Grey hair transplant can be explained as transplanting hair follicles from donor area to the bald areas just like classic hair transplant, except a patient’s hair is grey or turning grey. Although there is a misconception that saying grey hair follicles are less effective than the pigmented hair follicles, statistics show otherwise. While performing hair transplant, there is no significant difference between pigmented hair and white hair except for color.
“Can gray hair be transplanted?” is a popular question among people wanting to get a hair transplant with grey hair. And the answer is yes, grey hair can be used in a hair transplant. Patients with whitening hair are also suitable candidates for a hair transplant operation. Moreover, gray hair is more textured and thicker compared to pigmented hair. Which means patients with gray hair achieve satisfying results from hair transplant procedure. Also, hair transplant is a safe and successful procedure for older patients with gray hair.
Will my hair color match after hair transplant?
Yes, provided that your operation is planned and carried out according to your special needs. If you have white hair in certain areas of your hair, the transplanted hair may be of a different color than the recipient area. To avoid mismatched colors on the hair, you should plan an operation with an experienced hair transplant doctor.
Thanks to Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) method, the grafts to be transplanted are taken individually from the back of your head randomly. In this way, there won’t necessarily be mismatching and the newly transplanted hair will blend in. However, the old hair transplant method called FUT hair transplant , aka the strip method, extracts a strip of hair from the donor area and implants it in the recipient site that results in unnatural and mismatching hair transplant results.
Mismatching of transplanted hair color is a common concern. If graft distribution is carried out precisely, the result will come out natural. This means, even if different shades exist in your hair, your new hair looks better than before.
If a patient desires a different hair color, he is allowed to dye his transplanted hair. He/she can dye his hair 4 to 6 months after the operation. The reason for waiting is that the patient’s scalp has to heal completely.
Points to pay attention when transplanting grey hair
Hair transplant for white hair should be planned very carefully. White hair is more common in the nape area and between the ears. For a successful hair transplant results , following factors should be evaluated carefully:
- The color of the hair follicles to be taken from the donor area
- The color of the hair follicles in the recipient area
- Achieving a matching hair color that are in harmony with one another
Can you dye your hair after a hair transplant?
After a hair transplant procedure, patients may want a different hair color than their existing hair color. In such circumstances they wonder: Is it safe to color my hair after a hair transplant? The answer is yes providing that the new transplanted hair and your scalp is fully recovered from the operation.
Thanks to FUE method that provides a short recovery time compared to FUT strip hair transplant, this waiting time is shorter. Doctors usually recommend waiting 6 months to dye the transplanted hair. However, for best hair transplant results, patients must consult their hair doctor specialist.
How to choose a hair transplant clinic
One must pay attention to following factors while choosing the
best hair transplant clinic in Turkey
:
- The clinic must specialize in hair transplant procedures
- How long has the clinic been performing hair transplant?
- A hair transplant clinic must have specific certifications to perform an operation
- Natural looking before-after photos of real patients
Can PRP reverse grey hair?
PRP treatment for grey hair is used to cure hair loss and stimulate hair growth. However, after treatments, it is seen that it can also stop greying hair. In some cases, PRP treatment is able to improve hair pigmentation. Even though the treatment does not turn grey hair to dark hair completely, its regenerative effects improve the existing hair and stimulate melanocytes production. So, the hair can get a few shades darker.
What causes gray hair and premature graying?
As we age, the pigment cells, called melanin, in our hair follicles start to die. With aging, the melanocytes produce less melanin or just completely stop producing melanin. Some of the causes of grey hair are below:
- Age and genetics play a significant role in the process of hair turning grey.
- Extreme sadness or trauma can also cause sudden whitening of the hair.
- Stress is also responsible for gray hair.
- Thyroids can also cause early grey hair. If the person’s thyroids work less or more than normal, they may experience an early hair graying and hair loss.
- The condition called Poliosis can also cause patches of white hair on hairy parts of the body.
Other causes of white hair
- B12 deficiency
- Poor diet
- Hormonal disorders
- Smoking
- Alcohol consumption
- Calcium, Vitamin D, Vitamin C deficiency
- Diseases such as HIV, cystic fibrosis, and Hodgkin lymphoma
- Air pollution
- Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation
- Medication side effects
- Chemicals in hair products
- Conditions such as Albinism, Pernicious anemia
Tips on preventing grey hair
- Have a balanced diet
- Protect the hair from sun rays
- Avoid drinking caffeinated drinks
- Avoid alcohol and smoking
- Rinse your hair with lukewarm water
- Avoid using harmful ingredients in hair products
- Avoid heat damage to hair
- Use chemical free hair dye for grey hair
