If you had one hair restoration procedure already, but the degree of volume or density of hair shafts has you concerned; perhaps wondering ‘Is there a second procedure available?’ The short answer is, Yes It is common for people to undergo more than one surgical intervention related to the restoration of the hairline and can have multiple hair transplants. However, as with all medical procedures, there are many aspects of these decisions that require additional evaluation and careful consideration before making a final choice.
Let us provide a brief overview of this topic so that you can feel comfortable making your decision regarding the best approach to achieving your hair goals and maintaining good health throughout the process.
Why Would Someone Need More Than One Hair Transplant?
A person may want to have a second or third surgery after their first hair transplant for many reasons. Some reasons for wanting to do this include:
- The first surgery resulted in less than the patient was hoping for regarding density of their transplanted hair
- The person may have experienced shock loss from the first surgery in an area that was previously filled with growing hair
- There are now areas on the head without growth that were originally there during the first surgery and have developed since then due to hair loss.
These are just some of the common reasons people choose to have additional surgeries. In addition, most patients will require more than one surgery because it is not possible to harvest a single full head of hair from the donor area and also due to limitations on how many graft can safely be transplanted during each session without causing damage to the donor area.
Is It Safe to Have Multiple Hair Transplants?
To be safe — as long as there is sufficient available donor hair and the donor sites are completely healed from the original hair regrowth procedure.
The main issue surrounding repeat hair transplants relates to the availability of donor follicles. Donor follicles are generally taken from the back of the head and/or sides of the head, areas that have a natural resistance to DHT (the hormone responsible for causing hair loss). Unfortunately, once these donor follicles are removed, they cannot be grown back. If the donor area has become over-harvested or thinned out, the quality of results for the next surgical session may not be as good as those obtained previously.
This is why it is so important to select the best hair transplant doctor in Delhi or your area from the initial consultation and subsequent hair restoration procedure. A qualified surgeon will understand how to properly utilize the donor grafts to ensure future procedures have the potential to be conducted.
How Long Should You Wait Between Sessions?
Surgeons generally advise patients to wait a minimum of one year after their first hair transplant before having a second. This period is necessary to allow for both the completion of the full growth of the transplanted hair as well as the complete healing of the donor site.
If a second session is performed too soon, it could:
- result in damage to the originally transplanted hair follicles
- interfere with the healing process for the scalp
- create uneven results that may be difficult to fix later on.
It is important to be patient during the process. The amount of time required for the hair to grow following a transplant varies from person to person. The average person can expect about 6-9 months before seeing any visible results, and about one year for their hair to reach its maximum length.
What Are the Factors That Decide If You Can Have Another Transplant?
Prior to proceeding with a second or third procedure, the surgeon will assess the following items:
- Availability of Donor Hair This is the primary consideration. If the donor area has healthy hair (dense), and enough viable hairs exist to take additional grafts from, then additional grafts can be removed. If the donor has been over-harvested, then options will be limited.
- Condition of the Scalp Prior to harvesting your hair from your scalp, your scalp should be free of excessive scarring and inflammation. Your scalp should also be free of any complications resulting from previous surgeries.
- Extent of Hair Loss You will need to compare your hair loss from when you had your last hair transplant until this time. Detailed mapping will assist in determining how many grafts will be needed and if the donor area can support the necessary graft count.
- Overall, Health Any health conditions; such as uncontrolled diabetes, autoimmune disorders, or infections, may result in you having a poor response to any surgical procedure.
Can Non-Surgical Treatments Support Multiple Transplants?
Yes, there are actually doctors that will advise you to combine surgery and nonsurgical options whenever possible so as to maximize your results from stage to stage.
The recently developed Growth Factor Concentrate (GFC) therapy has been shown to work effectively when used prior to or following surgical intervention and the GFC hair treatment success rate speaks for itself with a large percentage of patients reporting increased hair density, reduced hair loss and improved scalp health with the use of it.
The GFC therapy uses your body’s own growth factors to increase the activity of dormant follicles and strengthen the existing hairs in the recipient area.
In addition to GFC therapy, there are other nonsurgical methods of treatment like the use of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) or Regenera Activa that can be used in conjunction with other treatments to provide continued benefits to the overall health of your hair.
What Is the Best Approach for Long-Term Hair Restoration?
There are many people seeking a hair regrowth solution in India for regrowing their hair that isn’t a one-time procedure. A personalised phased plan that incorporates generalised alternatives and surgical solutions to enter the area through multiple ways is the best way. The best clinics will have a plan for treatment over multiple sessions. For example:
- They may have planned for multiple staged sessions, with the emphasis on conserving as many donor hairs as possible.
- There may be alternative therapies, such as GFC, PRP and/or Regenera Activa that can be administered between sessions of transplantation.
- The clinic may have periodic follow-up visits, and/or re-evaluations of the original phased plan to make any adjustments based on how your hair is currently growing in, as well as to make any changes if you have not had success with it thus far.
- They will prescribe medications, such as Minoxidil and Finasteride (among others), to prevent any further loss of your hair.
The result of this type of methodical and continuous method of re-growing your hair will be far superior than treating each session as an individual one.
Final Thoughts
Firstly, there are many individuals who have experienced progressive hair loss and will benefit from multiple hair transplants as a way to get new and improved hair. The most important thing to remember is to take your time and research about the best transplant surgeon in Delhi according to you carefully, and then schedule the sessions according to the full picture.
Secondly, whether you are looking for your initial hair transplant and or are considering a second one, your best answer will come from an extensive consultation with a qualified physician. Additionally, you will want to inquire about available donor areas, discuss your long-term goals, as well as the possibility of using supplemental procedures or products that can help the final results look more natural and last longer.
Lastly, the hair restoration process is a journey and with assistance from a qualified professional, it can be very enjoyable with permanent, positive results.