Needle-Free & Painless Hair Transplant Procedures without Compromising Comfort!

Before extracting hair follicles from the donor area for the transplantation process, local anaesthesia is applied. Using needle free injectors, the anaesthetic agents are applied into deeper layers of the skin by using pressure to transport the active substance. Needle-free injectors require a shorter duration for anaesthetic to take effect. For this reason, patients feel more comfortable when anaesthetic agents are administered. Individuals who have fear of injection-related pain and therefore hesitate on having a hair transplant can readily undergo an operation now thanks to this new application of local anaesthesia.

The Process of Hair Transplantation

Every technique used in hair transplantation shares basic principles. These principles are:

• Harvesting hair follicles
  • FUT: Harvesting by surgically excising a strip of hair-bearing skin
  • FUE: Individually removing each follicular unit
• Creating incisions
• Transplanting hair follicles

Harvesting Hair Follicles

The FUE technique ensures a significant aesthetic success during the process of harvesting the hair follicles. It is this innovation that has made FUE popular and the preferred method over FUT.

The FUT technique involves removing a small strip of tissue from the back of the head and extracting the individual follicular units from this strip, whereas in FUE, each follicular unit is individually taken directly from the scalp through small circular incisions. By using this method, the risk of injury is eliminated.

Depending on the length of each follicular unit it is important to utilize needles that have a diameter of 0.7mm to 0.9mm or if the follicular unit grafts contain 3-4-5 hair needles with a diameter of 0.1 mm should be used. The sharpness of the needle as it is for single-use can have a considerable impact on the hair transplant result.

Another important factor is to extract hair follicles with precise accuracy to avoid any follicular damage. For example; if the person who is having a hair transplant has very curly hair, by using a curved punch called u-graft during the process of extracting follicular units, the risk of follicular damage can be eliminated. All of these elements are refinements planned by the doctor prior to the operation, which is tailored specifically to suit each patient.

Recipient Site Preparation

In the classic FUE technique, the incisions are created by utilizing steel blades. With these slit blades, the incisions are created with precise accuracy, considering the natural direction of hair growth. This allows the transplanted grafts to grow out in a natural direction.

Transplanting Hair Follicles

The final stage, which is transplanting the hair follicles, is the process of transplanting the follicles one at a time at an angle of 40-45 degrees, within the incisions that have been created at directions that enable accurate placement. All three phases have certain specific technicalities and the most important technicality within all stages is certainly an experience.

FUE is a hair transplant technique that doesn’t leave any marks or requires any stitches. FUE hair transplant is performed using sapphire blades; a method that is regarded as the advanced version of Follicular Unit Extraction also known as FUE technique is conducted.

Hair Transplant Surgery Requirements

• Individuals aged between 20 and 60 years can undergo a hair transplant procedure.
• The patient who will undergo a hair transplant surgery will need 3 days for pre-operative preparation, and for hair transplant recovery.
• Although the hair transplant duration varies according to the number of grafts that will be transplanted, it usually takes about 6 to 8 hours.
• In order to respond to possible complications, the operation must be conducted in a fully-equipped clinic.
• A hair transplant procedure is performed with a doctor and at least 3 medical technicians.
• It may take around 6 to 18 months to see the final outcome of hair growth. Starting from the day following the operation, the patient can expect to see hair growth until the 18th month.

7 Stages of the Hair Transplantation Process

1. Consultation: This is the stage where the doctor develops a patient operation plan and creates a hairline design.
2. Preparation: This stage incorporates the processes of sterilizing the operation site and the application of local anaesthetics.
3. Extraction: The process of extracting hair grafts from the donor area of the patient.
4. Recipient Site Creation: This is the process of creating recipient sites by following the direction of the existing terminal hairs.
5. Transplantation: This is the process of placing the grafts in recipient sites at right angles to hair direction.
6. Postoperative Processes: This stage incorporates the processes of wound-dressing for the transplanted site and PRP Therapy to speed up the healing process of the operation site.
7. Postoperative Care & Hair Wash: This is the washing process that is to be carried out for 15 days post-surgery. Both the donor and the transplanted area will be sensitive during this period, so it is important to carry out the washing process with extra care.

The advantages of the FUE technique

• Hair transplantation result in a more natural-looking and denser appearance.
• A hair transplant is a permanent solution for treating moderate to severe hair loss.
• It is a comfortable technique that is designed to reassure patients with the least amount of discomfort, leaving no external scars after the procedure.
• FUE hair transplant technique offers patients faster recovery times; they can conveniently return to their daily routine and are able to travel one day after the procedure.
• With the right operation plan, no damage will be caused to the donor area even after multiple operations.
• 98% of the transplanted grafts will grow as normal hair.

Hair Transplantation with The LOOOK

The LOOOK has been helping hair transplant procedures and offered hair loss treatments for patients around the world. The LOOOK offers a high level of specialisation and expertise in the field of hair restoration. Our surgeons have performed hair transplant procedures for people from different countries.

Hair transplant operations should only be conducted by specialist doctors. Patients may have different health conditions resulting in different reasons for their hair loss, at The LOOOK we tailor our treatment plans to suit our patient's individual needs.

Artistry

For hair transplant success and natural looking hair transplantation results, the hairline design should be natural and compatible with the patient’s facial shape and appearance. This requires experience and an aesthetic understanding something that we take very seriously at The LOOOK.

Understanding the Patient

Before you undergo a hair transplant you will require a medical examination. At this stage, it is important for our doctor to be made aware of any pre-existing health conditions you may have. This will allow the doctor to conduct a needs analysis and develop a good operation plan for you. At The LOOOK, we always act in accordance with these principles.

Other useful information

For individuals experiencing hair loss, a hair transplant can be aided by using hair follicles from other areas of the body. For example, if the donor hair is taken from the back of the head and is not sufficient to cover all areas of baldness, the chance of a successful hair transplant is unlikely. For this reason, to be able to perform a more successful hair transplant operation, using grafts from different parts of the patient’s body can help to deliver great results.

Other hair transplantation techniques we offer:

A-Sapphire FUE Hair Transplant

What is FUE Hair Transplant Performed with Sapphire Blades?

The increase in technological advancements have paved the way for the development of new hair replacement surgery techniques as well as hair loss treatments. Hair transplantation has progressed and evolved dramatically over the years, transforming into a well-established and minimally invasive painless hair transplant procedure.

The FUE method is considered one of the most modern and commonly used hair transplant techniques, ensures a natural-looking result, has carried its success one step further through the utilization of special devices with sapphire blades (Sapphire Fue Hair Transplant)

Needle-Free & Painless Hair Transplant Procedures without Compromising Comfort!

In hair transplantation, before extracting the hair follicles from the donor area and creating the recipient sites for the transplantation process, local anaesthesia is applied to the relevant areas. It takes more time for the anaesthetic to take effect when an anaesthetic solution is injected into the scalp with needles. The unpleasant sensation experienced during the injection of local anaesthetics can naturally cause discomfort to patients.

At The LOOOK, we perform a no-needle hair transplant operation using needle-free injectors which are no way near as painful as using needles. These special injectors administer the anaesthetic into deeper layers of the skin by using pressure to transport the active substance.

Needle-free injectors require a shorter duration for the anaesthesia to take effect when compared with conventional needle-syringe systems. For this reason, patients feel more comfortable. Individuals that have fear of injection-related pain and therefore hesitate on having a hair transplant can readily undergo FUE hair transplant thanks to a new application of local anaesthesia.

Sapphire FUE versus Classic FUE

The difference between Sapphire FUE and Classic FUE is the opening of micro-channels. FUE, which is conducted by using blades made from a precious gemstone called sapphire is defined as the utilization of special sapphire blades instead of steel blades during the process of creating incisions within the recipient site.

The blades are designed to minimize scab formation and speed up the recovery process by opening smaller microchannels within the recipient site for transplantation. FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) is conducted with sapphire blades after the patient is administered local anaesthesia, hair follicles are extracted one by one from the donor area by the utilization of a micro motor with micro punches in sizes of 0.6 – 0.7 mm to 0.8 mm diameters.

With the FUE method, the extracted hair follicles are transplanted into the incisions that have been created. These channels have a major influence on the density, angle and direction of hair growth, which are the determinants of obtaining a natural appearance.

For this reason, the opening of the channels is considered to be the most important process for obtaining successful FUE results. The best possible way to open micro channels can now be achieved through the utilization of sapphire blades, hair follicles are then transplanted into these channels. The small incisions, which are at the same length of hair follicles, are created using sharp, smooth and durable sapphire blades varying in sizes of 1.0 -1.3 to 1.5 mm. As a result, more channels can be opened, enabling the hair follicles to be transplanted closer to each other.

Some hair transplant clinics claim that they can transplant 65 to 70 follicular units per square centimetre at which would provide the patient with natural-looking and dense hair. Neither sapphire blades nor steel blades can make it possible to obtain such high graft density.

In order to create a natural-looking appearance, hair follicles must be transplanted, taking into account the accurate angle and direction of hair growth. If 65 to 70 follicular units per square centimetre were to be transplanted, it would be impossible to achieve a natural outcome, because creating incisions in alignment with the proper growth direction of the hair follicles would be prevented by such density.

The natural angle of hair growth is 40 to 45 degrees. If hair follicles are transplanted perpendicular to the scalp, at the cost of obtaining density, this will create a pluggy look with unnatural results.

The advantages of FUE Performed with Sapphire Blades in comparison with steel blades

Owing to its qualities such as a smooth surface with antibacterial properties, hardness, sharpness and durability, when using sapphire blades for the process of opening microchannels, vibration will be reduced thus, the risk of complications such as trauma and scalp, tissue damage is also reduced.

In comparison with steel blades; FUE performed with sapphire blades enables more dense transplantation, which makes it possible for individuals with advanced hair loss to undergo a hair transplant procedure. Using sapphire blades enables to achieve more density thus, creating a more natural-looking appearance.

In comparison with steel blades, sapphire blades allow the practitioner to inject lesser tumescence-a special fluid to lift the skin from the bone- prior to making incisions. As a result, fluid retention experienced after the surgery will be reduced thus making the post-operative phase more comfortable for the patient.

As incisions are created for the transplantation process are smaller, tissue recovery will be faster in comparison with using steel blades, but most importantly the bonded skin will have a smooth surface. As a result of opening the channels at the same length of hair follicles, it is not possible for the follicles to become dislodged and their angle alignment to be altered after the transplantation process.

When a method is well-known and generally accepted, the following phase that people tend to expect from the method is to deliver ‘perfection driven by quality’. Over time hair transplants also followed a similar path and have advanced to an improved state, undergoing the necessary transformation to finally achieve the desired look.

The FUE technique with sapphire blades, which is conducted at The LOOOK, offers natural, successful and aesthetically pleasing results. If you would like to receive more information on FUE with sapphire blades or ask for a consultation, you can always contact us.

B-DHI Hair Transplant

THE DHI IMPLANTATION METHOD & CHOI IMPLANTER PEN

Some define DHI hair transplant as the newest method in hair transplantation, some say there is no such technique called DHI, others claim that it is just a marketing gimmick, while a fraction explains the method as; FUE with implanters.

Unlike the FUE method, during the DHI implantation method, site creation and graft implantation are performed simultaneously, i.e. extraction and implantation is combined as part of a one or two-step process. This allows for the embedding of the extracted hair follicles directly into the receipt areas without the need of creating channel incisions in the donor area via utilizing an implanter(Choi) pen that features a hollow needle connected to a tub and plunger device. This is why the DHI procedure is also referred to as the Choi method.

Needle-Free & Painless Hair Transplant Procedures Without Compromising Comfort!

In hair transplantation, before extracting the hair follicles from the donor area and creating the recipient sites for the transplantation process, local anaesthesia is applied to the relevant areas. It takes more time for the anaesthetic to take effect when an anaesthetic solution is injected into the scalp with needles.

The unpleasant sensation experienced during the injection of local anaesthesia naturally causes discomfort for the patients. It is now possible to perform a hair transplant operation with needle-free injectors with almost no pain by utilizing special anaesthetic devices. These special devices deliver the anaesthetic agents into deeper layers of the skin by using pressure to transport the active substance.

Needle-free injectors require a shorter duration for the anaesthetic to take effect when compared with conventional needle-syringe systems. For this reason, patients feel more comfortable when anaesthetic agents are administered via needle-free injectors. The liquid jet system that enables anaesthesia to be administered without needle syringe systems, when compared with needle syringes, results in a wider distribution of the medication and spread evenly in depth. Individuals who have fear of injection-related pain and therefore hesitate on having a hair transplant can readily undergo an operation now thanks to this innovative application of local anaesthetics.

The DHI method procedure

The donor area (usually the nape area) of the patient is shaved, and micro-motor mediated or manually grafts containing single, double, triple or quadruple hair follicles are collected. The collected hair follicles are implanted using a Choi Pen. The biggest difference that differentiates the DHI method from other hair transplantation methods is that, thanks to the Choi Pen, channel opening and hair root placement can be done simultaneously. With the tip of Choi Pen in the plantation area, the canal is opened and the hair root is placed in the canal and the plantation process is completed.

The doctor’s expertise is very important because the DHI hair transplant method is a procedure that requires very special care. During a DHT hair transplant procedure, the surgeon transmits the harvested grafts into the implanter pen. The graft is inserted gently within the hollow needle, which is positioned at the end of the implanter pen.

Subsequently, the needle is inserted at an accurate angle of 40-45 degrees into the scalp, as the incision site is made and then the graft is implanted by pressing down on the plunger. All these parameters, which are necessary for natural results are something that our hair transplant surgeons here at The LOOOK have mastered to a fine art.

Advantages of DHI Technique

Among its advantages indicated by some advantages of hair restoration are as follows;

The reduced time of grafts remaining outside the body, ensure a strong and healthy placement of the grafts, adequate hair follicle survival rates and reduced bleeding during the creation of the recipient area, as well as reduced trauma during graft handling, thus leading to less damage to the blood supply of the implanted area.

The DHI Technique allows for a fast recovery during the postoperative phase, the patient can return back to his/her normal routine quicker. The recipient site does not have to be shaved, as it is a more suitable procedure that enables this condition.

Disadvantages of DHI Technique

On the other hand, the disadvantages in comparison to the FUE method include; The physician and clinic staff are exposed to long-term training period so as to specialize in utilizing this technique. It is generally a more costly procedure when compared to other hair transplantation methods. This method requires more attention as well as accuracy during the procedure.

The Stages of DHI Hair Transplant

After mentioning the highlights of this special technique, we will make one final remark on this topic through a question.

Are all candidates qualified to undergo this hair transplant surgery utilizing the Choi Implanter pen?

With the creation of this method by specialists at the Kyungpook National University in Korea, the Choi Implanter is generally considered the ‘original’ implanter pen device. Experts operating within the field started to conduct research so as to gain an in-depth understanding of this new technique.

According to the results of their studies, they had identified that not all people were ideal candidates for utilizing the Choi implanter pen during the hair transplant surgery.

It was observed that the initial version of the Choi Implanter pen provided better results for Asian patients with hair loss compared to other ethnicities. The experts that studied this phenomenon came to the following conclusion: Asian people’s hair, in general, is distinguished with thick straight hair, and the curly characteristics and thinner diameter of other races make it difficult to be loaded properly into the implanter and place in the scalp, as the main sizes of the needles that were used in the early stages ranged between 0.8 to 0.9 mm.

As a result, this may lead to an inappropriate bend in the follicle, incorrect graft placement and excessive trauma for the follicles. Therefore, not all patients are ideal candidates for the utilization of the Choi implanter pen during their hair transplant surgery.

In opposition to the proposed findings, some physicians disagreed with this statement, indicating that with increased training and experience with the Choi implanter pen, offers an effective graft placement with any type of hair characteristic.

With scientific and technical advancements, hair restoration procedures have improved over the past decade, reaching a point where it is now possible to conduct hair transplant utilizing the Choi Implanter pen with any kind of hair characteristics, creating a new era that produces consistent, effective, predictable, safe but most of all natural-looking results.