The donor area is the foundation of the hair transplant process. A donor area rich in follicles and dense hair is the primary factor determining whether a hair transplant procedure can be performed for the patient!
Turk Aesthetic in Istanbul comprehensively explains the methods for selecting the suitable area and its importance in the hair transplant process, so be sure to read the article to the end!
All hair transplant procedures, regardless of the technique used—whether FUE, Choi Pen, or even Sapphire technique, rely almost entirely on the donor area.
What is the donor area?
Regardless of the hair transplant technique, the process involves extracting follicles from an area referred to as the donor area and placing those follicles in the balding or thinning hair area.
Therefore, the common factor among all hair transplant techniques is the availability of an area with dense hair that can provide follicles for extraction.
Where is it located in the body?
It is typically at the back of the head and has a large number of hair follicles.
In cases where the follicles in the back of the head are not sufficient to fully cover the balding area, we may use the BHT (Body Hair Transplant) technique, where we look for an additional donor area, such as beard hair, chest hair, or even hair from the arms or legs.
Is the donor area affected after the follicles are extracted?
No, if you choose a clinic with expertise and competence, this area will not be affected after the procedure.
The specialist extracting the follicles takes care of extracting them from various spots to avoid leaving any noticeable trace of follicle extraction.
What if the donor area wasn’t enough?
We begin by extracting from the back of the head. If the number of follicles there is insufficient, we proceed to extract follicles from the beard area.
In the beard area, extraction is done from the lower end to minimize visible effects after the procedure.
If there aren’t enough follicles in the beard, we move to chest hair, arm hair, and leg hair in order.
Disadvantages of other donor areas
Using this technique and extracting follicles from multiple areas can lead to some issues.
Other things to consider
The hair density on the head is different from the rest of the body
Hair does not grow with the same density and texture in all body areas. For example, beard hair is generally denser and coarser than scalp hair, while scalp hair is denser than chest hair, which is typically finer and softer.
Overcoming the problems of different donor areas
- Transplanting follicles from various body areas to the balding area can result in a mix of different follicle types in one spot, potentially giving the transplanted area an unorganized or uneven look.
- The solution in this case is to plant the follicles extracted from the back of the head at the front of the balding area, as this area has the most impact on aesthetics.
- The follicles from the beard and the other areas are then transplanted in the middle, which has a lesser effect on the overall appearance.
The speed of hair growth varies from one area to another
Hair growth rate also varies from one area to another. For instance, beard hair grows faster than scalp hair, while chest, arm, and leg hair grows more slowly.
Therefore, if the doctor has to extract follicles from multiple areas, the patient must trim the transplanted hair regularly to maintain an even appearance.
Taking hair follicles from a donor
- In most cases, using a donor area from another person is not viable.
- The success rate of hair transplantation in this manner is very low because the body typically rejects those follicles as foreign tissue.
- While it may be possible, both individuals must have the same blood type, and the recipient would need to rely on specific medications for the rest of their life to help the body accept the transplanted follicles.
FAQ – the donor area
Is it possible to rely on someone else’s donor area?
So far, such procedures have not proven effective, as the human body typically rejects follicles from an external source. However, research is ongoing, and we hope this may become a viable option.
When will the results of hair transplant appear?
Hair transplant results begin to appear after two months, but full results with complete hair growth are typically achieved about one year after the procedure.
Does the donor area hair grow again?
Yes, hair from this area grows naturally as hair follicles are extracted in specific ways and spaced apart.
Is it normal to feel pain in the donor area after the transplant?
Yes, there will be slight pain in the area after the hair transplant operation, but this pain will fade after several days of the operation.
How long does it take for the donor area to heal after transplantation?
It typically heals within about two weeks. Recovery does not take long, and soon, the scars will fade, and hair will begin to grow naturally.
When can the donor area hair be shaved?
The entire scalp can be shaved after the procedure, but waiting three weeks before shaving is recommended.
What are the causes of swelling in the donor area?
Extraction is a strenuous process for the scalp, so mild swelling in the donor area can sometimes occur. However, this swelling typically disappears a few days after the procedure.
For more details, you can contact Turk Aesthetic via this link.
