The Hair Restoration Consultation
The choice to have a hair transplant is a life-changing decision. Before making your decision, you should be fully aware of the details regarding how the FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) with S.A.F.E. System or SMP (Scalp Micro PigmentatIon) works and what you should expect both during and after the procedure. The first step in this decision is the hair restoration consultation.
Dr. LeBeau, a skilled hair transplant physician, will meet with you during your in-depth and detailed consultation. Dr. LeBeau will find out about your hair loss history and what you would want your hair to look like. He will then survey your hair loss and see how much donor hair you have available for a transplant. Dr. LeBeau will then let you know if you are a good candidate for FUE with S.A.F.E. System and/or SMP and what your treatment options and pricing would be.
Procedure Day
We want your experience on your procedure day to be as comfortable and relaxed as possible. Upon arrival, you will be escorted to a private treatment room where you will meet with Dr. LeBeau to review the plan for your procedure. He will explain exactly what will happen during the procedure day. You will be given a light sedative to relax you. Because of this you will need a ride home from your procedure. Dr. LeBeau administers a local anesthetic with a tiny syringe on your scalp to minimize any discomfort associated with the procedure. Your scalp will be completely numb during the entire procedure; there will be no pain at any point during the procedure. The grafts are then surgically removed from the donor area at the back of your head and transplanted to the chosen sites. Most patients report experiencing minimal, if any discomfort during the procedure. Many patients nap for much of the time the procedure is taking place. You will be given breaks periodically during the procedure and can continue napping, watch a movie or listen to music.
Post procedure
Depending on the number of grafts needed to achieve the desired results, the transplant from start to finish requires three to six hours. After a brief rest period, you are ready to leave the clinic. Due to the mild sedative used during the procedure, please make arrangements for a driver to bring you home.
In the days following the procedure, you will have a small amount of wound care to perform. Instructions will be given to you on your procedure day. The LeBeau Clinic staff will provide you with all the post-procedure items for proper care of your new hair, as well as a call the next day to make sure you are comfortable and answer any questions you may have about the Post-Procedure Instructions that you will be provided with. Minimal downtime is required, and many patients return to work as soon as one or two days following the procedure, and resume full activity, including a fitness and sports regimen within 7 days. The transplanted area will have some redness that will last for 7 to 10 days, depending on your skin. You are able to wear a baseball cap or other hat during this time of redness. In most cases, evidence of the transplant goes undetected by others until months later when they notice your fuller head of hair.
Hair Growth
Unlike some other cosmetic surgery procedures, the results are not immediately apparent. There is a “dormant” phase that occurs as the new hair follicles heal into their new location on your scalp. The transplanted hair starts to grow after approximately 3 months after your procedure. Notably, the new hair does not all grow in at once. Roughly 20% of the new hair will start to grow between month 2 and 4, and about 60% of the new hair will start its growth between month 4 and 8. It varies from patient to patient, but the remainder of the new hair will start growing somewhere between months 8 and 12 following the procedure.
After the procedure, you can color, wash, cut and style your new hair any way you would like. When your hair is fully grown in, you will care for it the same way you care for the rest of your hair.
To find out if Hair Restoration/Transplant is right for you, request a consultation by email or call our office at (850) 308-1738 to make an appointment.
