Hair loss can be a frustrating, but unavoidable, part of life as you age. When your hair starts to thin, it can have a significant emotional impact and make you feel as though you are losing a part of your identity.
Though you can address hair loss, many options currently available are either slow or limited, and some people struggling with hair loss are ineligible for a range of treatments.
A procedure that has been gaining attention in recent years is the Biofibre hair transplant, a highly effective alternative to a standard hair transplant.
Our Liverpool-based clinic offers biofibre hair transplants, and we’ve witnessed firsthand the positive impact this procedure can have on those suffering from hair loss.
In this blog, we will delve deeper into what a biofibre hair transplant is, how it works, and whether or not the procedure might work for you.
What Is a Biofibre Hair Transplant?
A biofibre hair transplant is a procedure that involves inserting biocompatible, medical-grade artificial fibres into the scalp. This minimally invasive procedure is used to create immediate, high-density hair coverage for areas that may be thinning or completely balding.
Unlike fue hair transplants, which involve transplanting individual hair follicles, a biofibre hair transplant uses medical-grade synthetic hair, which is implanted into the scalp and is held in place by a reversible knit that can be removed if you’d like to reverse the procedure.
The Hair Transplant Process: How Is It Done?
Though there are similarities between a standard hair transplant procedure and a biofibre procedure, the procedures are ultimately different, and those who do not have sufficient healthy hair follicles for surgical hair restoration may find biofibre to be the right fit.
If you are considering undergoing a biofibre hair transplant, you can expect the following steps:
Consultation and Scalp Analysis
Not everyone is eligible for a biofibre hair transplant, and before you will be allowed to undergo the procedure, you will need to meet with a surgeon who will determine whether or not you’re a candidate.
Find out more about our experienced hair transplant surgeons.
The surgeon will do a full analysis of your scalp, and if they believe you are eligible, they will help you select the fibre colour, length and texture to help match the existing hair you have.
You have final approval for the hair you choose, but it is recommended that you pick a colour and texture that are close to your real hair. It is also important to note that biofibre hair cannot grow out, so we recommend choosing a longer hair length for more styling flexibility.
Patch Test
Before the full procedure commences, your surgeon will complete a patch test. This is an incredibly important step in the procedure, and will allow your surgeon to better understand your scalp’s tolerance and confirm the procedure’s safety.
For a patch test, your surgeon will implant around 100-250 fibres into a test site on your scalp and wait 3-4 weeks to ensure the implant has settled and caused no adverse effects.
Start of Procedure
If the test is successful, you will be able to proceed to the full hair transplant surgery procedure.
Local Anesthesia
Because the procedure is minimally invasive, only local anaesthesia is necessary to begin your hair restoration. The scalp is cleaned, and local anaesthesia is applied to the area to make the procedure painless, while you remain fully awake throughout.
Implantation
Once the area is prepped, a surgeon will then use an implantation device or hooked needles to insert the biofibre threads one by one. Depending on the severity of your hair loss and the recipient areas, your surgeon will typically insert around 500-1,000 fibres per session, at a depth of 4-6mm.
Anchoring
Once each fibre has been inserted into the scalp, it is anchored in place with a ‘knot’ placed at the base of the fibre, which helps keep the hair in place and supports the healing process.
Density Mapping
The surgeon will continue adding fibres to the scalp until the desired density and hair pattern are achieved, helping the fibres blend seamlessly with your natural hair. The surgeon also prioritises healing, so the implanted fibres are spaced 2mm apart to support this. This means that if you are not happy with your new density, you can add more fibres in the future.
How Long Does a Biofibre Hair Transplant Take?
The length of a biofibre hair transplant can range from 2 to 5 hours, depending on the volume of the area being transplanted. Multiple sessions are often required to achieve the density you are looking for, so you will likely need regular sessions to top up the procedure.
How Long Does a Biofibre Hair Transplant Take to Heal?
For the hair to fully anchor and the scalp to heal, you should expect to wait around 2-30 days. However, because the procedure is minimally invasive, you will be able to return to normal activities within a day, though pain may persist for weeks following the procedure.
As the scalp heals, it’s important to keep it protected and to avoid touching the affected areas as much as possible until the scabs have fallen out.
The Benefits of Biofibre Hair Transplants
Now that you know more about how biofibre hair transplant procedures work, let’s delve into the benefits of biofibre hair transplants.
Immediate ‘Hair Growth’ Results
If you undergo a standard hair transplant procedure, it may take months before you start to see the results that you are looking for, as the hairs need to grow after the follicles have been implanted.
When you get a biofibre hair transplant, the results are immediate, as you are inputting already existing hairs into the scalp, with a predetermined length already decided. This means that you don’t have to wait around for your desired results, and you instantly regain a lot of the confidence that your hair loss may have taken from you.
No Donor Area Required
When you undergo standard hair transplants or hair grafts, donor hair follicles are removed from other places in your scalp, and if you do not have the necessary donor hair, you may not be able to get the procedure.
Because a biofibre hair transplant uses biocompatible, medical-grade polyamide fibres, no donor is necessary. No matter the extent of your balding, you will be able to fill the area in without taking from other areas of your scalp that are not thinning or balding, helping to create a more natural, fuller look.
Minimally Invasive
One of the biggest selling points of biofibre hair transplants is the fact that the procedure is minimally invasive. This means that you can enjoy your desired results without having to take much downtime after the procedure. If you’re interested in other non-surgical options we offer, take a look at our non-surgical special treatments price list.
Customisable
One of the most appealing aspects of biofibre hair transplantation is its customisability, which means you can choose the colour, texture and length you desire, though we would recommend matching your natural hair as closely as possible for more realistic results.
Suitable for a Wider Range of Candidates
If you have limited donor hair, you may not be eligible for a standard hair transplant, but you may be suitable for a biofibre hair transplant, as no donor site is required.
This means that those who may have been typically turned down for a transplant procedure have the opportunity to achieve their desired look using biofibre hair.
Reversible
If you are not happy with the density, colour, or overall look of your biofibre hair transplant, the fibres can be removed entirely and redistributed across your scalp to create a look that you are more satisfied with.
Because the hair is anchored in place with knots, the fibres are not too difficult to remove or reinstate.
Do the Results of a Biofibre Hair Transplant Last Forever?
When you have a biofibre hair transplant, you have to be prepared to undergo maintenance. You are expected to lose around 20% of implanted hair every year, and if you do not have touch-up sessions every couple of months, you may find that your hair no longer resembles the look that you achieved after the initial procedure.
It’s also important to remember that hair does not grow, so if you decide to trim or shave it, you will need to undergo another procedure to improve the appearance.
Hair Transplant Liverpool: Choose New Birkdale
Through this guide, you should now have a better understanding of biofibre hair transplants, including how the procedure is performed, what results to expect and some of the comparisons between biofibre transplants and standard hair transplants.
At New Birkdale Clinic, we are proud to offer biofibre hair transplants, performed by skilled and experienced surgeons. Interested in finding out more about the procedure? Contact us today.
