Hair transplant is frequently preferred by people who experience intense hair loss and have sparse hair. Turkey is quite popular worldwide in terms of hair transplant. It attracts tourists’ attention with successful results and more affordable prices. Of course, there are other reasons why hair transplant is preferred so much in Turkey; we can say these are experienced doctors and quality service. In addition, tourists who come for treatment also have the opportunity to visit Turkey. Some hair transplant centers offer special packages. They make things easier for patients by making arrangements such as tickets and hotels within the scope of treatment.
There are some terms that are frequently encountered by people who are considering having hair transplant and doing research on this subject. One of them is the number of grafts for hair transplantation.
In hair transplant in Turkey, the number of grafts is important for a healthy, natural and dense hair appearance. The correct analysis and careful placement of this by experts affects the results.
Let’s examine together what is a graft, its importance and ideal graft calculation methods:
What is a Graft and Why is it Important?
A graft, which is frequently encountered in hair transplant, means root. In other words, it is the hair roots to be transplanted. One piece can contain 1 to 4 hair roots. There are 4 types; single, double, triple and quadruple. It affects the density of the hair.
The number of grafts for hair transplant varies from person to person, depending on the size of the area and the targeted density, and the area to be taken is evaluated by the specialist physician and team before the procedure.
- Grafts are very important for a healthy and natural hair appearance in hair transplant. We can explain their importance as follows;
- Planting in sufficient numbers and in the right places affects the natural and dense growth of the hair.
- Being of high quality and healthy is very effective on the success of hair transplant.
- It should be worked on very carefully, any damage to the graft causes the roots to die and the hair transplant fails.
- Protecting the donor area is also important for the health of the hair in the area.
The number of grafts for hair transplant is the basic building block, it directly affects the success of the treatment. Therefore, it is important for people considering this treatment to choose an experienced and expert surgeon.
Factors Affecting the Number of Grafts
The number of grafts varies from person to person. It affects the type of hair loss, its size, the person’s expectations and hair structure.
Other affecting factors;
1- Level and Area of Hair Loss: The more widespread and severe the hair loss, the more grafts needed. A smaller number will be sufficient for mild hair loss.
- Thick hair looks denser with a smaller number of grafts. Fine hair will need a larger number of grafts for hair transplant. Again, since curly hair looks denser, it can have a denser appearance with fewer grafts than straight hair.
- The patient’s density expectation also affects.
2- Age and Genetic Structure: If the person is young, the possibility of shedding as they age should be considered. People with genetic hair loss tendencies may require more grafts.
3-Donor area: Hair quality and density also affect the number of grafts. If the hair in the donor area is denser, the success rate increases.
4-Number of Grafts: There are usually 1-4 hairs in a graft. More is an advantage for a denser appearance.
5-Hair Transplant Technique: The number of grafts varies depending on the method preferred for hair transplant. While fewer grafts are sufficient for some techniques, more grafts are needed for those for large areas.
- The donor area in hair transplant is usually the back of the head or above the ear. Although the hair in these areas is denser and more resistant to loss, other areas can be preferred when the number of grafts in these areas is insufficient. These areas can be the chest, beard and legs.
Graft Calculation Methods
If you are considering having a hair transplant in Turkey, you should definitely calculate your hair graft. Calculations are generally made by experts. It varies according to the degree of hair loss, the size of the area to be transplanted and the targeted image. Some methods for calculating grafts:
- First, the head is examined in detail and the areas where there is no hair are checked. The size of the loss area is measured in cm2. For a natural hair appearance, the hair density should be approximately 40-60 hairs per cm2. However, this number may increase or decrease depending on the person’s expectations.
- Norwood scale is a widely used system that determines the stages of hair loss. It is used to determine the severity and the number needed.
- Norwood 2-3: 800-1200 grafts
- Norwood 3-4: 1200-1600 grafts
- Norwood 4-5: 1600-2400 grafts
- Norwood 5-6: 2400-3000 grafts
- Norwood 6-7: 3000+ grafts
- Although hair transplant is mostly preferred by men, it can also be a big problem for women. For women, the Ludwig method is generally used to check the level of hair loss and the number of grafts needed. It is determined according to the width of the hair loss area and the density expectation.
•Ludwig Type I: 1000-1500 grafts
•Ludwig Type II: 1500-2000 grafts
- Ludwig Type III: 2000-2500 grafts
- Analyzing the donor area helps determine hair density and the number of grafts to be taken.
- With advanced hair analysis systems, evaluation is easily made by looking at the condition of the hair and donor area.
- The average number of grafts needed for hair transplant is as follows;
1000-2000 grafts: For regional hair loss, it will be sufficient for small areas (forehead line, thinned areas).
2000-4000 grafts: It can be preferred for those experiencing moderate hair loss. Fewer grafts are not enough.
4000+ grafts: Ideal for intense hair loss and large thinning areas.
Differences in Graft Calculation in FUE and DHI Methods
The Fue method is the placement of grafts taken from the donor area with special tipped devices under local anesthesia, according to the hair growth angle, to the hairless area. DHI, on the other hand, is the addition of hair follicles placed at the tip of the pen to the appropriate area. No incision is required.
FUE and DHI methods are actually similar. However, there are minor differences in the application of the procedure and the determination of the number of grafts.
- In the FUE technique, grafts are collected one by one, while in the DHI method, grafts are planted immediately after they are collected and are done at the same time as the channels are opened. For this reason, it is important for the success of the procedure that the transplant is carried out without wasting time after the grafts are collected.
- In the FUE method, there is a possibility of taking more grafts from the donor area. Between 2000-5000 grafts can be transplanted. In the DHI method, it is preferred for more regional hair loss, therefore, the procedure is performed with a lower number of grafts. This number can usually be between 1000 and 3000.
Importance of the Number of Grafts for the Target Result
The number of grafts is very important for the targeted result. While a small number of grafts prevents reaching the targeted image and causes a sparse hair appearance, a large number of grafts causes an unnatural and dense appearance, while sparseness occurs in the donor area and can cause an undesirable image. Generally, 20-30 grafts per square centimeter can be accepted as the ideal number.
Although it varies from person to person, generally 4000-6000 grafts are needed for a successful hair transplant. This number varies according to the person’s hair structure and expectations.
The number, quality and correct extraction and placement of grafts in hair transplant affect the success of the procedure. A sufficient number of hair transplants performed with the right techniques will make the patient happy and last for many years.