RUBENHAIR BALTICS Hair transplant and skin health clinic Republikas laukums 3, LV-1010 Riga, Latvia e-mail: info@rubenhair.eu, phone: +371 Hair transplant Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ 1. What is a hair transplant? A hair transplant is a minor surgical procedure that involves the safe and efficient transfer, relocation of hair producing follicles from a donor area, typically the hair at the back and sides of the head, to a thinning or bald area that concerns the patient i.e. hairline, crown, etc. A hair transplant is a minor non-invasive surgical procedure that involves the safe removal of hair follicles from an area of abundant hair on the scalp, typically the back and side and transfer them to a location on the scalp of sparse, nil hair coverage. 2. How much does a FUE procedure cost? The cost of the procedure depends on the number of grafts and the complexity of the area to be transplanted. All costs quoted include check-ups and postoperative medications. Repair cases are complex and a specialty at the clinic. Due to the challenging nature of corrective surgery we have to examine patients in detail before providing a cost estimate. 3. What is FUE - Follicular Unit Extraction? This is one of the two primary hair transplant techniques. It involves the removal of individual hair follicles from the back of your scalp. Once removed the hair follicles are screened under stereo-microscope to check their integrity and then transferred into recipient sites within the area being treated. 4. How does a hair transplant work? A hair transplant works by redistributing hair follicles. A hair follicle is a cell that produces a keratin fibre that manifests itself and individual hairs above the surface of the skin/scalp. A hair transplant relocates these hair follicles intact, allowing for them to resume a normal hair growth cycle in the new location and subsequently when transplanted in there hundreds or thousands eliminate balding, thinning in areas of the scalp. 1
5. Does a hair transplant last forever? Yes. However, it is important to ensure that a hair transplant is performed correctly and that the donor hair is obtained from the permanent zone. This ensures that the hair follicles retain the dominating factor of being resilient to DHT (dihydrotestosterone), the hormone responsible for hair loss. 6. Am I a suitable candidate for hair transplant? Not everybody is suitable for a hair transplant. There are many factors that must be taken into consideration to determine this, to list a few: hair characteristics, extent of hair thinning/loss, size of your head, amount of hair you wish to regain/reclaim, the amount of hair you have to use, etc. The most accurate way to determine your suitability and the options that exist for you specifically is to attend a FREE expert consultation with one of our specialists who can accurately assess your situation and advise you honestly in our clinic, via Skype or WhatsApp. 7. Do you offer finance options? Yes. We provide our patients with flexible and affordable payment options. Give us a call to discuss this further or send us email. 8. What should I do before hair transplant surgery? Prior to hair transplant surgery, you should avoid the consumption of alcohol, aspirin-based medications, heavily spiced foods like chili, garlic a minimum of 7 days prior. We would also advise that you refrain from consuming an A-Z multivitamin supplement. You can NOT drink coffee before hair transplant. Such consumables can have an effect on the coagulation rate of blood. This can present complications both during and post treatment. It is sometimes beneficial to perform certain scalp exercises to improve the scalp condition prior to hair transplant surgery. 9. Will a hair transplant procedure hurt? No. A hair transplant is not a painful procedure. The most discomfort you as a patient should feel is the first few injections of local anesthetic. Once the initial injections of local anesthetic take effect all subsequent injections of local anesthetic and the procedure will be perfectly comfortable. The most you will be aware of is light pressure. 10. How soon will I see results of a hair transplant? A typical hair transplant result begins to emerge at approximately 3-4 months when the hair follicles enter into a new hair growth phase. The appearance of thickness and fullness will continue to develop with the final results of the hair transplant being manifested at between 12-18 months. 2
11. How soon after a hair transplant can I return to work? It is possible to return to work as soon as 24 hours after. It greatly depends on the nature of your job and how open you are to people being aware that you have had a hair transplant. 12. How soon after a hair transplant will my appearance return to normal? Typically 7 days. However, it is dependent on the hair transplant technique you have and also how well you as an individual heals, which varies from patient to patient. At FUE Clinics we provide all our patients with a comprehensive aftercare pack which is designed to promote the healing phase immediately after the treatment. 13. Is it possible to receive hair from a donor? No. At this current moment in time it is not viable to use hair from another person regardless of their relation to you i.e. twin. The body will treat these hair follicles as a foreign body, attack them and ultimately cause them to fail. It may also result in further complications. 14. Is it necessary to shave my hair? No. The current length of your hair, the way you style your hair and the type of hair transplant technique you have will determine whether your hair needs to be shaved for your hair transplant to be performed. The best way to determine this for certain is to arrange a FREE consultation. Following your assessment we shall be able to advise you as to its necessity. 15. How soon after a hair transplant can I resume exercise? Typically 2-4 weeks. This is subject to the hair transplant technique you have, the size of the procedure you have and the type of physical activity you wish to resume. 16. What causes hair loss? Hair loss can be attributed to many conditions or illnesses. However, the majority of hair loss sufferers will be experiencing Androgenetic Alopecia or Male Pattern Baldness. 17. Can I shower after a hair transplant? You can shower immediately after a hair transplant. However, washing your hair should be avoided for 3-5 days. We would also advise that you avoided getting the transplanted area excessively wet during this time. A shower cap or similar would be recommended as a precaution. 3
18. Is the hair transplant procedure safe? As long as a hair transplant is performed appropriately by a highly trained and experienced hair surgeon you can rest assured the procedure is completely safe. We implement strict protocols to ensure this as your safety is of paramount importance to us. 19. Is there an age limit for hair grafting? There is no upper age limit to hair grafting. Generally, the main factors that affect suitability are general health and well-being in addition to the availability of donor hair. 20. Is there more treatment after a hair transplant? A hair transplant is the only viable option of restoring hair you have lost permanently. It is important to be aware it only replaces what you have lost and does not prevent existing hair that has not thinned or been lost yet. It may be necessary for a patient to consider ongoing preventative treatments to combat this. 21. Do hair transplants work? Absolutely. Fundamentally it is a very simple procedure to relocate hair from one area of the scalp to another. However, it is crucial to have it performed by a hair transplant surgeon with vast amounts of experience. Only then can you be certain of success. 22. Are there alternatives to hair transplants? Like for like, there is no real alternative to hair transplantation. Hair transplant surgery provides you a permanent solution allowing you the luxury of growing, washing and styling your hair without limitations. 23. Does wearing a hat or helmet contribute to hair loss? Absolutely not! This is one of those old wives tales that dates back to men returning home from the world wars. They would go away as young men with thick heads of hair and return years later with thinning hair. Due to the lack of information surrounding hair loss, the common denominator was the helmets they wore and subsequently this was to blame. 4
24. Does transplanted hair grow? Absolutely. Although it takes time for the newly transplanted hair to begin an hair growth cycle, once the hair begins this the results will be continuous. It is typical for this hair growth cycle to begin anywhere from 2-4 months following a hair transplant procedure. 25. Can women have a hair transplant? Of course! Women s hair is no different to men s and can be transplanted the very same way. However, hair loss in women is not always as straight-forward as men s hair loss and there are more tests that should be performed to determine whether a hair transplant is the most suitable option. 26. Are there side effects of hair transplants? There are no immediate side effects a patient should be concerned about following a hair transplant procedure. 27. Will my insurance cover hair transplant? Typically not! A hair transplant is considered an elective procedure the same as cosmetic surgery. As it is not considered essential it is highly unlikely your health insurance would cover the expense. However, you could ask the question directly of your health insurance provider. 28. How do I regrow hair? It is important to first see a hair specialist to determine the root cause of your hair thinning. It is imperative to allow a prognosis to be made so the most relevant treatment can be prescribed to encourage the hair follicle to gain strength to allow it to produce healthy hair and encourage the continuation of hair growth 29. How long do transplanted hairs last? Hair that is transplanted will not be affected by DHT dihydrotestosterone - the hormone that originally caused the fallen hair to shed. Therefore, the hair that is transplanted should last forever. 30. Is there any long term effects of hair transplants? Today, there are very few negative long term effects to hair transplantation other than the potential for numbness and indistinguishable scarring at the donor area. It is important to be aware that the major long-term effect to a hair transplant is the elimination of thinning and balding in an area that concerns you. The result of this can be improved confidence, a younger looking appearance and increased happiness and well-being. 5
31. What is the success rate of hair transplant? The success rate of a hair transplant performed by a specialist hair transplant clinic is 100% guaranteed. However, there is likely to be a small percentage lost on the graft uptake rate of approximately 1-5%. 32. What causes hair loss in women? Women can lose hair for a variety of reasons. The most common causes can be Thyroid disorders, PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), childbirth, hormonal contraceptives, dieting (vitamin/mineral deficiencies), stress and menopause. Women may also experience hair loss due to Androgenic Alopecia similar to that in men. 33. Ways to prevent hair loss? The most effective ways to prevent hair loss is to begin effective treatment during the early phases and hair thinning. Once hair is lost the only way to restore hair is through hair transplantation. You should consult a hair restoration specialist to determine if they will be suitable in your specific case. 34. Ways to promote hair growth? Hair growth can be optimized by ensuring you maintain both a healthy diet and lifestyle. The aim should be to ensure you promote circulation and consume sufficient vitamins/minerals and protein. It is also essential to maintain a healthy hormone balance in the body. 35. Where is the procedure performed? The Procedure is performed at our clinic where, as a private hospital, we have full access to an in-house pharmacy and onsite testing facilities. 36. Do I have to cut my hair short? In certain cases we can transplant without cutting the hair short depending on the number of grafts required. However, in the majority of cases we do cut the hair short to gain the maximum quality grafts possible. 37. How many procedures do I need? The number of procedures required depends on your goals, your present level of hair loss and how this changes in the future. The majority of patients require 2 procedures in their lifetime. 6
38. How long before I see the results? The transplanted hair will begin to shed at 3-6 weeks post procedure and will then take a further 2-4 months to start re-growing. At around the 6 month stage we expect the regrowth to be at the half way stage and the final result is achieved at 12-14 months. The progress can vary and we recommend you attend the 6 month checkup to review progress. 39. Will the results be natural? We have a strict protocol that ensures we only have doctors completing the placement to ensure the naturalness of the final result. The FUE hair transplant procedure requires excellent surgical skills and natural artistic flair and we encourage you to view our gallery to see how we achieve the natural results which are the hallmark of a great hair transplant. 40. Can I get a full head of hair again? A hair transplant cannot replace the natural density of a full head of hair but using surgical planning and artistic placement we can maximize the appearance of natural density and volume. 41. Are there any risks to my health in having a FUE procedure? The FUE procedure is a very safe and minimally invasive procedure under local anaesthetic. There are very few potential health risks and, as with any surgical procedure, we take full medical precautions at the clinic for patients aged over 45. 42. How long does the procedure take? The duration of the procedure is usually 6-8 hours for a one day session and for a 2 day session 12-16 hours in total - you are welcome to have a break at any time to have a stretch or use the bathroom facilities. The duration of the procedure varies depending upon the number of grafts required and your hair characteristics. 43. Can I read a book? Yes this is possible at the implantation stage of the procedure but we advise listening to music via your phone, watching movies, documentaries on one of our ipads or TV as it can be more comfortable due to the need to change head positions during the procedure. 44. What about lunch? We provide a range of lunch options for you at the clinic and if you have any special dietary requirements please email us 7 days prior to your procedure to ensure any special foods can be organized for you. Please inform us of any food allergies and previous reactions to any food types. 7
45. How many grafts will be transplanted? Throughout the procedure we will update you regarding the number of grafts being transplanted and surgical progress. You re welcome to ask questions regarding your progress at any time. At the lunch break you re welcome to view your grafts and follicle quality to help you understand the process. At the end of the procedure we will give you a summary detailing the graft numbers and exact hair count for your procedure. 46. Can I have the procedure if I have needle phobia? Yes this is possible and it is important you inform us so that we can prepare and ensure any needles or injections are placed out of view during your procedure. Needle phobia is very common and it is important you inform us so we can prepare the medical team to make adjustments to make the procedure easier for you. 47. What should I wear? We would advise you wear loose, comfortable clothes. You are welcome to bring a change of clothing. Generous fitting trousers and tracksuit bottoms with thick socks are recommended. It is important to wear a wide neck top or vest so it is easier to remove after the procedure or a button up shirt. We will provide you with a new baseball cap after the procedure. 48. When can I go back to work? We advise 7-14 days depending on the size of the procedure and individual healing characteristics. 49. What aftercare regime is required? You will be advised of your personalized after care program which will involve taking a 4 day course of antibiotics to ensure against infection and some medications to avoid post-operative swelling, optional. All medications required, including a special shampoo, are prepared and dispensed with full instructions in an after care package which you will be given to take home with you after your procedure. 50. When can I swim after the procedure? We advise no swimming for 14 days after the procedure especially in swimming pools as the chlorine content varies greatly depending on location. 51. When can I drink alcohol? We would advise that you avoid alcohol consumption for 7 days after your procedure. It is important you avoid alcohol the day after treatment as a minimum requirement. 8
52. Can I go on holiday after the procedure? Yes, we advise rest and recuperation for a week ideally. Please ensure you follow the aftercare directions and avoid being in direct sunlight for 14 days following the procedure. 53. How long before I can sunbathe? Do not expose your head to strong direct sunlight or rain for the first 14 days following the procedure. We recommend you wear a hat or cap when going out in direct sunlight for two weeks post procedure. Please ensure you also take steps to avoid sunburn on the head for two months post procedure. 54. When can I wear a motorbike helmet? We would advise you wait 7 days following the procedure to resume wearing protective headwear for activities like Motorcycling and Skiing. RUBENHAIR BALTICS Hair transplant and skin health clinic Republikas laukums 3, LV-1010 Riga, Latvia e-mail: info@rubenhair.eu, phone: +371 9