Since “hair” is what has brought us together, we thought it might be interesting to outline some facts about hair, in general, and what exactly happens to a hair when it’s transplanted.

HAIR

Hair follicles begin to develop by the third month of pregnancy.

We are born with approximately 100,000 hair follicles in the scalp.

Hair follicles grow in random groupings throughout the scalp. These groupings are called “follicular units.” Follicular units contain between 1 and 5 hairs. The average number of hairs per follicular unit is 2.3.

Hair is composed of strong structural protein called keratin. This is the same kind of protein that makes up the nails and the outer layer of skin.

Each strand of hair consists of three layers:

1. An innermost layer or medulla which is only present in large thick hairs.
2. The middle layer known as the cortex. The cortex provides strength and both the color and texture of hair.
3. The outermost layer is known as the cuticle. The cuticle is thin and colorless and serves as a protector of the cortex.

The “hair cycle” has three phases:

Each hair follicle goes through these “hair cycles” 10 to 20 times in a lifetime.

Each hair follicle is a unique and complex structure that exhibits a non-synchronized cyclic life cycle.

Hair plays a role in regulating body heat.

TRANSPLANTED HAIR

Hair follicles removed from the “donor area” of the scalp can survive for up to 16 hours outside of the body if proper care is taken. Keeping follicles moist in cool saline solution is the first step. (Hair follicles removed from the body and left out to dry will perish within just 3 to 4 hours.)

Placement of the transplanted hair follicles (“grafts”) is important cosmetically and physiologically:

Depending on hair quality, hairs per follicular unit and follicular density, on average, between 120 and 190 graft incisions can be made per square inch.

The first two days following surgical hair transplantation are the most crucial in terms of recovery. Increased blood pressure can actually “pop” a graft out of the skin. It is important to rest, remain as sedentary as possible and refrain from physical activity.

By the third day following surgery, new capillaries (for blood supply) are attaching themselves and growing into the follicle. Surgical recovery is about 90% complete.

By the fourth day, the “bulb” detaches itself from the hair shaft above. In virtually every case, grafted hairs fall out (shed) within the first week or two.

New skin (re-epithelization) occurs after a few days and will occur faster if the skin is kept moist. Topical Copper Peptide aids significantly in this.

By the ninth day, all remaining scabs can be pulled off without difficulty or risk to the follicle. Hair shafts may be attached to these scabs, and they too will be pulled off. This does not affect the bulb beneath the skin. Cosmetic recovery should be almost complete.

Hair growth from the transplanted follicles generally begins at two-and-a-half to three months. But like any “bell-shaped curve,” there are those who experience regrowth as quickly as one month and those who don’t begin until month four.

By the fifth month, usually 90% to 95% of the hairs have begun to grow. (This percentage can be as low as 70% to 75% if regrowth doesn’t begin until month four.)

Transplanted hairs will generally continue to mature during the course of the first year of growth.

Even after 12 months, we find there can be some new growth still occurring.