When searching the internet for surgical information, it's often challenging to find accurate and useful information as mechanical writings frequently rank at the top. Surgery requires thorough preparation, so having reliable information is crucial. Understanding hair transplantation surgery accurately is particularly important.
Understanding Follicles and Hair
To understand hair transplantation, one must first grasp the difference between follicles and hair. Simply put, a follicle corresponds to the root of a hair, functioning similarly to a seed in a plant. One can consider the follicle as the site where hair is generated and grows. The cost of hair transplantation generally depends on the quantity of "grafts" or "follicular units." A "graft" denotes a single hair, while a "follicular unit" refers to a group of follicles. In the case of Koreans, most individuals have 1 to 3 hairs per follicular unit. The price is typically calculated assuming there are 2 hairs per follicular unit on average.
Principle of Hair Transplantation
Hair transplantation involves relocating follicles from their original location to another area. Follicles exist not only on the scalp but also on other parts of the body. Even body hair contains follicles, which can be transplanted to the scalp. Typically, follicles from the occipital region are transplanted to the hairline. Occipital hair is thicker and less affected by hair loss progression, making it the preferred choice.
Difference Between Strip and FUE Methods
The methods for harvesting follicles in hair transplantation mainly divide into strip and follicular unit extraction (FUE) methods. The strip method involves cutting the scalp in a strip shape to extract follicles, then transplanting them after separation. This method can leave a long linear scar after suturing. In contrast, the FUE method involves using a medical punch to extract follicles one by one. As this method leaves only small scars, it is less noticeable aesthetically. Recently, FUE has proven to be more effective in terms of graft survival rate and is superior aesthetically due to smaller scars.
Surgery Selection and Price
The price difference between the strip and FUE methods is primarily determined by the physician's labor. The strip method requires more labor as it involves a separate process to separate follicles during follicle extraction. The FUE method, on the other hand, is cheaper as the physician directly uses a punch to extract follicles. Additionally, there is no significant difference in the success rate of the surgeries.
Importance of Information Gathering and Hospital Selection
Since hair transplantation is not a simple surgery, careful information gathering and appropriate hospital selection are essential. If considering hair transplantation, thorough research is necessary to choose the most suitable surgical method and hospital for oneself.
