You’re probably familiar with Aristotle’s quote, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” This quote and the concept of synergy certainly holds true utilising the Gro micro-transplant technique. Essentially, the parts to a hair transplant include the hair, the hair follicle, the graft, the scalp (and of course the patient and a highly skilled hair restoration expert), however the true result means so much more.
Key Components Of A Hair Transplant
The Hair Follicle
Understanding the hair cycle is important. Firstly, picture a plant. The hair follicle is the pot and the earth in which the plant (the hair) grows. It is in the hair follicle, this small fragile cavity, that your hair originates and grows.
Hair does not grow continuously, neither regularly nor at the same time. They follow a hair cycle, in other words phases that can be longer or shorter depending on the individual.
- Growth phase (anagen)
- Catagen phase (or transition phase)
- Telogen phase (rest), before the hair falls. Then, the hair follicle creates a new hair that replaces it.
The hair follicle is programmed to perform between 25 and 30 cycles, throughout life. When one suffers from baldness (or androgenetic alopecia), the cycles of the hair accelerate. Initially, it is due to the hormones that attack as a poison and accelerate the pace of the growth phase. The hair is forced to go into rest phase (telogen) faster, not leaving the hair follicle enough time to make good quality keratin (what hair is made of).
It is then a vicious circle, the cycles are shorter and shorter, the hair of lesser and lesser quality. In the long run, the cycles are exhausted … and the hair does not grow again.
There may be several hairs in one hair follicle. The average per person being 2.2 hairs. Some people have a higher follicle / hair ratio, others are worse off. During a hair transplant, the hair follicles are extracted and re-implanted.
The Graft
What is a graft? During a hair transplant, the graft corresponds to what will be implanted in the areas that need it, that is, a hair follicle.
Beware! In some methods, multiple follicles (2, 3, 4 hairs in one follicle for example) are sometimes cut to inflate the figures of the intervention: a follicle containing three hairs then becomes 3 grafts … but of poor quality. A way of “selling dreams” (that is, a seemingly high number of grafts) that ultimately has the opposite effect.
Cut apart and manipulated, the hair follicle is traumatised. This has a negative impact on the result of the transplant and the rate of regrowth, with some loss rates as high as 40%. Such a waste!
The race to the number of grafts is not the solution because the careful management of the donor area is essential, especially when suffering from premature baldness.
Hair restoration is a project that must respect your donor hair area, your follicles and adapt on a case by case basis. Above all, it must allow you the option for another transplant if required in the future.
Gro use the Gro micro-transplant technique, the most delicate hair transplant method, meaning no scalpels, no stitches, virtually pain free, no detectable scarring and short recovery time.
Next Steps
Gro are the hair restoration specialists. All procedures are performed by a highly-skilled Gro Doctor. Natural results are guaranteed.
Simply click on one of the buttons below to book a consultation or ask a question. Alternatively, you can call Gro on 1300 787 563.
Also see widows peak treatment, costs and before and afters
For more information, you can visit a Gro clinic in Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne, or Gold Coast or call 1300 787 563.
Related Article: 6 Reasons Why People Go Bald
