In this treatment, a section of the skin from the back of the head along with the roots of the hair is taken. The area from where this strip is taken is then stitched up with sutures. About three strands of hair with the roots are separated. Sometimes, if the need arises, one hair at a time is separated. The separated hair is transplanted in the front portion of the head by making tiny holes.

At a time, about 1,500 hairs are grafted. To separate such a large amount of hair takes a very long time. The operation normally lasts for four hours. This entire procedure is done after anaesthetizing the head. The doctors perform a dressing on the head for about three days. After this there's no need for a dressing. One can shampoo the hair after about five days. The stitches at the back of the head dissolve on their own. After the operation, for about three days, there's a slight heaviness in the head and pain. Medicines are prescribed for this.

Most of the newly transplanted hair in the front normally fall off within six weeks and later grow again after about four months. This newly transplanted hair has a growth rate of approximately 80 per cent.

Often this treatment has to be performed twice in order to fill up the entire bald patch. There should be a time gap of about four months between the two operations. It's common for small boils to appear around the transplanted hair. As time goes by these will disappear.

In comparison with the other forms of cosmetic surgery, the hair that grows with this treatment looks more natural. Earlier when about seven tufts of hair were transplanted at a spot, it looked unnatural and thus this method of about three hairs transplanted at a time was innovated. Even if there's a small patch of hair where there is loss of hair due to burns or an operation or injury this method of surgery can be done.

 FLAP SURGERY

Here, strips of skin and hair from the back and side of the head are taken and replanted in the front. A part of the skin remains attached at the back and the hair too is not separated from the skin. This operation is performed after administering anesthesia to the person or locally to only the head.

In comparison to the earlier operation, this is considered complicated. The stitches required too are more than the earlier one. As a result of this, a thin scar remains in the front portion of the head. And in order to cover this scar, a hair transplant has to be performed around the scar. Also the hair transplanted by this method appears unnatural. Thus, this method is not commonly used today. The cost of this operation is approximately Rs. 30,000.

This surgery can be performed when there has been an injury or burn on the head. It can also be used for other parts of the body. (If there are burns on the face or warts with hair etc.) However we shall furnish the details another time.