Most people are excited about a hair transplant. This is finally the chance to get rid of baldness and feel confident again. But, if there is one thing that many patients are concerned about, it is the surgery. This can be a scary prospect and you do not know what to expect. Consequently, you can worry about what is going to happen. In particular, many want to know how long the surgery lasts. This way, they can prepare themselves.
First of all, know that the length of the hair transplant surgery will depend on various factors. But, here is a guide that can be beneficial and demonstrate what you can expect.
How Long is a Hair Transplant?
Generally, it is going to depend on the number of hair grafts you need. If you have severe balding and require a large number of hair grafts, this surgery is going to take longer. After all, the hair follicles have to be extracted from the donor area first. Then, they have to be received by the recipient area. This can take several hours, and the surgery might spread over two days.
Alternatively, if you only have a minor hair transformation, this might not take as long to correct. So, this procedure might take only a few hours for hair thinning and minor balding. Your surgeon can give you a more accurate number after your examination. They will know how many hair grafts you require and what technique they are going to use to achieve the best results.
The Technique Used
Touching on this last point, it will depend on the type of hair transplant you are having too. There are different techniques, and some are faster than others. This is something that you can discuss with the surgeon, as the technique can depend on your hair grafts, plus what you want to achieve. It can also depend on the surgeon and their expertise. For example, take Dr Yaman Hair Transplant as an example. He is able to perform a DHI hair transplant and a manual FUE hair transplant for his patients. Using his experience, he will decide on the best technique for each patient. Know that both of these techniques are faster than other methods.
Expect Several Hours
Typically, you should expect your hair transplant will last several hours. But, this does not mean that you have to sit still in a chair for hours on end. You will be given plenty of breaks. Surgeons know how tedious it can be for you to sit there. What’s more, they want to ensure they deliver the best results. Thus, you can expect regular breaks so that you can both refresh and resume in good spirits.
You should also know that a local anesthetic is used for the procedure. This is another concern many patients have. That they are going to be sitting in surgery for many hours and they will be in pain. However, this is not something you have to worry about. A local anesthetic has the effect of numbing the scalp. This means that you might feel some pressure, but this is not described as pain and discomfort. Patients cope very well with a hair transplant and do not report being in pain.
How Long is Recovery from a Hair Transplant?
Once people are over the surgery and they have completed their hair transplant, they want to know what they can expect during the recovery. Namely, how long will you have to be careful? How long does it take to see the full results? Most surgeons agree that the full results take up to one year. So, you know that if you take this surgery, you can completely transform your hairstyle in 12 months.
Generally, the first three months are going to be when you experience the most changes. In the first month, you will have to restrict exercise. In particular, only walking is the best option after a few weeks of rest. There can be some swelling and discomfort in the first couple of weeks after the surgery, but this will subside. You should also be careful with how you wash your hair during this time.
In addition, something you should be prepared for is shock loss. This is a process where the newly grown hair will fall out. Again, after a few months, this is not going to stop and you can look forward to the real results. You will see gradual growth in the months that follow where the hair becomes thicker and stronger.