Hair Transplantation
At Clínica de Dermatologia Grupo Sofia Magina, we perform HAIR TRANSPLANT (commonly known as hair implant), using the FUE technique (Follicular Unit Extraction).
There are basically 2 techniques for harvesting follicles from the donor area: FUT and FUE. In the FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) technique, a strip of scalp is surgically removed from the occipital region (back of the head), leaving a linear scar that is often barely noticeable. In the FUE technique, the follicular units are removed one by one from the donor area, which is usually also the occipital region. The advantages of the FUE technique over the FUT technique are, for example: it allows the patient to wear a short haircut after the transplant, since there is no linear scar; less post-operative pain and a faster recovery; it can be used in individuals with a tendency to form keloid scars; body hair can be harvested if the occipital donor area is not sufficient or adequate; it allows the selection of 3- and 4-hair follicular units, which results in greater coverage (density) in the transplanted area.
The classic FUE technique involves shaving the hair on the donor area, but not on the recipient area. For women, who usually do not want to shave their hair, it is possible to perform the transplant by cutting selected areas, resulting in a minor cosmetic impact, allowing you to return to daily life shortly after the transplant.
If you are considering a hair transplant, you should schedule a Dermatology appointment in advance, preferably with a dermatologist with differentiation in Trichology - a branch of Dermatology dedicated to the study of hair and scalp health. Dr. Filipa Osório is the head of the Hair and Hair Transplant Unit at the Grupo Sofia Magina Dermatology Clinic.
In the vast majority of cases, hair transplantation must be complemented with medical treatment (topical and/or oral), which your dermatologist will prescribe. For example, in baldness (androgenetic alopecia) - one of the most frequent reasons for consultation due to hair loss - medical treatment is fundamental to avoid or delay the worsening of alopecia that usually happens over the years. If hair transplantation is performed and no concomitant medical treatment is carried out, the transplanted hair tends to last, but the native hair in the recipient area (be it the entrances, the top of the head, or the vertex area) tends to keep falling, which will cause the baldness to continue to worsen even after the transplant.
Transplantation is also useful in other alopecia besides baldness, such as properly controlled inflammatory diseases of the scalp, congenital alopecia, neurosurgery scars, burns, or areas subjected to radiotherapy.
At Clínica de Dermatologia Grupo Sofia Magina we also perform EYEBROW AND BEARD TRANSPLANT, correcting defects in these hairy areas.
The incorrect diagnosis can, however, lead to the transplant of alopecia that must not be transplanted without a good prior control of the underlying dermatological disease, or alopecia that must not be transplanted at all. In these cases all the transplanted hair may be lost or there may even be a worsening of the pre-transplant disease state. Consultation with Dermatology before an eventual transplant is therefore fundamental for a correct diagnosis of the problem and an adequate concomitant medical treatment.
