Hair density after hair transplantation surgery

Can A Hair Transplant Increase Hair Density?

Yes. There are two ways in which a hair transplant can increase the amount of hair in the treated area. First, because the follicle is an organ, it is capable of growing and dividing. Some follicles will divide many times before they produce a hair. If they can be induced to do this in the area of the scalp where hair no longer grows, there is potential for increasing the density of hair in that area. A hair restoration surgeon can redistribute hair to help accomplish this. However, increased density isn’t always possible. Because the permanence of a result using hair transplantation is directly related to the amount of hair that is in the anagen phase (the growing phase), the more anagen hair that is already present, the better the result will be in any given area. Assuming a transplant of non-scalp hair to the scalp, in order to increase the density of hair in the recipient area, one must also transplant hair from the anagen phase of the current follicle to an area where that follicle has ceased to produce a hair. In doing this, the likelihood of one hair emerging from the follicle being lost – therefore damaging the potential density increase – is quite high. Although a density increase can be achieved in many instances, it is the second way in which hair transplant can increase the hair in a certain area which often presents a more practical and consistent solution. This involves the reduction of the area of bald skin.

Hair Density vs. Hair Thickness: What’s the Difference?

First of all, it is important to understand that there is a clear difference between hair density and hair thickness. Hair density refers to the amount of hair on the scalp; whereas hair thickness represents the diameter of a hair. For patients who wish to undergo hair transplantation surgery, we diagnose sparse or medium hair density. The goal of the intervention will be to retrieve hair density and making the hair look abundant. It is important to note that hair density may deteriorate over time; and this might be caused by different factors as: stress, illness, genetics, or aging.

How does hair evolve after transplantation?

Actual hair growth starts 6 months after hair transplantation surgery. During that period, the patient will feel that their hair is denser, thicker, and longer. Every hair gains some centimeters in length; therefore giving the overall hair scalp a dense-looking and aesthetic appearance. Starting from the 8th or 9th month after your hair transplantation, you will be able to rejoice the final results of the surgery; your hair is longer and thicker, and your hair scalp is utterly covered. After a year (or a year and a half in certain cases), hair growth is definitive and hair density may be ideally appreciated.

How to obtain good hair density with this intervention?

In order to give the patient satisfying results, the surgeon will have recourse to different techniques; as well as consider all factors during the hair transplantation surgery. For instance, in some cases, the surgeon will have to transplant 30 follicle units per square centimeter. For other cases, however, s/he will have to transplant 60 follicle units per square centimeter, or more. This will depend on the patient’s case and the extent of the diagnosed baldness. Another important factor to consider during hair transplantation is the gender of the patient. If the average hair density for men is 45 follicle units, for women it is estimated to be between 50 and 60 follicle units per square centimeter. During the hair transplantation procedure, the doctor may use the technique of dense-packing in order to obtain optimal results. The procedure consists in realizing very small incisions using novel tools. The thinner and smaller the incision is, the more follicle units per centimeter square it is possible to transplant. Therefore, the patient may achieve a very dense-looking hair scalp.

As such, different techniques may be used to obtain optimal results of hair transplantation. This is among the reasons why preliminary consultations are of paramount importance. Indeed, it is only during those that the surgeon is able to examine the degree of baldness, its causes, and thereafter evaluate the needs of the patient. All these factors will help the doctor choose the right procedure and technique to use in order to ensure results that are up to the patient’s expectations.

The published data states that hair survival is only 75-85%. The remaining hair does grow, but after a variable latent phase; its diameter often decreases. This is attributed to transection, desiccation, mechanical injury, and the fact that hair does not always fall out immediately. The hair survival, growth direction, angle, and orientation in the recipient area are all clinically inferior to what it is in the donor area. All of these are obviously related to the fact that the hair follicle and its vital surrounding elements, the dermal papilla and neurovascular bundles, are delicate organs with a complex anatomy. This is the foundation of the basic science that hair restoration is built upon.

The trauma induced by all forms of hair restoration surgery yields a variety of cellular responses from the constituent cells of the hair follicle. In the moment it occurs, some cells are killed and others are stimulated, while others yet are inhibited from functioning. And beyond the initial event, changes occur to the microenvironment of these cells that is within the extracellular matrix. These changes may cause cell death or altered functions. Long-term survival of the hair is determined by the survival and maintenance of the cells from which it is derived, and the dermal papilla is critically important. The above explanations essentially describe why the immediate hair growth following a hair transplant is often followed by subsequent hair loss. Any decrease in caliber of the hair that does grow is representative of an alteration in the hair cycle. These facts emphasize that hair growth after hair transplantation is just as important as the growth of new hair.