Afro Hair Transplant
Afro Hair Transplant
The procedure of an afro hair transplant can be challenging due to the unique characteristics of the afro hair. Its curly nature necessitates excellent care during the harvesting stage. Therefore, it is essential to use specialised punches to extract the grafts carefully without damaging them. The transplant surgeon should also profoundly understand the African sense of hairstyle and the shape and size of the face to create a natural-looking hairline.
Furthermore, the surgeon must take care to preserve the natural curl of the hair during the transplantation process to avoid scarring and ensure that the transplanted hair looks natural.
Black skin is more prone to scarring, and the visibility of FUT scars can concern people with afro-textured hair who prefer to keep it short and cropped. Therefore, the surgeon should take appropriate measures to minimise scarring, such as using advanced techniques like FUE (Follicular Unit Excision).
The advantage of Afro hair is that with the same number of hair grafts, you can get better coverage of the bald areas than straight hair.
In summary, performing an afro hair transplant requires skill, expertise, and specialised techniques to deal with the unique characteristics of hair grafts. Therefore, choosing a qualified and experienced surgeon who can deliver a natural-looking result while minimising the risk of scarring is essential.
Types of afro hair
Afro hair can be classified into three main types – curly, wavy, and straight. Each type has its unique characteristics that require specific care and styling methods.
Curly afro hair is generally dry and prone to fizziness’, making regular conditioning necessary to maintain its health and manageability. Further subcategories within curly afro hair, such as tight coils or looser spirals, may require different products and styling techniques.
Wavy afro hair has a more defined wave pattern, making it easier to style. It tends to be less dry than curly afro hair but requires proper moisture and conditioning to prevent frizz and breakage.
Straight afro hair is the least common type, but it does exist. This hair type is usually less frizzy but can be prone to dryness and brittleness at the ends. In addition, it may require regular moisturising and conditioning to keep it healthy.
Understanding the different types of afro hair and their unique characteristics is essential for proper hair care and styling. In addition, regular conditioning and moisturising are crucial for maintaining healthy afro hair, regardless of its type. At HTG, we work with professionals who can help people with afro hair.
The Challenges of Hair Loss Surgery For Black Patients and African American Hair Transplant Surgeons
Today’s hair transplant methods have come a long way in producing impressively natural-looking coverage. However, conventional approaches do not offer a one-size-fits-all solution for everyone. Their shortcomings are apparent in the case of most black patients.
Strip Surgery For African American Patients
Strip surgery produces a permanent linear scar on the back of the head. To keep this hidden, patients often choose to wear their hair longer. However, most black men prefer to wear short and closely cropped hair. Hair transplant linear scars would easily show through such hairstyles.
Since most black men prefer short, closely cropped hairstyles, strip procedures would not be the best choice for their long-term satisfaction.
Furthermore, many patients of African descent are genetically predisposed to developing keloidal scars. This type of scar tissue is thick, raised, and often more significant than the original size of the wound. According to the Henry Ford Health System, black patients are seven times more likely to form keloid scars on the head and neck.
Conventional FUE For African American Patients
Today’s patients can choose linear scar-free hair transplantation as an alternative to strip surgery. This procedure is also known as Follicular Unit Excision (FUE). Instead of scalpels, the excisions are performed with tiny punches. Conventional devices can avoid the issue of linear scars and the formation of keloids in patients. However, they are still incapable of producing the best success rates for African American hair transplants. The limitations of general FUE punches for this demographic are due to the following reasons:
- 1. Curved-shaped hair follicles
- 2. Thicker dermal layer density
- 3. Stronger anchoring tissue attached to the follicles.
The Issue of Curled Hair Follicles In Black Men and Women
Individuals of African origin have hair follicles with a uniquely curved shape. By comparison, the follicles found in other ethnic groups are straighter. The extent of the hair follicle curl is described in terms of the angle of C. Due to their shape, a more curved hair follicle will be less compatible with general, straight cylindrical punches. And they will be more susceptible to damage by these instruments.
The best success rates for African American hair transplants require using specially designed instruments like the UGraft Zeus.
How Surgeons Can Achieve The Best Success Rates for African American Hair Transplants
Black patients have long been considered a significant challenge for hair restoration surgeons. Although some African Americans can attain desired growth and coverage through acceptably low transection rates, efforts to achieve such outcomes with conventional FUE devices are often hit-or-miss. With the UGraft Zeus, this is no longer the case, as any patients of African descent, regardless of their hair’s curliness or skin characteristic, qualify for a good quality FUE hair transplant finish. The Zeus is the first device to enable this as the first intuitive FUE device and the first device for ALL FUE scenarios that achieve success in all individuals regardless of skin type, race or hair location. It can deliver shaven and unshaven FUE (long hair FUE) using the same Intelligent Punch and Zeus driver for all FUE scenarios. The practitioner needs to refrain from switching punches or acquiring extraordinary skills.
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