Hair loss is a common problem these days. Male or female, young or old, everyone faces the same issues of hair fall worldwide. Hair fall can have various causes, such as hormonal imbalance, weather conditions, certain skin conditions, iron and chlorine content of the water, chemical treatments, and many more.
Taking care of the hair is vital, but a hair transplant is the best treatment if you have hair loss and want a permanent solution. A hair transplant is a medical procedure to restore your hair and give you a youthful look. It also enhances your personality.
A hair transplant is done by doctors and gives you long-term and better results than any other treatment modalities. This article will discuss whether getting a hair transplant in Winter is better.
Hair Transplant Procedure
You can get a hair transplant in a hospital under the guidance of medical professionals. It is a painless procedure, and there are different ways to perform hair transplant surgery. It can be grafting, scalp reduction, flap surgery, or tissue expansion. Let us learn about each one of them.
Grafting
A medical professional finds tiny portions of the scalp with healthy hair. Sometimes they reposition the skin with 10 to 15 hairs or less using a small, round punch. These grafts were formerly known as “hair plugs.” The surgeon can add one to two strands as micro-grafts.
Scalp Reduction
The surgeon removes a tiny patch of the scalp’s hairless skin during this surgery. They pull the neighboring hair-covered skin towards the bald spot. Then, they sew it into position. It is best to treat bald spots on the top and back of the head with a scalp reduction.
Flap Surgery
Three sides of the donor location are sliced invisibly by the surgeon. However, the fourth side is still connected and receiving its original blood flow. The surgeon can cut the flap and elevate it over bald spots with this procedure.
Tissue Expansion
An implant is inserted beneath the scalp by a reconstructive surgeon. They refer to the balloon-like formation as a tissue expander. The expander is gradually inflated over weeks to stretch the skin. The surgeon uses the stretched skin to cover the bald spot in a second treatment.
Is it a Good Idea to Get a Hair Transplant in Winter?
If you plan to get a hair transplant, it is imperative to know the best time to get it done so that it heals and recovers fast. While the internal organs undergo seasonal changes, the facial and hair changes are more prominent.
According to experts, there is no difference in the outcomes of hair transplants performed in the Winter and summer if one follows all the measures recommended by the doctors. Results are influenced more by the transplant surgeon’s expertise and experience than by the time of year.
However, the weather conditions in Winter make the process smoother. As the hair transplant procedure will take some time to heal and requires protection from the sun and warm winds, it is always better to undergo a hair transplant in the cold months. The Winter weather will not cause any harm to the hair.
It will also save you from taking leaves as you can get it done during the winter vacations. It is easy to conceal your hair during healing periods with caps and woolen hats during Winter. You can also avoid work stress because it might hinder hair development and healing.
Benefits of Getting a Hair Transplant in Winter
Preparing yourself for surgery is more important than the time of the year, but getting a hair transplant in Winter has a few extra benefits. Here are a few of its advantages.
- The surgical area will heal more quickly since there is less risk of infection at the transplant site due to sweat or sunburn without the summer sun.
- Your hair will look its finest in time for summer parties, gatherings, and vacations after the transplant, with noticeable improvements in hair thickness and fullness occurring after six months.
- It’s crucial to keep the area spotless and ensure there’s no sweat, dirt, or grime. Your likelihood of perspiring can decrease in cold weather, making this part of recovery less stressful.
- It prevents sunburn as the winter sun is not as intense as summer, and there are fewer chances of infection.
- Patients can heal discretely from their transplant by staying home throughout the holidays. They can wear a hat and go outside if they want to.
- You are also avoiding the two heaviest hair-shedding seasons of the year—Winter and fall—by waiting until your hair has grown out completely.
Hair Transplant Post-Care
A hair transplant will only give you better results if you care for your hair and scalp after the surgery. Post-care is more important for better and long-lasting results as the healing and results will be noticeable only 6 months to 1 year after the surgery. Here are the post-care tips after hair transplant surgery.
- Avoid sunburns as they may hamper the healing of the scalp and hair follicles.
- Keep the surgical area as clean as possible as it prevents secondary infections, and a clean scalp area also improves recovery.
- For the first seven to 10 days, avoid contact sports, heavy lifting, and exercise.
- When going outside after the initial healing phase, use sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15.
- Don’t stress, as it can increase your chances of infection and inflammation.
- For at least 4 weeks after your transplant, avoid dyeing your hair. Chemicals used in hair dyes can harm follicles and are hard on the scalp.
- Avoid wetting your hair for 48 hours after the surgery. Once you resume your hair care routine, try using simple shampoos and conditioners and gently scrub your scalp.
- For 7 days, keep your head elevated as it prevents the risk of swelling along the scalp.
Conclusion
A hair transplant requires proper care, and Winter makes it easy. Getting treatment at the appropriate time is essential as it can affect the healing and recovery of the surgery and might also affect post-op results.
