Are 2'000 grafts enough to get a satisfying result? (photos)

Question

On the attached pictures one can see my current "problem zone." Both, left and right I have a problem in the receding hairline zone. the second problem is that there are some bold parts in the middle of the skull. The first offer I got was based on 600 grafts. For me as non expert this sounds far not enough. Now I undergo a surgery with 2'000 grafts and would like to hear, whether this number of grafts corresponds to the problem (sorry for my bad English).

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

2000 grafts may be a respectable number but the number of grafts do not always translate to good results.Numbers don't guarantee results. It's the doctor and his team that provide great results.
A great doctor with an experience team can achieve far superior results will less number of grafts than an inexperience doctor with hired traveling techs promising high number of grafts at a bargain.

Remember not all grafts will take.  The experience of your doctor and team will ensure high percentage of grafts surviving.  The experience and artistic talent of the doctor will ensure a natural looking hair line.

A bad hair transplant surgery is like herpes no matter how may grafts you got.  It'll stay with you for life.

Amiya Prasad, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. I understand you’d like to know if 2000 grafts is enough to address some areas of balding along the front of your hairline, as well as the middle of your scalp. You previously got an estimate of 600 grafts, and now you’re asking for guidance.I can give you some guidance regarding this matter, as a large part of my work is treating hair loss. I am the founder of TrichoStem® Hair Regeneration centers, which provide a non-surgical hair loss alternative to hair transplants for both men and women. I am also a Board-certified cosmetic surgeon and a Fellowship-trained oculofacial plastic surgeon practicing in Manhattan and Long Island. I have performed hair transplants for over 20 years.First of all, when you think about hair transplantation, you need a full understanding as to what kind of volume can be achieved with the hair transplant surgery. Numbers like 600 and 2000 do sound like a big amount, but consider this: when you had a full head of hair, it numbered about hundred thousand, and by the time people notice hair loss or hair thinning, they’ve already lost 50% of their hair. With that perspective, 600 and 2000 are quite small, so you need to think strategically where to place these grafts.Male and female pattern hair loss look the same under a microscope—the hairs do not simply just disappear, rather they go through a thinning process. When hair reaches the end of its growth cycle, it sheds. After shedding, it goes through an unusually prolonged phase of not growing, after which it grows again. The difference is, when it grows back, it grows back thinner, until it eventually stops growing altogether.Some important things to also factor in before having a hair transplant is, firstly, the progression of both male and female pattern hair loss. Secondly, that the donor area, which is the thin band of hair at the back of the head, does not have an endless supply of genetically-resistant and viable hairs. Thirdly, there is a difference between men and women in terms of the type of transplant done. For men, an ideal candidate for a hair transplant is someone with frontal hair loss, wherein the hairline has receded and has given way to a smooth scalp, but still retains hair at the back of the scalp and some in the middle. For a case such as this, we’ll usually transplant hair in the center of the scalp in order create balance, so that it doesn’t look like the man is bald. Women, on the other hand, are more of a challenge because female hair loss is diffuse all over the scalp, which means there’s a lot of existing hair. The problem lies in performing the hair transplant itself. Let’s say 2000 grafts are being transplanted, that means that 2000 tiny stabs are made into the scalp to create openings for the transplanted hair grafts. Since there are existing hairs all over the scalp, chances are high that those existing hairs will become damaged or traumatized during the transplantation. When that happens, a lot of the hair gets lost unnecessarily and that hair often does not come back. In addition to this, a hair transplant does not actually stop hair loss, therefore you will continue to lose hair and will need another hair transplant down the road. Ultimately, the overall result does not look good.In order to remedy this problem, we developed a non-surgical alternative hair loss treatment called Hair Regeneration. The Hair Regeneration system is an injection that combines platelet-rich plasma and extracellular matrix, and is designed to stabilize or stop the progression of hair loss and reverse hair thinning. It was originally intended to help hair transplants, the donor area, and hair grafts to heal better, but it was discovered that it could also make thinning hair become thicker. So far, we’ve been able to successfully stop hair loss progression in 99% of male patients and over 80% of female patients. In fact, one session of Hair Regeneration treatment in the right candidate can exceed the results of two hair transplants.I recommend that you learn more about Hair Regeneration and similar treatments. I would also recommend that you meet with a hair loss specialist, learn more about hair transplants and its limitations and about collateral hair loss so as to foster more realistic expectations about the procedure and what it can do for you.I hope that was helpful and I wish you the best of luck!This personalized video answer to your question is posted on RealSelf and on YouTube. To provide you with a personal and expert response, we use the image(s) you submitted on RealSelf in the video, but with respect to your privacy, we only show the body feature in question so you are not personally identifiable. If you prefer not to have your video question visible on YouTube, please contact us.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

2000 grafts in a fine haired person is half the hair volume of an average hair thickness person and 1/4 of the volume of a coarse haired person. Without examining you, I don't think that anyone can give your an educated answer.

Michael Meshkin, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

2000 grafts is a good estimate, but depends on how the doctor distributes the grafts and The break down of the number of hairs. You need both one hair grafts to rebuild your hair line and also three hair grafts to gain density. So ask your doctor about the distribution and the estimate on not only the number of grafts but number of hairs as well.

Are 2'000 grafts enough to get a satisfying result? (photos)

Answers (4)

Answer: Graft estimate

Answer: Graft estimate

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Are 2'000 grafts enough to get a satisfying result? (photos)

Answers (4)

Answer: Graft estimate

Answer: Graft estimate

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Everything you need to know about Hair Transplant

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