African American hair transplant is the hair restoration procedure for people of African American descent with their specific hair structure who suffer from hair loss or hair thinning. The black hair restoration procedure is specific due to the unique structure of the hair in this ethnic group.
In this article, we will be talking about this procedure and everything related to that. The key points of this article are:
- AFRICAN AMERICAN PATIENTS HAVE CURLY HAIR WITH TIGHT COILS EVEN UNDER THE SCALP
- POPULAR AFRO HAIRSTYLES, SUCH AS TIGHT BRAIDS AND CORNROWS, CAN CONTRIBUTE GREATLY TO HAIR LOSS IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES AND FEMALES.
- THE NUMBER OF REQUIRED GRAFTS MIGHT BE LESS COMPARED TO PEOPLE WITH STRAIGHT HAIR
- THE TECHNIQUES ARE DIFFERENT WHEN IT COMES TO PROPER HARVESTING AND IMPLANTING CURLY HAIR FOLLICLES
So, without further ado let’s start.
What Is African American Hair Transplant?
African American hair transplantation is a surgical procedure to treat hair loss or thinning for individuals of African or Caribbean descent with Afro-textured hair, both males and females.
The surgery can take 5 to 8 hours, depending on the number of grafts and the used technique. Also, it requires close attention to the patient’s unique hair characteristics. That’s why the most important thing to consider is the correct angle for implantation to create a natural hairline.
Do Hair Transplants Effectively Treat Hair Loss In African Americans?
Yes, a hair transplant is an effective option for hair loss in people with African-American heritage. Before, hair extraction methods were insufficient to properly extract the hair follicles of African American patients, resulting in damage to the follicle. New methods enable the procedure to be successful and effective.
What Is The Success Rate Of African American Hair Transplants?
Regardless of gender, the success rate for this ethnic hair transplant is 90-95%. The success rates are almost the same as any other type of hair transplant. This high success rate is thanks to experienced hair transplant doctors and new techniques.
The appropriate techniques are used to make the changes according to the patient’s unique hair structure. This prevents failure and promotes satisfactory results.
Can African American Women Benefit From Hair Transplants?
Yes, women of this ethnic group can benefit from hair restoration options for African-American hair. The techniques are designed to treat hair loss in both genders, considering their specific hair structure.
Understanding The Characteristics Of African-American Hair
The hair structure between different ethnic groups differs. African-American patients have curly and kinky hair. The hair transplant procedures are done based on each race’s specific hair characteristics. Thus, it is important to know these features of African American hair type.
What we need to know about African-American hair characteristics are:
- CULTURAL AND TEXTURAL FACTORS
- DENSITY LIMITATIONS
- COMMON CONCERNS AND MYTHS
Cultural And Textural Factors
The African American or Afro hair has a coarse and curly structure with tight coils. The curly hair follicles are not only on the skin surface but also beneath the scalp, having curly roots as well. Compared to other hair types, Afro hair is lower in density and grows slower.
The common cultural hairstyles among African Americans that can lead to traction alopecia are:
- TIGHT BRAIDS
- WEAVES
- TIGHT CORNROWS
- DREADLOCKS
Cultural hairstyles that stay for long periods also affect the process.
But how? Let us explain briefly.
They can cause the common form of hair loss in African Americans called Traction Alopecia. The hair is pulled out of the scalp due to the tightness over a long time.
Nevertheless, in addition to different braids, any type of tight hairstyle for a long time can cause traction alopecia and hair loss, such as tight buns and ponytails.
Does Hair Texture Affect Transplant Results?
Yes, hair texture and structure greatly affect the results of a hair transplant surgery. These hair characteristics are crucial for deciding the treatment plan, the size of the graft, the appropriate technique for each patient, and the implantation angle.
Density Limitations
The hair density of African American hair causes limitations to the surgery. Due to the typically lower density, many surgeons say the maximum number of hair follicles that can be harvested is 2000 per session.
Common Concerns And Myths
One common myth about this type of hair is that it is denser than other ethnic hair types. However, as we mentioned before it is not true. The truth against this myth is that while Afro-textured hair has less density, the coarseness makes it look denser.
One concern patients might have is that low hair density provides less available hair for extraction. While this is true, it also means that less graft is needed to cover the recipient area.
African-American Hair Transplant Challenges And Solutions
The main challenges in the hair transplant process for African-American patients are:
- THE HIGH CHANCES OF HAIR TRANSECTION
- THE CORRECT IMPLANTATION ANGLE
- POSSIBILITY OF KELOID SCARRING
Let’s discuss these challenges one by one with their possible solutions.
The High Chances Of Hair Transection
A hair transection is when the hair bulb is accidentally harmed during extraction or grafting, and therefore not able to grow. The curly and kinky nature of the hair follicle in African Americans is the reason for the high possibility of root damage in this procedure.
✔️SOLUTION: The solution is to choose an experienced team with many successful African-American hair transplants. They know how to extract a follicle without harming it. Using the latest micro-punch devices or performing a manual FUE can greatly reduce the chances of hair transection.
The Correct Implantation Angle
For a natural appearance, it is important to place the follicle at the right angle and in the right direction. Since the curly hair follicle takes up more space underneath the scalp, they should not be placed in very close proximity.
✔️SOLUTION: To solve this problem you should find a doctor who has done this procedure on African-American hair with high satisfaction rates. An expert surgeon in this type of hair transplant has sufficient knowledge to place the grafts in the correct angles.
Possibility Of Keloid Scarring
Thick and darker skin is another reason for a challenging procedure, as they are more prone to post-op keloid formation. The black skin types take longer to heal and thus are more likely to have keloid.
✔️SOLUTION: The proper hair loss treatment options done by an expert reduce the chances of any permanent scarring or keloids. Proper post-op care is also very effective.
How Is African-American Hair Transplant Done?
The surgery is quite the same as for patients of other races. The surgeon uses local anesthesia to numb the scalp and perform the procedure. The differences are defined by the customized approach for each patient.
As we have already mentioned black people have a super-coiled and curly hair structure that requires more attention while harvesting and implanting. So, it is important to find an experienced team who deeply understands curly hair transplants and how to execute them in African-American patients.
What Are The Best Methods Used In Afro Hair Transplants?
The best hair transplant surgery techniques for African-American hair are FUE and DHI. To reduce the possibility of hair follicle transection, a manual FUE, hair follicle extraction is preferred by many surgeons.
How Is The Hairline Customized To Achieve A Natural Appearance?
To design a natural-looking hairline for patients with African-American ethnic backgrounds, the surgeon considers several factors including:
- THE PERSON’S AGE
- PATIENT’S FACIAL SHAPE
- PATIENT’S HAIRLINE BEFORE HAIR LOSS
- INDIVIDUAL’S AESTHETIC GOALS
1- The hairline design for African American hair transplant should be appropriate for the patient’s age and the reasonable density for that period of life.
2- The best hairline for people of African descent that sits well with their face is a straight hairline.
3- A very important step in customizing the hairline is to look at old pictures before hair loss. This way the surgeon can understand how the initial line looked.
4- When designing the hairline, the patient’s goals and desires should be considered. But it is also important to have realistic expectations. The doctor and the patient should discuss the patient’s required changes within the limits of reality and possibility.
African American Hair Transplant Post-Operation
Right after the procedure when the effects of local anesthesia fade away, you might feel slight pain in the donor and recipient sites. The pain is manageable with painkillers.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN POST-OP TIMELINE | RECOVERY AND HEALING PROCESS |
DAY 1 |
|
DAY 3 |
|
1 WEEK |
|
2 WEEKS |
|
3-4 MONTHS |
|
Post-Transplant Care Tips For African American Hair
For a fast and comfortable healing period, the post-op tips are:
- SLEEP ON YOUR BACK IN AN ELEVATED POSITION
- AVOID DIRECT SUNLIGHT EXPOSURE
- AVOID STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES
- DO NOT WASH THE SURGICAL SITES
- OPT FOR LOOSE HAIRSTYLES
- AVOID SMOKING AND DRINKING
How Much Is African American Hair Transplant?
The price of a black hair transplant can vary between $4,000 to $15,000 in the U.S. while the price range for this procedure in Turkey is $2500-6000.
The patient’s ethnicity is not a determining factor when it comes to the cost. Here, we compared costs across different locations for you!
HAIR RESTORATION TECHNIQUE | UNITED STATES (AVERAGE RANGE) | TURKEY (AVERAGE RANGE) |
FUE | $6000-15000 | $2500-6000 |
Finding The Best African American Hair Transplant Clinic
To choose the best hair restoration clinic for black hair transplantation, there are some things to take into consideration.
To guarantee the success of the procedure, you should make sure a clinic has a long history of satisfactory results, where the surgeon customizes the treatment plan for each patient and uses the best techniques regarding their needs and hair type.
How to Find The Best Afro Hair Transplant in Turkey
Turkey has proven to be one of the best places for African-American hair restoration surgery. Every year people from 100 countries come to Turkey for hair loss treatment surgery. Many of these patients come from Brazil and Argentina. It is estimated that in 2022, more than a million patients traveled to Turkey for hair transplantation.
To find the best clinic for black hair transplants in Turkey, you should consider the following criteria:
- THE SURGEON’S EXPERIENCE
- THE PREFERRED TECHNIQUES AND METHODS
- THE CLINIC’S FACILITIES
- SUCCESS RATES FOR AFRO HAIR TRANSPLANTATION
- PREVIOUS PATIENTS’ SATISFACTION RATE
- NO HIDDEN COST
Advantages Of Undergoing Afro Hair Transplants In Turkey
The amazing advantages this surgery offers African-American patients in Turkey are:
- HIGH SUCCESS RATES
- AFFORDABLE PRICES
- THE USE OF THE NEW TECHNIQUE CALLED “SOFT FUE”
- MINIMAL TO NO POST-OP COMPLICATIONS
- THE CHANCE TO ENJOY A MEMORABLE TRIP
The increasing number of successful cases of black hair transplantation in Turkey with pleasant outcomes and no post-op complications, persuades patients from all around the world to undergo the procedure here.
The advancement of surgical techniques and the developed medical infrastructures are other effective factors for this trend.
African American Hair Transplant in Turkey Review
Oliver, 33, is an African-American basketball player who had a hair transplant procedure at Dr. Serkan Aygin Clinic. He is a power forward who most recently played for “Eisbären Bremerhaven”. His first hair transplant operation in Germany was a failure. That is why he decided to get his hair fixed by Dr. Serkan Aygin.
In his second hair transplant operation, 3600 greft was implanted to his frontal and crown/temporal area using the DHI method. After having his failed hair transplant in Germany, Oliver decided to go to Turkey for a second hair transplant.
His previous hair transplant was carried out poorly. He had a sideburn hair transplant, temporal point hair transplant and crown hair transplant for his receding hairline.
In 2020, at Dr. Serkan Aygin Clinic, 3600 grafts were transplanted to his crown area and frontal area. 3000 grafts were taken from his backhead. Also 600 grafts were taken from his beard to add density to his hair naturally.
Let’s hear the rest of the hair transplant journey from our patient’s mouth.
I could ask my questions to my patient representative. Then I rested on the first day I arrived at the hotel. On the second day, they took me to the clinic for my consultation and operation. I would like to say, I am incredibly pleased with everything about the clinic.
From A to Z, it was very satisfying. I did not feel any pain and I was able to talk to my translator during my operation. During my first meeting, I was able to ask all my questions to Dr. Serkan Aygin. At the end of the procedure, 3600 grafts were implanted without any pain.”
“The grafts extraction process was faster, the sedation was painless. Everything was amazing. After 6-7 hours, I ate my food and went back to the hotel. Since I am an African American, my hair texture is curly. The first time I had my hair transplant in Germany, they told me the operation will be more difficult to perform and only 1800 grafts were planted there. Plus, I paid a lot of money. However, at Dr. Serkan Aygin Clinic, 3600 grafts were implanted and I paid half.
I highly recommend this place. I had undergone a hair transplant operation in Berlin, Germany before. However I did not have that good experience there. I researched this clinic thoroughly because I was nervous about my second hair transplant. Fortunately, Dr. Serkan designed and drew my hairline exactly as I imagined and everything went perfect.
REFERENCES
(1) Sperling LC. Hair density in African Americans. Arch Dermatol. 1999 Jun;135(6):656-8. doi: 10.1001/archderm.135.6.656. PMID: 10376692.
(2) Singh MK, Avram MR. Technical considerations for follicular unit extraction in African-American hair. Dermatol Surg. 2013 Aug;39(8):1282-4. doi: 10.1111/dsu.12229. Epub 2013 May 13. PMID: 23668835.
(3) https://www.dailysabah.com/business/economy/turkey-on-its-way-to-be-top-destination-for-hair-transplant
