Hair transplantation – What to know and when to consider seeking treatment?
With age, almost everyone experience hair thinning. In addition to thinning hair, the hairline often recedes. There are several different types of baldness. For some people, the crown of the head thins first, while for others, the hairline recedes at the forehead and temples.
The hair at the back of the head almost always thins the slowest. That is why this area is usually used as a "spare part" in hair transplants. The reason for seeking hair transplantation is usually both thinning hair and changes in the hairline, and both problems can be treated with the same transplant. Sometimes the reason for seeking hair transplantation is also a scar on or near the hairline that the patient wants to cover.
Sometimes it makes sense to first perform an open forehead lift to raise the eyebrows and lower the hairline, and then, once the wound has healed, perform a hair transplant in front of the scar to hide it among the hair. You can find more information about forehead lifts in my previous blog post.
FUT vs. FUE – differences between two techniques
Hair transplantation is usually performed by taking viable hair follicles from the back of the head and manually implanting them into the thinning areas.
FUT, or Follicular Unit Transplantation, is the most commonly used method in Finland. In this method, a strip of skin is taken from a suitable area at the back of the head, after which the hair follicles are separated under a microscope and then transplanted to precisely planned locations. A light, inconspicuous scar remains at the original extraction site, which heals among the hair.
Hairs transplanted using the FUT method are often so strong that even if baldness progresses, the scar will still not be visible. FUT hair transplants have been performed in Finland for many years, and Sairaala KL has been performing them for over ten years.
FUE, or Follicular Unit Extraction, refers to a method in which hair follicles are extracted from small incisions, usually across the entire back of the head, leaving numerous small scars hidden among the remaining hair.
The biggest difference between the methods relates to long-term results. In general, the scars from both methods are inconspicuous and only become visible if baldness progresses to the point where hair is also lost from the back of the head. In this case, FUE scars are visible on the skin, but the FUT scar remains hidden in the back of the neck for longer.
After a FUT transplant, it is also easy to perform another transplant: either by taking a new piece from the old scar, if there is enough thick hair and loose skin, or alternatively by performing an FUE transplant if the skin at the back of the head is already tight.
However, after FUE transplantation, the entire "spare part" at the back of the head is often used, which means that a new transplantation would leave the area too sparse or with visible scars. In Finland, FUT transplantation is more commonly used than FUE transplantation.
Recovery from hair transplant
Recovery from hair transplantation is often thought to be more extensive, more painful, and longer than it actually is.
The transfer is performed under local anaesthesia, and after the anaesthesia, the procedure is painless. Hair transfer takes about 3-5 hours, depending on the extent of the transfer.
There will be swelling in the transplanted area for the first week. You will usually be able to return to work within 1-2 weeks and be presentable within two weeks. The final result will be visible 6-12 months after the transplant, when the transplanted hair begins to grow.
For more information about hair transplants at Sairaala KL, please call +358 50 5110 449 (Tuuli Rekki, hair transplants).
Atte Manninen
Plastic surgeon
Specialist in ear, nose, and throat diseases
