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Is Strip FUT permanent? Does it really work?
Transplanted hair behaves in a similar way to the hair from where it was removed. The hair in the donor area is genetically different to the balding hair, in that it doesn’t fall. If the procedure is done correctly and on the right candidate, it will last a lifetime for most people. We simply transfer existing permanent hair to the thinning or balding areas of the scalp. Sometimes, as one gets well into older age, one may experience some hair thinning throughout the donor area (the back and sides). If this happens, then the transplanted hair will follow the same pattern.
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Can anybody have Strip FUT?
Yes. There are some exceptions. Haemophiliacs and people with significant or relevant medical conditions, or those with very poor or no donor area at all are not candidates for surgery. In some cases, although physically possible to have a transplant, the surgeon may advise against it for a variety of reasons, such as being too young, future hair loss considerations or having extremely high expectations. We'll go in further detail if these factors do apply to you.
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Is the procedure painful?
Hair transplants are performed under local anaesthesia. You will experience a slight discomfort-if any- when the anaesthetic is initially applied. Other parts of the procedure are generally pain-free. During the hair transplant procedure, you may choose to watch TV, listen to music, or even to take a nap. Short breaks as well as a longer lunch break are given throughout the day. We'll make sure you're as comfortable as possible. Patients may experience some discomfort for few days after the operation, but that is easily controlled with the supplied medication.
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Does Strip FUT leave scars?
The art of a hair transplant is to conceal the scar. When performed by skilled surgeons, Follicular Unit Hair Transplants will only be detected by close medical examination. The donor site, however, will have a very fine scar hidden by your hair. The trichophytic donor closure is now making donor scars very difficult to detect, even with a very short hair cuts. Generally we recommend a no. 2 haircut as a minimum, because healing and scarring can vary from one indivdual to the other.
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Does it look natural?
Yes. Carefully and skillfully performed Follicular Unit Hair Transplants look very natural. The use of single hair follicular unit grafts, a natural-looking, irregular hairline is achievable. It is almost impossible for a person or even a hairdresser to detect.
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Is there any bandaging or dressing after the procedure?
Not usually. Some individuals tend to require some pressure dressing for few hours after the procedure. This is not usually a common occurrence.
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Will it show that I had surgery? Do I need time off work?
This depends on whether you have sufficient hair to hide the areas operated on. For some people, little or no time off work is required. However, if you do not have sufficient hair to cover, or if you are very concerned about others knowing, then it’s probably best to have your surgery just before a week’s holiday. You will ofcourse, be able to wear a hat immediately after surgery should you wish to.
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When will I notice any growth from my new hair?
New hair growth will only start after three to four months. However, it will take at least six to eight months for the new hair to make any significant difference to your appearance. A full result may take as long as 12 to 14 months to be achieved.
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How many procedures will it take before I achieve what I’m looking for?
To achieve a reasonable density, most people will require one to two procedures per bald area. This is mainly influenced by the degree of hair loss, the extent of future hair loss and ofcourse, the financial and physical ability to undergo further surgeries. Moreover, the donor area of the scalp is a limited resource. We will need to estimate how many grafts are available in your donor area. The aim is to achieve natural results that we’re all happy with.
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Will I regain a full head of hair?
Not literally. We are only redistributing your existing permanent hair to your thin or bald areas. We are not creating new hair, or implanting another person's hair into your head. With extensive baldness, the most important achievement will be to restore frontal scalp hair and the hairline to create a frame around the face. It’s important to remember that hair transplant surgery is about eliminating the bald look rather than restoring the hair that you once had.
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Is age a limiting factor?
There is no upper age limit if a person is in good health. Lower age limit is very much dependent on the degree of hair loss. Generally speaking, it is unwise to consider hair transplant surgery if you’re in your early twenties with a very early stage of hair loss and a family history of significant baldness. By having surgery at this early stage, you could end up having a good short-term result, but an unsatisfactory long-term result. This is why it is extremely important for us to work with a long-term plan in mind. We don’t want you having to chase your bald spots as you grow older.
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Is Strip FUT expensive?
Not when compared to alternative treatments. There is ofcourse a cost involved, but the idea of growing your own hair back makes hair transplants much more cost effective. Moreover, there are no other expenses involved afterwards. For the best estimate of what this procedure might cost, we highly recommend arranging a consultation at our clinic.
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Is there any danger involved?
No. Follicular Unit Hair Transplantation is a minor cosmetic surgery and one of the safest and most popular procedures performed today. It is carried under local anesthesia in our calm and well equipped facility.
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Will I be able to play sport, wash and style my hair or do everyday things that involve my hair following a procedure?
Yes. You will be able to style or dye your hair as normal once you've got your full re-growth. We advise washing your hair soon after surgery (after 24 hours) in order to keep the scalp clean.
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Will someone be following up my progress after surgery?
Yes. For strip FUT procedures, you will be asked to attend our clinic (preferably) 10-12 days after surgery for the removal of stitches from the donor area. If for any reason, clients can’t attend our clinic for that, we will provide you with clearly printed instructions to give to your doctor or nearby health facility for removal.
After that, we usually follow up all of our clients on a 4 monthly basis. This is in order to assess the different phases of hair growth. We do take photographs at each follow up so that we can all see and compare the progress taking place. Should clients find it difficult to come back every 4 months, we can arrange for some sort of online consultation, whereby we can discuss your progress and send us updated photopgraphs of yourself.
