Typical Procedure at Hair Transplant Seattle
We will make every effort to make sure your procedure will be comfortable and pleasant. It will take four to five hours for a 1500 follicular unit session and up to eight hours for a 3000 follicular unit session. A typical procedure we will comfortably guide you through the following steps:
- Dr. Goertz will review the surgical plan with you design and draw in a new hairline. Then high resolution “Before” digital photographs will be taken.
- You will be given an antibiotic to help prevent infection and a mild oral sedative. The oral sedative is not mandatory, but we recommend it.
- You will enter the surgical suite.
- We will check your vital signs; blood pressure, heart rate and breathing rate. All you need to do is sit and relax. You will receive the full attention of our staff.
- The hair at the back of your head is taped up in the back to allow access to the selected area of permanent hair-bearing donor scalp. A thin strip of the permanent hair along the lower back of the scalp is identified and marked for precise excision. This area is numbed (anesthetized) using a very fine 30 gauge needle. Once the scalp is numbed, the surgery is virtually painless as the nerves are blocked.
- After the strip of hair is removed from the back of the scalp, the technicians use a microscope to divide them into the predetermined sizes of grafts containing one to five hairs. They will begin preparing the follicular units (grafts) while Dr. Goertz closes the donor area.
- The skin edges are then sutured together closing the donor area. Only a thin scar remains and is covered by your existing hair. This scar will be barely detectable in a few months and will be completely hidden by your own hair. The scar will not be visible unless you wear your hair extremely short; many hair stylists will not even notice it.
- Preparing the grafts takes 1&1/2 to 2 hours during which time you can relax and watch DVD’s, read or even sleep.
- Your lunch will arrive and you will be able to eat prior to the placing of the grafts.
- Using a very fine 30 gauge needle, the recipient area of the scalp is anesthetized utilizing a nerve block. The grafts are now ready to be transplanted into the recipient area. Recipient sites are made in the scalp to accept the grafts. We are able to accomplish several thousand hair grafts in one session.
- After the recipient sites are made, two to three surgical technicians begin implanting the grafts. This part of the procedure can last between 2 to 4 hours.
- After all grafts have been completed and checked, the donor and recipient areas are cleaned and the donor area only is bandaged. You will be given a list of post-procedure instructions and medications and they will be reviewed with you. If sedation is used, you must not drive yourself home. It will be necessary to arrange for transportation home prior to arrival at the clinic.
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