Q What can I expect from a hair transplant?
A The best hair transplant surgeons now strive for a completely natural looking hairline – not the uniform neat rows of a few years ago. You should be able to style your hair in a way that flatters your face and takes advantage of your hair’s colour, curl, texture and direction. You may even comb it straight back if you like, however you should note that transplanted hair will be thinner than your original hair.

Q Are transplants the answer for hair loss?
A For centuries, men have rubbed peculiar substances into their scalps, ingested all sorts of “miracle” cures, and subjected themselves to electrical stimulation – all with the hope of growing hair.
Although the introduction of Minoxidil, or Regaine seemed promising, its use has turned out to be of limited value. It does grow hair under certain conditions but the growth is sustained only as long as the person continues the applications. Also the hair that it stimulates is not long terminal hair, but short vellus hair – which is short, fuzzy hair that frequently precedes complete baldness.

A more promising medication is Propecia (finesteride). It is an oral medication, developed under the name Proscar, for enlargement of the prostate. However it was soon discovered that it caused new hair growth in some men. There is a small risk of side effects, and it also appears to sustain growth only as long as you use it. It works better in combination with minoxodil (Regaine).

Our hope is that even if no new hair growth is noted with Rogaine or Propecia, perhaps they will halt or delay the progression of an individual’s baldness. In some cases this could allow us to accept younger patients if their balding can be delayed or reversed.
Although we encourage most of our patients to try these medications, the fact is they are not a panacea. Even if new growth is noted, often it is not enough to make the patient happy.

For most people hair transplants remains the best permanent option available today. We view Propecia not as a threat to the hair transplant surgery business, but as an adjunct allowing the combination to give the best results possible

Q What are the steps in hair transplanting?
A The procedure begins with the careful evaluation of the present hair pattern and a prediction of what the hair pattern will be. Our physicians also study the colour, curl, texture, density and direction of the hair in order to arrive at the best possible design. Some people will be able to have full coverage, while others will simply want to simulate a less advanced stage of baldness.

We will explain the available options and approximate costs.
It is the design phase, which relies upon the surgeon’s artistic and aesthetic judgement. He must decide at this point what design is going to look best and most natural – not only when the patient is 35 years old, but also when he is 45, 55 and 65… perhaps even 85. The surgeon must approach the scalp as an artist addresses his medium, using creativity, illusion, contrast and style as his tools. He must intuitively grasp how to make the smallest amount of transplanted hair create the illusion of the greatest coverage and density, all the while taking into consideration the way the design will look with that particular clients face.

When grafting actually begins, the doctor will administer a mild local anaesthetic to the scalp before collecting viable hair from the client's donor area. He will then insert the grafts into tiny needle holes made in the bald area. Each transplantation session generally takes between 3 to 8 hours to complete. At the end, a bandage is usually unnecessary. Instead, the patient is sent home wearing a baseball cap, or nothing at all.

Q What is Follicular Transplantation and why is the microscope so important?
A Introduction of Follicular Transplantation and the use of the binocular microscope can increase the growth of transplanted hair up to 20%. Hair grows naturally in groups of one to four hairs in each pore. These are called follicular bundles or follicular groups and can be seen with the unaided eye by closely examining the scalp. There you will see naturally occurring, one to four hairs coming from each pore. If this bundle or group of hairs is undisturbed during hair transplantation, it will grow much better than if it is damaged or cut. Use of the binocular microscope in dissecting grafts allows technicians to microscopically observe and dissect each bundle without damage. The work is much more precise, more difficult and more time consuming. Whereas the procedure used to take two to three hours, now it may take up to six or seven hour and requires many more technicians. Because of the increase in technicians, quality control is essential. There are certain checkpoints during the procedure to ensure perfect grafts and precise gentle planting of each graft. Routine and random checks are made of the grafts during microscopic dissection and during microscopic dissection and during planting. There is not a more precise method of graft preparation. We feel the extra effort is well worth the increased hair growth and improved naturalness.

Q Is hair transplant surgery painful?
A Although individual pain thresholds vary, transplant patients generally express surprise at the small amount of discomfort associated with hair transplantation. The client is given a relaxing medicine, which actually makes the experience almost enjoyable in many cases.

Some procedures used in earlier days of the speciality caused more discomfort than those of today. With modern tools and techniques, clients rarely complain of more than a slight tenderness experienced during surgery and for the next few days. If your donor hair is sufficient to meet your goals, and if your expectations can be met safely and practically, our physicians will approve you as a good candidate for hair transplant surgery.

He will then offer any additional information you may need, including financial requirement, in order for you to reach an informed decision.

Q Is hair transplant surgery right for me?
A When you visit the Cellite Clinic, you will have a personal consultation with Dr Judodihardjo. At that time he will evaluate the nature and extent of your baldness pattern, the potential of your remaining hair to yield healthy donor grafts and the likelihood of future hair loss. You can be assured that you will obtain an honest opinion here. If we feel you are a poor candidate (perhaps too young, have too much existing hair or even too bald) you will be told outright.

Q Where will my surgery be performed?
A Hair replacement surgery is performed in the Cellite Clinic. It is considered a very simple and safe operation. The preparatory medications and anaesthetics are safely administered without the need to be in or near a hospital.

Q Can I be assured of confidentiality?
A Confidentiality is your right when you deal with the Cellite Clinic. Although some clients readily agree to the use of their pictures and testimonials, others prefer confidentiality. Their files are maintained in the strictest confidence.

Q What kinds of people choose to have hair replacement surgery?
A Men and women from all occupations who want to look their best choose hair transplant surgery. One thing they all have in common: they know that a good appearance and the self-confidence that goes with it, are important in their professional lives as well as their personal lives.

For them, a more youthful appearance is as important as a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Q How soon will I look presentable?
A The vast majority of clients leave the clinic without a bandage. Frequently a baseball cap is used to hide the area that has been worked on. We will often have the patient keep an antibiotic ointment on the transplanted area to speed healing and reduce the formation of small scabs. Occasionally, there is some redness and swelling for a few days, but it is usually not very noticeable. If you have enough pre-existing hair, you will be able to comb that hair over the transplants to hide them.

Most shampoo their hair the very next day after surgery. After only a week or two, depending on the number and size of your grafts, you will show minimal signs of surgery. Sutures in the donor site are removed in 7-10 days. This can be performed by a local doctor or nurse if you wish.

Q How frequently should I return?
A In general, transplanted hair requires between 4 and 6 months to start growing. You should wait at least that long before returning for additional sessions. Hair transplants used to be a lifetime commitment because the transplants would eventually become obvious as the remaining hair gradually fell out. Now however, most men are not committed to return. Our designs for follicular transplants look perfectly natural even as baldness over the years progresses. That is not to say that most clients do not return for more sessions. Most are so pleased with the results that they do return from time to time to increase the density of their transplanted hair.

Q How do I decide how many grafts to have?
A The number of grafts per session is dependent upon a number of factors: (1) the size of the bald area, (2) the colour of the hair, (3) the density of the hair, (4) texture, (5) curl of the hair, (6) size of the graft, and (7) the desires of the client.

Clients with dark, coarse, dense, straight hair and large bald areas require smaller grafts and larger number of grafts each session. Patients with fine, grey or blonde, curly, not very dense hair, may not require as many grafts or as small sized grafts each session. At the time of your consultation the size and number of grafts will be discussed and our recommendations will be explained. It is very important to understand that although each transplant appears natural, it may take multiple transplants to give you the fullness you desire. The more that you are willing to be transplanted in each session, the fewer the number of sessions that will be necessary to make you completely content.

Q If I have had a bad hair transplant elsewhere, can you help?
A It is unfortunate, but it is a fact that there are people who are dissatisfied with a previous transplant. Although corrections are, at the time, quite challenging we can almost always help. We have become experts at hiding large ‘corn row’ plugs, making the hairline look more natural, and camouflaging scalp reduction or flap scars. The embarrassment of a poor result can almost always be at least partially corrected. Inevitably, after a corrective procedure, we hear the same statement, ‘why didn’t I start here?’

Q What are the possible side effects?
A Hair transplant surgery is the most uniformly successful cosmetic procedure performed today. Medicine however, is not an exact science so not every procedure will work perfectly every time in every client. There are problems and unexpected occurrences that will happen even under ideal circumstances and in the most experienced hands. These generally will not affect the final result, but it is better to know about them before they happen.