a special tool like a pen manually. With this method, the maximum number and quality of hair follicles are taken one by one. This technique, which is difficult to apply, cannot be performed by every clinic or doctor because it requires a good level of experience. It is mostly applied to people with insufficient donor area or weak hair follicles. The success rate is 95%.

What to consider before the hair transplantation?

• The person should have a strong but light breakfast before the operation.
• Smoking should be stopped or reduced 1 week before the operation and should not be used on the day of the operation.
• You should come to the clinic without shaving your hair.
• You should wear comfortable button-up or zipped clothes and a crew-neck sleeveless or short-sleeved t-shirt.
• Alcohol use should be stopped 1 week before. Your regular medications should be taken before the operation in consultation with your doctor.
• If you are using aspirin, flu medications, or blood thinners, you should stop at least 2 days in advance, in consultation with your doctor.
• If possible, do not keep your jewelry and valuables with you on the day of the operation.
• Wash your hair with shampoo before the operation.

What to consider after the hair transplantation?

• Medicines prescribed after the hair transplantation should be used regularly.
• Alcohol should not be used if drugs are used.
• You should come to the clinic for the medical dressing the day after the operation.
• After the procedure, 10 minutes of ice compresses should be applied to the forehead, temple, and undereye area on the same evening and for the first 3 days until you sleep.
• The first 3 days after the procedure is the holding phase of the transplanted hair. One should be very careful and rest.
• You should hit any part of your head. Driving, heavy work, sports activities, stress, and exciting activities should be avoided.
• The head should be protected from direct sunlight and rain for 4 weeks after the hair transplantation.
• Local anesthesia effect lasts by decreasing for 1 month. Since the sensation will decrease, the head should be protected from possible impacts.
• The first 5 days should sleep on your back using a high and hard pillow. Do not put the hair transplantation area on the pillow.
• For the first 5 days, do not lean your head forward while reading a book or using a phone or computer. Otherwise, edema occurs on the face and around the eyes, and facial swelling may occur.
• Smoking after the procedure creates an obstacle in oxygen transmission to the hair follicles. Smoking should be stopped for at least 1 week after transplantation.
• You can see hair falls until the 8th day. These are hair pieces around or near the transplanted root, so do not be afraid of losing your hair.
• If blood is seen in the transplantation area, do not worry and do not wipe it. You can only wipe non-transplantation bleeding.
  In the first week, you should avoid sexual intercourse and should not be in too hot and too cold environments.
• You should avoid clothes that are worn over your head for the first 15 days. Buttoned or zippered clothes should be preferred.
• Consuming 2.5 or 3 liters of water after the operation is beneficial for the transplanted hair.

Hair growth time after hair transplantation

The hair growth period after the operation varies according to the person who had the transplant. According to research, hair transplantation in men give faster results than in women. Apart from gender, age, health condition, and skin structure also affect the results. After hair transplantation, 60% of the hair is shed and 40% of the hair continues to grow. These expected hair fallings are called shock effect. The fallen part starts to grow stronger again after 2 or 3 months. The hair in the front grows fast. The hair on the top part grows slower than the front part, and it can take up to 1 year for the hair in this area to grow.

There is no need to apply any extra procedure other than the applications recommended by your doctor in order to accelerate the growth process of the transplanted hair. People can continue their daily lives, if they are more careful at first. If the instructions and the doctor’s advice are fully followed, the hair will absolutely grow.

Beard and mustache transplantation

Beard and mustache provide a dynamic and different look for men as well as dense and healthy-looking hair. Past trauma, hormonal imbalance, or congenital in beardless areas on our face may adversely affect our appearance. In these cases, the beard and mustache transplantation procedure will give good results.

Beard and mustache transplantation with FUE method

As in the hair transplantation with the Fue method, the roots taken from the nape area are transplanted to the beard or mustache area. In this process, the person performing the transplantation must be experienced in beard and mustache transplantation because the angles of the hair follicles in the beard and mustache area are different than the hair. Beard and mustache transplantation is done under local anesthesia within 1-2 hours without feeling pain. The transplantation area will look completely natural without any scar.

After beard and mustache transplantation

You can wash your face or take shower 2-3 days after the beard and mustache transplantation. After the first two weeks, a temporary hair loss called shock loss can be observed in the transplanted area. In the area where the hair loss occurs, it will reappear within 3 to 6 months. The first shave after the operation should be done 1 month later.

Hair transplantation in women

Women also suffer from hair loss due to genetic, hormonal, or physiological reasons, and hair transplantation is now frequently performed in women with correct planning by investigating the cause of hair loss.

Since women’s hair is long, hair transplantation can be performed without having to cut it.