Graft (haar strands) is an essential element for the hair transplantation process. Well, do you know what graft means and are your expectations realistic? In hair transplantation, “graft number” or “number of hair strands” is one of the factors that directly affect the success of the procedure and the hair density to be obtained.
Indicaties
1. What is Graft in Hair Transplantation?
Graft, in its simplest definition, refers to a small piece of skin containing hair follicles. You can understand the graft more clearly as follows; there are 1 to 4 hair strands in a graft. These are usually taken from the nape of the neck (donor area) and transplanted to the balding area.
The nape of the neck is the area with the least hereditary and permanent hair loss, so the hair strands are selected from here. This can make the process a little clearer: Assuming that there are 2.2 hairs in 1 graft on average: 3000 grafts × 2.2 = approximately 6600 hairs.
2. What Should Be the Ideal Number of Grafts?
The ideal number may vary from person to person according to personal expectations and existing hair structure, but the general picture is as follows:
- Frontal Hairline: 1000 – 1500
- Vertex: 1500 – 2500
- Whole top head (full planting): 3500 – 5000
If the donor site is not strong and healthy enough, it may not be possible to get this many hair strands.
3. Is “Number of Grafts” or “Number of Hair Strands” Important in Hair Transplantation?
Both are extremely important for a hair transplantation process that is expected to progress healthily. However, the number of hair strands will give the most accurate measure. Some centers say that they transplant many hair strands, but the hair strands may contain only 1 hair follicle. Therefore, there may be returns such as “5000 grafts were transplanted but it was very sparse”.
4. What Should Be Considered About Grafts?
If you are considering hair transplantation, it is useful for you to know what a graft is. In this way, you can evaluate the hair transplantation process with realistic expectations. Here are the points to be aware of:
- Taking too many grafts can make the donor site sparse,
- For a realistic density, the quality and distribution of the hair strands is usually more important and should be well evaluated,
- It does not always mean “many hair strands, good results”.
- It is necessary to have a preliminary discussion with your surgeon and discuss the possibilities in order to address concerns in this regard.
5. Can’t hair transplant be performed when the number is insufficient?
The success as well as the feasibility of hair transplantation depends on the number. However, it is not a 100% correct approach to say “Hair transplantation cannot be performed if the number is insufficient”. Nevertheless, in order to evaluate this more accurately, it is necessary to consider what can be done through the area to be transplanted, other solutions or postponing the procedure:
5.1. Why the number may be insufficient?
- If the donor area, that is, the hair on the nape of the neck is very sparse,
- Decrease in hair strands due to previous hair transplantation,
- Genetically very thin or single hair follicles,
- In cases such as hair loss covering a very large area, the number of grafts is generally considered insufficient.
5.2. What happens if the number is insufficient?
- If there are not enough hair strands for the whole head, a limited application can be made only to the front hairline and the crown.
- A sparse but more natural appearance can be achieved.
- Apart from the nape, body hair may have a different structure than head hair, but it is used as a last resort.
- Techniques such as DHI and FUE allow more frequent and controlled placement of grafts. In this way, the perception of more density can be created with fewer grafts.
5.3. What can be done when the number is insufficient? (Alternatives)
- Hair transplantation can be supported with hair strands taken from beard and chest hair,
- Medically, hair loss can be slowed down with drugs such as Minoxidil and finasteride.
Conclusie
The graft is the most overlooked but fundamental building block of hair transplantation. While the number determines the density of the transplant, the quality of the grafts directly affects the naturalness and effect of the results. The number is not the only thing that matters for a succesvolle haartransplantatie. The gezondheid, structure and correct placement of the hair strands are also very important.
In cases where the number is insufficient, either the area to be transplanted is limited or support can be taken from alternative areas (such as beard, chest). In addition, different density perception can be created with fewer grafts; this depends on the surgeon’s experience, design and the technique used (such as FUE, DHI). To summarize, graft is the most critical and important factor determining the quality and success of hair transplantation.
Hairtrans.com is opgericht door de wereldberoemde plastisch chirurg Dr. MFO, die een expert is op het gebied van gezichtsfeminisering of gezichtsmasculinisatieoperaties, en onder zijn leiding wordt geleid. Wilt u een haartransplantatie onder begeleiding van een plastisch chirurg met jarenlange ervaring?
Of je nu een transvrouw bent of een geboren man of vrouw, als je op zoek bent naar de beste haartransplantatie, contact wij nu.
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