Hair Transplant
There is a bit of concern among some people considering a hair transplant that the hair restoration process can damage the existing hair. The short answer to the question, “Does FUE hair transplant damage existing hair”, is…” Yes and No”.
Confused by that answer? Take a look below to discover why hair Restoration experts explain why, “yes and no” are both correct answers.
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) hair transplant is when hair follicles are individually extracted from the donor area on the body of the patient. Hair transplant surgeons generally like to take the donor hair grafts from the back and sides of the scalp because the hair in this area has proven resistant to balding. If there are not enough high-quality hair grafts on the back or sides of the scalp, the surgeon can take donor hair from other areas of the body such as the chest or beard.
During the FUE procedure, the hair grafts are removed from the donor area and placed inside premade incisions in the scalp. The transplanted hair will take root/settle into the scalp and eventually start to grow and act like the native hair on the head. The hair grafts are removed and placed individually during FUE so the doctor must take great pains to avoid damaging the hair grafts. If the hair transplant surgery is performed correctly, there should be no damage to the hair grafts or to the existing hair on the scalp.
If there is some damage to the hair grafts, it could be caused by inexperience on the part of the surgeon. For example, if the hair follicles stay out of the body for too long, they could die before they are placed in the incisions in the scalp. In other words, speed and precision are an important component of the FUE hair transplant process.
If the surgeon mishandles the hair grafts, they could suffer some sort of damage or trauma that renders them unable to grow when they are placed back in the scalp.
It is important to do proper research and find a surgeon who is both board-certified and experienced in performing hair transplant surgery. The patient should ask the doctor to see “before and after” photos of their actual patients as well as ask about the type of final results they can expect to see after the surgery. The person having the surgery should follow any and all post-op instructions given to them by the surgeon in order to experience a successful recovery period and also enjoy a lifetime of natural results.
