An 8000-grafts hair transplant is a very difficult and long procedure to perform. Hair transplant surgery using this many hair grafts is extremely rare. Many hair transplant clinics are not equipped to be able to perform an 8000-graft transplant.
In this article, we’ll explore who may have an 8,000 grafts hair transplant procedure, if this type of hair transplantation is possible, alternative treatments to treat significant hair loss, and the costs of hair transplant surgery.
The Norwood Scale helps to classify the stages of male pattern baldness on a scale of 1 to 7. Most males who require 8,000 hair grafts are at Norwood stage 7.
Stage 7 baldness is the most advanced stage of balding, affecting the sides as well as the front and top of the head. Normally, there is only a band of hair remaining around the sides and back of the scalp.
In female pattern hair loss, the Ludwig Scale is used to diagnose the severity of hair loss, with stage 3 being the most severe hair loss stage.
To cover all of the balding scalp areas marked above would mean a potential 8,000 grafts hair transplant would be needed. Having enough grafts to ensure good coverage is often the issue. For this reason, hair transplants above 4,000 grafts are rare.
What is more, hair transplant procedures requiring large numbers of grafts would need to be broken up into multiple sittings for safety reasons and to minimise bleeding. According to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons (ISHRS), only 1% of first hair transplant surgeries require a 4000-grafts hair transplant or more.
Here is an example of a Wimpole Clinic patient requiring a 6,200 graft hair transplant. The patient required three sittings. The first stage required 2,000 grafts, the second stage 1,500 grafts, and the third stage 2,500 grafts.
Most people cannot achieve an 8000-graft transplant due to the limitations in the number of harvestable hair follicles in the donor site. It is not possible to cover a Stage 7 scalp with only an occipital donor site.
Mathematically speaking, a donor area only has around 6,000 follicular units that can be harvested safely. As is clear, the numbers do not add up and in most people, therefore, an 8000-graft hair transplant is not possible. A good hair transplant clinic will ensure that they do not overharvest hair follicles. Extracting too many hair follicles can lead to patchy growth on donor sites as well as unnecessary scarring and can lead to permanent damage to the area.
Recent advancements in FUE hair transplant techniques mean there is now the possibility of extracting body hair from other areas of the body (such as the beard) to create a greater number of grafts. Whilst many would presume that using such hairs would mean the original characteristics and texture of the hairs would remain, recent research has shown that the recipient site affects some characteristics of transplanted hairs including their growth and survival rates. Bearing this in mind, it may be possible to achieve a higher number of grafts.
Besides hair transplantation, there are a variety of treatments available to treat significant hair loss. These include the following:
Combining Finasteride with a hair transplant can help bridge the gap when there are fewer available grafts. This is especially useful for the crown area that covers a very large surface area and needs a great number of grafts.
Separating the transplant procedures may help so that the surgery is not as long or risky. Shorter procedures generally have improved results and greater graft survival. This also allows you to see the hair regrowth process in stages as it progresses.
This procedure can also be used in combination with hair transplants to help fill in gaps in more sparse areas of hair.
Whilst there has been some success in transplanting a high number of grafts in a single FUE mega session, FUT (sometimes called FUSS or strip surgery) is recommended when a significant volume of grafts is needed. FUE is a much more lengthy and arduous process for both the patient and the surgeon to endure. Due to its length, the hair follicles are more likely to become unstable and/or perish during the process. As a result, more than one procedure may be required to achieve the desired result.
FUT is more common with high-volume transplants. Not only is it quicker, but the hair grafts are much more likely to survive. What is more, a FUT does not change the density of the donor site so it means that it is more amenable for a future harvest.
In the UK, the average cost per hair graft is £3.25. This means that an 8000-grafts hair transplant could cost in the region of £26,000.
Find out the costs and coverage of other graft numbers:
Given the rarity of hair transplants with so many grafts, booking a free consultation with an experienced surgeon is the best starting point to determine just how many grafts you need and whether you are a good candidate.
Contact us today to learn more about what we can do to restore your lost hair. Check out our reviews page and gallery to get a better idea of the types of hair transplantation services we can provide to you.
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