Hair Transplant Surgery in Iran

What's hair transplant?

Hair transplant surgery involves removing healthy follicle from a part of the body (the donor area) and placing it in other parts that are incapable of growing hair (the recipient area). A healthy follicle should be able to grow hair but sometimes factors like skin damage or a hormone called dihydrotestosterone could cause the follicle to stop working as it should. 

Hair transplant surgery kicked off as a solution to treat male pattern baldness in 1950 when Dr. Norman Orentreich introduced a technique in which the graft was a round patch consisting of 20-30 hairs. Basically, he picked up these grafts from the back and sides of the scalp where follicles are capable of growing hair and placed them into small holes on the balding sections of the head. The procedure was almost successful and new hair did grow on the sections of the scalp where no hair used to grow. However, a major complaint about the unnatural appearance of the final result prevented the surgery from gaining great popularity. The look was referred to as "doll's hair" and was considered artificial.

Hair transplant surgery was yet to be as common as it is now and it wasn't until the following decades that more practical methods were introduced. Two common techniques that are still widely practiced to this day are called FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) and FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction). They both come with some pros and cons and will be discussed later in this article. You can consult our specialists to figure out which method works out for you. 

What are Hair transplant techniques and methods? 

• FUT: one of the oldest and most common methods of hair transplantation is called FUT or Follicular Unit Transplantation; also known as strip method. This method involves cutting out a long stripe from the donor area (mostly back of the scalp). The stripe is about 6 to 10-inch long and is later divided into very small individual grafts containing 2 or 3 hair each. The section from which the stripe was taken will be sewn shot to reduce scarring. It is recommended that the patient keeps his hair at a moderately long length to hide the scar. Then, the small grafts will be placed into small holes made on the skin of the recipient area.
• Advantages:
• Affordable
• Natural result
• Most of the harvested hair will remain
• Disadvantages:
• Leaves linear scar on the scalp
• FUE: in this method, hair follicles are removed individually from a selected area known as the donor area. These follicles will be used as grafts and are placed into the scalp. The procedure takes relatively more time and the surgeon's expertise is an effective factor in the outcome.
• Advantages:
• Leaves scars that are almost invisible
• Faster healing process
• Disadvantages:
• More expensive
• The harvested grafts are prone to damage
• Hair Transplantation with PRP: PRP is primarily known as a hair loss cure but it also is a treatment that can be used along with Hair transplantation of any method. Platelet-Rich PlasmaorPRP helps ease the healing process and enhances hair follicle viability.
• Hair transplant and stem cells: A brand new method introduced for an even more natural looking result. In this method, only a small part of the follicle is removed and as a result, the chance of scarring will considerably decrease. Furthermore, the remaining hair follicle stem cell will form new hair within weeks.

Hair transplant for women

Female pattern baldness is a condition that involves bald patches and hair thinning. There are many treatments to prevent more hair fall but the already occurred thinning and hair loss are irreversible in most cases. Women can try hair transplant as a way to treat the baldness permanently and the procedure would be the same as hair transplant surgery for men. 

Eyebrow Transplant in Iran

Eyebrow transplant is another common hair restoration that is quite popular among women in particular. Eyebrows are prone to hair loss and factors such as hormones, aging, or constant hair plucking can contribute to bald patches. Since eyebrows are significant features of the face, numerous people would try eyebrow transplant in Iran. 

The surgery is a complex one due to the extra attention that must be provided to maintain a natural and pleasant looking eyebrow shape. In most cases, the follicle is removed from the scalp area and is transplanted into the eyebrow area; the procedure can be practiced with either FUE or FUT. Usually, between 50 to 300 grafts are placed on each eyebrow. Aside from the shape of the eyebrow itself, each hair on an eyebrow has different angulation; for example, the hair towards the nose area is more upwards and some are horizontal toward the ear. As a result, proper transplantation with regard to angulation is highly important. 

The complexity of eyebrow hair restoration requires meticulous attention and sometimes, the procedure might take up to 6 hours. Also, swelling diminishes in 3-5 days and you could see immediate results. It's important that you look for a highly skilled surgeon with a reliable track record to provide medical as well as aesthetical service. Our specialists are at your service for any information you might require to compare surgeons or eyebrow transplant costs.

Facial hair transplant in Iran (beard transplant)

Facial hair transplant is growing popularity among men. Only in the year 2012, 4,500 men living in the UK tried the surgery to treat patchy beards. The trend for beard transplant in Iran too is increasing. The procedure is no different from that of the other hair restorations. It takes between two to five hours and the result is permanent. 

Top Hair transplant surgeons and clinics in Iran

• Gandhi Hotel-Hospital: established in 2009 by a group of specialists, this complex is a pioneer among hospitals and clinics offering medical tourism services in the middle east.
• Saee Clinic: This hair and skin specialized clinic offers superior quality hair transplant services to Iranian and international patients.
• Renaissance Hair Transplant Center: this clinic has a team of highly qualified experts with an expertise in hair transplant and hair restoration methods. 

What You need to do before hair transplant

• Have a pre-operative appointment. The specialist will assist you in the process of marking the desired hairline so that you end up with a look that you are satisfied with.
• If you are undergoing an FUT procedure, you should keep your hair length at 2-3 cm so that you are able to hide the stitch on the back of your head postoperatively.
• Discontinue using vitamins or any kind of supplements one week prior to the surgery.
• Use tea-tree shampoo for one week before the procedure.
• Do not drink alcohol 48 hours before the treatment day.

Hair transplant results and aftercare

In the days following the surgery, you may experience some pain in the area but it can be controlled with medication. With the FUT method, the result is immediately apparent after the surgery and you can see new hair on the bald spots. However, in one month, the newly transplanted hair will start shedding as a result of a condition called shock loss. The temporary hair loss lasts about two months but is followed by a permanent growth phase that is just like your natural hair. 

On the days following the surgery, you should follow some instructions: 

• Sleep with your head elevated in 45 degrees for three nights after the surgery.
• For a week after the procedure, avoid hard work and exercises.
• Wash your hair gently after the third day of your surgery.
• Avoid using hot hair dryers in the first two weeks.

Should I get a hair transplant?

Having a hair transplant can boost your confidence enormously. Whether it is the hair on your scalp or your facial hair, spot baldness is not what you want to be known for.

You are a good candidate for hair transplant if:

• You lose your hair due to male pattern baldness
• Your balding pattern has been stabilized.
• You have lost your hair due to trauma

You are NOT a candidate for hair transplant if:

• You are suffering from diffuse balding pattern
• You have insufficient hair at the donor area
• Your hair loss is due to some conditions such as thyroid glands or blood-related disorders

Hair transplantation is 90% successful and will give you permanent, natural-looking hair. It is an investment worth sparing some money for. Plus, if you consider hair transplant overseas, in Iran you can undergo a surgery far more affordable. 

FAQ

How long hair transplant lasts?

The newly transplanted hair is resistant to the DHT hormone that provoked the hair fall in the first place. A temporary shedding may occur but in 3 months you will experience healthy hair growth.

Is hair transplant safe?

Hair transplant is performed as an out-patient procedure that takes less than a day. If you choose a board-certified surgeon to undergo the procedure, the chance of any risk occurring postoperatively will decrease.

Is hair transplant painful?

Before the actual surgery begins, a local anesthetic is injected which might sting a bit. The whole procedure, however, is completely painless.

Is hair transplant worth it?

That depends on how much you are struggling with hair loss. Keep in mind that the surgery is quick and the outcome is permanent. If you find yourself constantly concerned with your appearance and the baldness, then hair transplant is totally worth it.