Once you’ve lived with thinning hair, the prospect of having your healthy head of hair restored can be incredibly exciting. Even so, as you approach any kind of medical procedure, it’s only natural to experience trepidation.
Hair transplants are no exception. The Neograft hair transplant method, which we use here at Renu, has been proven again and again to be a safe and effective solution to thinning hair. Nevertheless, for those who’ve never had the procedure, it’s totally understandable to have a few questions about the process itself.
In this post, we’ll walk through everything you can expect from your Neograft journey. With any additional questions, don’t hesitate to contact the Renu team directly.
The Beginning of Your Hair Transplant Journey
Your Neograft journey will begin with a consultation. During this appointment, you’ll have a chance to talk one-on-one with your surgeon, to ask any questions you have about the procedure, and to learn more about your personal treatment plan.
Your surgeon will also want to carefully evaluate your scalp, verifying that you are a good candidate for Neograft. To qualify, you’ll need to have sufficient healthy follicles on the back of your head, which can then be transplanted to your hairline or crown.
Preparing for Your Procedure
In the days leading up to your procedure, there are a few things your surgeon may ask you to do to prepare for a safe, successful transplant. Common examples include:
If you take any medications or supplements that might cause bleeding or inflammation, your surgeon might ask you to put them on hold until after the transplant.
You will also need to pick up a few prescriptions, including antibiotics to keep you from getting any kind of infection.
Depending on the type of pain management you choose, you may also need to arrange to have someone who can drive you home after your transplant.
Your doctor may ask you to get a particular haircut (often a buzz or a fade) at the donor site; if you don’t want to get that haircut in advance, the donor area will simply be shaved when you arrive for your procedure.
On the Day of Your Neograft Hair Transplant
The Neograft hair transplant is an outpatient procedure, which means you’ll have it done in-office, then be discharged shortly thereafter to head home and rest. In total, the procedure can take anywhere from four to eight hours to complete.
When you first arrive, you will be warmly greeted by members of our patient care team. We will answer any last-minute questions, guide you back to a private treatment area, and ensure your comfort. For most patients, this procedure is done with local anesthesia. We may also need to shave the donor site, particularly if you did not get the requested haircut.
Most patients are able to rest, listen to music, or watch TV while your hair transplant takes place.
As for the specifics of the surgery, here’s a quick breakdown.
Extraction of the Donor Hair
Typically, the extraction of donor hair is done with a special wand, powered by pneumatic pressure. Healthy follicles are extracted one at a time from an area of your head where you’re experiencing healthy growth, most often the back of the head. You’ll likely need to lay on your stomach for this part of the procedure, but we will extend plenty of opportunities to get up, use the restroom, get a drink of water, or whatever else is needed.
Preparation of Recipient Sites
Your surgeon will then mark the areas on your scalp where the follicles are to be transplanted, offering you one last opportunity to propose revisions or adjustments.
Placement of Hair Grafts
Healthy grafts are placed one-by-one in the designated areas. This process works very similarly to the extraction, only in reverse. A similar pressurized wand is used to create tiny punctures into which the healthy grafts are embedded.
Discharge
Once the process is completed and we have confirmed that everything went smoothly, you will be discharged to head home, rest, and recover. We will also provide full written aftercare instructions, ensuring the smoothest possible recovery and the best Neograft results.
Recovery
The recovery process will take a few days, during which you may need to make some slight adjustments to your regular routine. For example, you may need to take a particular sleep position for the first few nights, keeping your head elevated. You will also need to avoid showering or washing your hair for a couple of days. It will be important to avoid direct sunlight for a while, and to avoid touching your grafts or donor site.
You can also expect to have a pressurized bandage, which will need to be worn for the first several days. Most patients are more or less back to normal within seven to 10 days, though we may advise you to wait longer before resuming strenuous exercise.
Results
It’s only natural to want immediate results. That’s usually not what happens with a hair transplant. In fact, as your grafts experience a normal hair growth cycle, you may find that they shed some hairs before you start seeing sustained growth.
Be patient! Most people who have a hair transplant start seeing remarkable improvements within six months, with a full and healthy head of hair within the first years. While it does take some time to get these results, virtually all patients who have Neograft wind up being very happy that they did.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
The bottom line: Hair loss is never desirable, but thankfully, it doesn’t have to be permanent either. Neograft provides a safe and effective way to rejuvenate your hair and renew your self-confidence.
We’d love to tell you more. To schedule a Neograft hair transplant consultation, reach out to the team at Renu at your convenience.
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What’s it like to have a hair transplant? Learn more about the Neograft hair restoration process from the experts at Renu.
