Hair transplants are considered a permanent solution to hair loss because of the way they work at a biological level. The science behind hair transplants involves the transfer of hair follicles from areas of the scalp that are genetically resistant to balding (usually the back or sides of the head) to areas that are thinning or balding (like the crown or top of the head). Here’s how this works in more detail:
1. Donor Area Selection:
The key to hair transplant permanence lies in the selection of the donor area. These areas are genetically programmed to resist the effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone that causes hair follicles in the rest of the scalp to shrink and eventually stop growing hair. The follicles taken from this resistant area retain their genetic properties, which means they continue to grow hair even after being moved.
2. Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE):
There are two main techniques used for hair transplants: FUT and FUE. Both methods involve extracting individual hair follicles or groups of follicles from the donor area and transplanting them into the recipient area. Whether you use FUT or FUE, the transplanted follicles maintain their natural characteristics, continuing to grow thick, healthy hair in their new location.
3. Post-Transplant Growth Cycle:
After the transplant, the newly implanted follicles go through a “resting phase,” after which they begin to grow. Typically, the hair starts growing in a few months, and over the course of a year, it reaches its full length. These hairs are permanent because they retain their resistance to hair loss and continue to grow throughout the patient’s life.
4. Biological Mechanism:
The follicles that are transplanted contain stem cells that help regenerate hair growth. Once they’re placed in the thinning or balding areas, they start growing as if they were still in their original location. Since the follicles have a resistance to DHT in the donor area, they maintain that resistance in their new location, ensuring a long-term, permanent solution.
5. No Need for Ongoing Treatments:
Once the hair transplant is complete, there’s no need for long-term treatments or medication like finasteride or minoxidil, which are typically used to stop hair loss but need to be used continuously. Hair transplants give permanent results without the need for maintenance treatments, as the hair follicles are unaffected by the usual causes of hair loss.
Thus, the permanence of a hair transplant is guaranteed by the fact that the hair follicles taken from the donor area are resistant to the hormone that causes hair loss, meaning that they will continue to grow hair even after they’ve been transplanted into areas of thinning or baldness.