Hair grafting is a minimally invasive and safe procedure that allows us to generate important changes in personal appearance and, therefore, in the self-esteem and quality of life of our patients.
There are, however, certain situations and pre-existing conditions that can hinder or complicate the hair graft procedure and, in which, it is necessary to have an excellent preoperative assessment, in order to know the conditions and expectations of the patient and to be able to work on them. with the experience of the surgeon.
One of the best-known challenges in trichology (a branch of dermatology that studies hair) and hair grafting is ulothric hair, commonly known as “afro”, “afro-textured” or “frizzy” hair. This hair has the particularity that its structure, being helical and compact, helps protect the scalp from environmental stressors, acts as a thermal regulator and, additionally, has texture and volume. The challenge presented by ulotheric hair lies in the arrangement of the roots within the scalp, since they are at an acute angle and, additionally, they tend to be curved and open. (FIG.1)
Fig. 1: Internal structure of lisótrico or straight hair (left), cinotrico or wavy (center), and ulótrico or curly (right). EMAZE/GOOGLE IMAGES
When extracting the follicles, it must be done more slowly and with greater precision. Due to their curved nature, these units must be carefully implanted, to replicate the natural growth direction that ulotheric hair takes under normal conditions. For this reason, our specialists in afro-textured hair must evaluate the patient before carrying out the hair graft, to evaluate the quality of the area and establish the best design to carry out an adequate distribution of the same, in order to obtain a natural final result. . After grafting, ulotheric hair requires special care to ensure hydration of the hair strand, since it is prone to dryness. (FIG 2):
Fig.2.: Before (left) and 6 months after hair grafting (right) of a patient with ulotheric hair. ILEANOVO SOLUCIONES CAPILARES
Another frequent reason for consultation in our clinic for complicated cases is advanced grade alopecia, those that, on the Hamilton Norwood scale, are in grades 5, 6 and 7. Before the appearance of the F.U.E/D.H.I technique; guaranteeing good results was difficult, since the yield of the donor area with this technique was often insufficient for the areas to be treated. With the advent of the FUE technique, the possibilities to offer solutions to these patients expanded. (FIG. 3) One of them is the possibility of dividing the graft into two sessions, spaced 6-9 months apart; each one focused on different areas, to generate greater density and, therefore, a better result.
Fig.3: Hamilton-Norwood male alopecia scale, with grades 5, 6, 7 and 8 at the bottom, from right to left. GB/GOOGLE IMAGES SYSTEM.
Another of the alternatives that our team is exploring in Latin America is the Body Hair Transplant (B.H.T), in which follicular units can be taken from the submaxillary region (the well-known shadow of the beard) or from the chest, with in order to improve the extraction performance and improve the appearance and final density of the graft. One of our specialists in Body Hair Transplant must evaluate the case before scheduling the graft, to estimate the performance of the areas and if it is possible to extract from them. (FIG. 4)
Fig.4.: Before (left) and 4 months after hair grafting with B.H.T. ILEANOVO SOLUCIONES CAPILARES
Finally, another group of complicated cases that we have frequently treated is made up of patients who, for some reason, have undergone extraction of part of the bone tissue from the cranial vault (craniectomy) and in whom later, as alopecia progresses, The area has been uncovered and in this area, if there was implantation of prosthetic material (cranioplasty), irregularities in shape can be evidenced. In these cases, as long as there is prosthetic material replacing the removed bone fragment, the graft, with additional precautions, can be performed successfully, helping to improve the image and well-being of patients. (FIG. 5.)
Fig. 5.: Before (left) and 3 months after hair grafting in a patient with craniectomy and cranioplasty. ILEANOVO SOLUCIONES CAPILARES
Our team is highly qualified and trained to support patients who, due to their characteristics, are projected to have a complex hair transplant, in order to provide them with the best advice and the best results. https://ileanovo.com/
