Why Does Hair Density Matter For a Hair Transplant?

What Does Hair Density Mean?

Hair density is simply the factor that determines how voluminous your hair looks. It technically means the number of hair strands per square centimeter of your scalp. It matters in a variety of ways including the best hairstyle for your hair, hair products you should choose, and most importantly if you need a hair transplant procedure to correct low hair density. It isn’t necessary to consult a doctor to calculate how many strands you have on your scalp. You can just have a look at the mirror and ask your friends if your hair looks thin or thick. Most people are aware of their hair density is low and they would have better-looking hair if they had a way to restore it.

How to Determine Hair Density

Hair density is one of the factors that determines the whole hair transplant procedure, including the methods and techniques your doctor will use. So your surgeon would like to have a good idea of your hair density before the surgery. Actually, there are approximately 100 hair follicles per square centimeter on the scalp of a healthy adult. However, a patient who wants to restore their hair needs a proper calculation.

However, the number of hair follicles on a person with hair loss issues will be less. A hair density of up to 50-55 hair follicles is considered normal and is not considered to be severe hair loss. So it is your doctor who will decide if you need an aggressive hair restoration treatment such as a hair transplant. If your hair density is less than this number, then you are considered to be a good candidate for a hair transplant procedure.

Your doctor will use a method called trichoscopy to calculate the number of hair strands one by one. It is a method used in diagnosing scalp conditions and enables your doctor to see your scalp. It will magnify your scalp 10-fold to 70-fold so your doctor can easily see abnormalities on your scalp and can count the individual strands.

Phototrichogram is another safe and effective method to calculate hair density. Your doctor can study your hair cycle in detail thanks to this non-invasive and effective technique. It can quantify hair density and hair growth phase one by one on your scalp. It is considered to be the best tool to properly measure hair parameters such as the number of hair, hair length, hair density, and hair growth phase.

Why Does Hair Density Matter for a Hair Transplant?

Hair transplants are performed to increase the hair density on the scalp to provide a fuller head of hair. So if your doctor fails to measure the sufficient amount o hair follicles to cover the bald areas, the air transplant procedure will not yield the expected results. Your doctor should have a good understanding of your actual hair density on the balding areas and the number of hair strands needed to cover these areas. So the hair density is a significant parameter and needs to be calculated correctly for the best results. A hair transplant of approximately 20 hair strands per square centimeter on the balding areas of the scalp will not do much good to the patient. You will still have sparse hair and be unsatisfied with the hair transplant procedure. However, if your surgeon transplants 100 hair strands, then the donor area will not be enough as everybody has a limited amount of donor supply. So the surgeon should transplant an adequate amount of hair follicles to achieve cosmetic improvement and to best satisfy the patient’s needs.