Have you ever noticed that the results of a friend who went abroad for a hair transplant a year ago are very different from those of another acquaintance who had the same procedure around the same time?
While some people see no noticeable reduction in their bald appearance even after hair transplantation, others appear to have been reborn.
Is this a miracle performed by the doctor, or is it due to the patient being born with flawless genes?
- Different Reasons for Hair Loss
Although the primary factor in hair loss is male pattern baldness, i.e. genetic hair loss, around 10 per cent of cases are caused by hormonal reasons, burns, alopecia, intense stress, and other factors.
Therefore, in these 10 per cent of cases, transplanting hair without treating or controlling the underlying causes will not prevent the hair from falling out again over time.
In such cases, the success rate is relatively low.
The success rate is higher in genetically related hair loss.
- Donor Area Capacity
During hair transplantation, a limited area on the back of the head is used as the donor area. Grafts are taken from this area and transplanted into the balding areas.
However, not everyone has enough grafts in their donor area to cover all bald areas, so a significant portion of transplants are not completely successful, meaning that not all balding areas can be fully covered.
In individuals with a sufficient donor area, the chances of success increase considerably.
- Factors Such as Age and Gender
In hair transplants performed at an older age, the survival rate of the transplanted grafts decreases somewhat.
In women, the success rate is generally lower than in men due to factors such as oestrogen fluctuations and the inefficiency of the donor area.
Clinical studies indicate that systemic conditions like diabetes or poor scalp circulation can reduce graft survival rates by up to 20%.
While almost all transplanted hair in men remains for life, Dr Meltem Şentürk from DK Klinik points out that even the donor area in women can thin out, meaning that transplanted hair may also fall out over time.
- The Doctor’s Expertise
Many factors can affect the success of the procedure, including the experience and knowledge of the hair transplant surgeon and their team, whether they are members of reliable international associations such as the ISHRS, and how effectively they communicate with patients.
For this reason, when travelling abroad for hair transplantation, it is essential to choose doctors and clinics that are licensed, have a long history, and have many positive reviews.
- Post-Op Care
The step most often neglected by patients is the aftercare process following hair transplantation. Research shows that the first 72 hours represent a “golden window” for graft revascularization, during which any trauma to the scalp can permanently damage newly transplanted follicles, says Dr Meltem Şentürk.
Factors such as sleeping in the correct position, avoiding strenuous activities, protecting the scalp from impact, and regularly using the prescribed medications and shampoos directly affect the success of the hair transplant.
