Hair Transplant in Kenya | My Experience
I did a hair transplant here in Kenya the other day and this post will document my experience and progress over time.
For the last 8 years’ I’ve always been either pregnant or breastfeeding with just a couple of months’ breaks in between. And while my body and weight has remained pretty much constant the entire time, the same cannot be said about my hairline. Unfortunately for me, I have had a large forehead for as long as I can remember. So, when I started losing my hair while breastfeeding my first-born daughter, things went south pretty fast.
First things first…
Before I dive into my personal experience, it’s only fair I touch on the basics of hair loss like the types, common causes as well as hair restoration methods available in Kenya other than hair transplant.
Types of Hair Loss
- Involutional alopecia is a natural condition in which more hair follicles go into the resting phase, and the remaining hairs become shorter and fewer in numbers.
- Androgenic alopecia is a genetic condition affecting both men and women. The main characteristic of this condition is a receding hairline and gradual disappearance of hair from the crown and frontal scalp in Men. Women generally experience thinning over the entire scalp, with the most extensive hair loss at the crown.
- Alopecia areata often starts suddenly and causes patchy hair loss in children and young adults. This condition may result in complete baldness (alopecia totalis).
- Alopecia universalis causes all body hair to fall out, including the eyebrows, eyelashes, and pubic hair.
- Trichotillomania is a psychological disorder in which a person pulls out their own hair. It is mostly common in children.
- Telogen effluvium is temporary hair thinning over the scalp that occurs because of changes in the growth cycle of hair. A large number of hairs enter the resting phase at the same time, causing hair shedding and subsequent thinning.
- Scarring alopecias result in permanent loss of hair. It happens when there are scars hidering the ability of the hair to regenerate. Inflammatory skin conditions, and other skin disorders can cause this. Hot combs and hair too tightly woven and pulled can also result in permanent hair loss.
Types of Alopecia
I this video, I explained the different types of alopecia and how to differentiate each one.
Common Cause of Hair loss
It is normal to lose anywhere from 50 to 100 strands of hair each day. This is according to the American Academy of Dermatology. This number can go as high as 250 strand during wash days. Excessive shedding and hair loss (when the hair stopped growing altogether) is however abnormal and needs to be addressed.
If you are concerned by the amount of hair falling out, don’t suffer in silence. You can turn to a trichologist for help. These doctors specialize in diagnosing and treating issues to do with hair. A trichologist can tell you whether you have hair loss or excessive hair shedding. Some people have both.
Family history, harsh hair-care products, diet, immune system overreacts, tight hairstyles, medications and supplements, hormonal changes, stress and radiation are just some of the factor contributing to hair loss. In my case it was a combination of hairstyles and hormonal chances. Afro-kinky hair styles are never a good idea especially on weak and dry hair.
Hair Restoration Methods
Depending on the extent of your hair loss and what’s causing it, there are different methods of hair restorations techniques available at Tia Clinics:
Hair PRP(Platelet-Rich Plasma)
PRP therapy is a three-step medical procedure. Blood is drawn, processed and then injected into the affected area on the scalp. This technique works by triggering and maintaining natural hair growth by increasing the blood supply to the hair follicle.
Microneedling
Microneedling involves the use of a dermi roller with small needles to cause minor skin injuries. This procedure revs up collagen production in the scalp just like it does on the face. It also brings blood flow and nutrients to the scalp and induces new stem cells that support hair growth,
Use of Medication e.g. Minoxidil
Medication such as Minoxidil is used to restore hair. Minoxidil is a topical solution used to stimulate new hair growth in both men and women. It not only increases the density of the hair but its thickness as well.
Hair Transplant
A Hair transplant is basically a surgical technique that removes hair follicles from one part of the scalp (mostly the back), called the ‘donor site’, to a bald or balding part of the scalp known as the ‘recipient site’. Hair transplant is the only option for hair restoration when the root is dead.
If you need to do a hair transplant in Kenya, comment below and I’ll get back to you with details on where you can get the best experience and results.
FUE vs. FUT: What’s The Difference?
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) are two popular methods of Hair5 transplants.
FUE involves extracting small “units” of one to four hairs from the scalp using a medical device. These hairs are then transplanted onto the bald or thinning areas to provide extra thickness.
The advantage of FUE is that it doesn’t produce a large scar. It instead creates hundreds of tiny scars that are much less visible after healing.
FUT, on the other hand, involves removing a strip of skin from the back of the scalp. They extract hairs from this strip in groups of one to four. After extracting the hair follicles, the surgeon can transplant the hairs just like with the FUE method.
The advantage of FUT is that the transplanted hairs have a higher survival rate than hairs transplanted using the FUE method. The downside of FUT, however, is that it creates a larger scar on the back of the scalp that’s visible with some short or shaved haircuts.
FUE Hair Transplantation: Step-by-Step
Hair Transplant in Kenya | Personal Experience
I have tried to regrow my hair for a number of years. Scroll through any Hair group on social media that is worth its salt and you’ll get loads of information on different ways to grow long, healthy hair. While these tips work for some, they are not always helpful to most people. This is especially the case when the damage that’s been done is a too much.
When I secured a spot to have my transplant done in November I was excited. Having done my research before hand, I sort of knew what to expect. My only issue was that I’m currently breastfeeding and the anesthesia and medication would not be good for the baby. We however decided that it would be best to use Nan meanwhile pumping and dumping for at least one week.
My surgery was scheduled on Friday the 20th and we got there at around 8. The procedure started at 8:30 and went all the way to 4:30. There were 2 bathroom breaks as well as a lunch break in between.
They shaved my head before the procedure…
I went in with freshly washed hair. I undid my braids the day before. Since I could not oil the hair before the procedure, it was a bit unruly and difficult to work with. I had no problem letting it all go since there was too much damage to the hairline, anyway. This is not normally the case. Only the donor site at the back is shaved and if your hair is long enough, it should be able to cover the shaved part until it grows back.
After the administration of the anesthesia which was the only painful part of the whole process, they used a medical device to extract hair grafts from the back of the head. The technician then inserted these grafts into small holes made along my hairline. They then dressed the donor area with a gauze.
Day 2 After the Hair Transplant in Kenya
I expected to wake up with a lot of pain after the anesthesia had worn off. Surprisingly, I felt nothing at all. It is Saturday and I’ll be going back in the evening to have the dressing on my donor area removed. I have medication that I will be taking for the next five days among them an anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and a painkiller.
I also have a solution to keep spraying on my scalp that has self cleaning properties.
Day 3 After Hair Transplant in Kenya
Today is Sunday and I’ll not be going back to the clinic. I feel fine apart from a little soreness at the back of my head (donor area). I’m starting to feel a little itchy on the recipient area. Spraying my scalp helps with the itch and relieves the soreness I feel at the back
Day 4 After the Hair Transplant in Kenya
Today’s day 4 after the transplant. I accidentally scratched the recipient area last night and woke up panicked thinking I had pulled out the grafts. I’m happy this was not the case.
The donor area still feels a bit sore. The front part feels stubby and I can already see some hairs coming out.
I’ll be going back to the clinic today for check-up. Basically I’ll go back everyday this week.
For facelift procedures and hair transplant in Kenya, contact Tia Clinics to book a consultation.
Video of the First Week of Hair Transplant in Kenya
Week 2 After Hair Transplant in Kenya
Today is day 14 after my hair transplant. After hair transplant, crust like dead tissues known as scabs form over each transplanted hair graft. These normally fall off 7 to 10 days post transplant. I started washing my recipient area one week after the transplant. The scabs started falling off on day 8 and they were all gone by day 10. Some scabs came off along with some hairs. What was left is some very fine hairs that I feel have grown in the last 4 days.
Transplanted hair normally falls off 2-4 weeks after transplant as it enters the Telogen phase. You should expect new hair growth 3 to 5 months later as the hair enters the Anagen stage.
As to what I am feeling right now, I’m still healing and I can only feel minimal pain when I firmly press the donor area at the back. As I heal, the itching has become more frequent especially at the back. This has been made easier by the fact that I can now touch my scalp since I no longer have any open sores.
Fourth Month Update
Eighth Month Update
Hair Transplant in Kenya FAQs
Here are some of the questions I keep getting on this;
What is the Hair Transplant Cost in Kenya?
The cost of the hair transplant depends on the extent of your hair loss. In a nut shell, it could set you back anywhere between 100 and 120 shillings a graft. Depending on the number of grafts you’ll need, you are looking to spend anywhere between 100K and 500K.
Is Hair Transplant Procedure Painful?
The pain level is moderate since the procedure is done under local anesthesia.
How long does a Hair transplant procedure take?
Hair transplant is a labour intensive procedure. It takes 1-2 days, 6-7 hours each day.
Are hair transplant results permanent?
Yes. They are.
How long is the recovery period after a hair transplant procedure?
Recovery can take anywhere between 2 and 3 weeks.
How long before I get good Results?
Most patients see results 6 to 9 months after the surgery. It takes 12 months for some people.
I see you shaved your head. Do I have to Shave mine?
No. I only shaved because I want it all to grow together. They only shave the areas being worked on and if your hair is long enough, it’ll be easy to hide these parts.
Are suffering from hair loss? What methods have you tried to restore your hair and did it work? Would you consider a hair transplant? Let us discuss in the comments section.
