A recent news item about the death of a Mumbai based businessman, who died of complications related to his hair transplant has raised many questions about the safety of this procedure.

Hair transplant is a surgical procedure under which hair follicles are transplanted from one part of the head to the other, on to the thinning or receding areas on the scalp. Hair transplants have been in practice since 1950s, however the techniques have changed quite a bit in the recent years.

Transplanting the hair has become quite popular especially among those women and men battling baldness to look confident and with those obsessed with sporting full, thick hair.

Blame it on the indifferent attitude of the authorities, but these days we are coming across various small clinics offering hair transplants, often run by quacks.

If you are considering a hair transplant done, nothing wrong in that. But, be aware of these following topics before taking a plunge.

How Is A Hair Transplant Done?

Before getting a hair transplant, the scalp is cleaned, and medicines are administered to numb the back of your head. Your doctor may choose Follicular Unit Extraction or Follicular Unit Transaction, depending on what’s right for you.

Under FUE, the entire scalp is shaved, and the surgeon removes each follicle while in FUT the surgeon removes a strip of hair from the back.

At this point, under both procedures the doctor prepares the graft, cleans and numbs the area, creates holes with a scalpel or needle, placing each graft in holes. It may take up to 4 to 8 hours to complete the procedure.

Know These Before Getting A Transplant

Find Out About Doctor and Clinic:

The first step is to find an expert doctor and a perfect hospital to get your hair transplant done. Talk to the doctor in detail, past customers, learn about the treatment. Know how much time it will take you to recover completely and get a detailed understanding about the pros and cons of a hair transplant, complications, healing time etc.

Know The Procedure:

There are two types of hair transplant procedures – Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and Follicular Unit Transaction (FUT). The difference is under FUE, hair follicles are extracted and transplanted individually, while in FUT doctors remove a strip of hair from the scalp and do a transplant with that. Talk to your doctor which procedure is recommended and works for you. Ensure it is done under absolutely hygienic conditions to avoid serious infections.

Hair Transplants Are Permanent:

A hair transplant is a permanent procedure and it is not possible to reverse it. Hence, calculate the pros and cons of getting a transplant done, how it will change your looks forever, discuss it with family and take a decision.

Cost of the Transplant:

Hair transplants are expensive and ensure that you are making a right decision and your hard-earned money is worth it. Enquire about the prices in similar hospitals and clinics, from same experts before taking a decision.

Know About Recovery:

A hair transplant makes your scalp very tender and you may have to be on pain medications for several days. Your doctor may also prescribe you antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs and one should be able to return to work within a week.