#AskDrJohnWatts
Patients often have numerous questions about baldness, hair grafts, hair loss, hairlines, hair transplant procedures, post-transplant care, and medical treatments for hair loss. This is especially true for followers of Dr. John Watts, who frequently inundate his popular channel with queries on these hair-related topics.
In this educational video, Dr. John Watts addresses whether the extraction of donor hair grafts from the back of the scalp leaves an empty patch after a hair transplant procedure. Is it true, or is there a technique that ensures no visible change in the donor region even after the extraction of hair grafts? Why do celebrities not show an empty donor patch after graft extraction? Do ordinary people undergo a different type of hair transplant?
Dr. John Watts—a renowned dermatologist, trichologist, and one of Hyderabad's top hair transplant surgeons—provides detailed answers and insights into these questions.
YOHIdac 5951 asks: "Sir, I am curious to know if the extraction of donor hair grafts from the back of the scalp creates an empty patch after a hair transplant procedure. You mentioned in one of your earlier videos that donor hair does not grow back after hair grafts are harvested. Why do celebrities not look different even after donor hair grafts are extracted from the back of the scalp? Did I misunderstand your point? Please explain."
In hair transplant procedures, donor hair grafts are typically extracted from the back of the scalp. This area is preferred because the hair here is resistant to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone linked to genetic baldness. DHT-resistant hair from the donor site ensures it will continue to grow even after being transplanted to areas affected by hair loss.
Dr. Watts explains that patients should not be concerned about the appearance of empty patches following donor hair extraction. While the extraction process does create a temporary gap in the donor area, the technique used is designed to minimize noticeable effects.
Hair transplant surgeons do not extract grafts from a single location. Instead, they collect the grafts randomly across the donor site. Typically, about 25-30 donor hair grafts are extracted from every 100 available grafts in the donor region. This randomized approach ensures that the surrounding hair remains dense enough to cover any gaps created by the extraction.
Addressing YOHIdac’s concern that extraction might leave noticeable empty patches, Dr. Watts reassures that this is unlikely due to the strategic extraction process. By removing grafts from multiple locations rather than concentrating on one spot, the hair in the donor area naturally regrows and covers the previously extracted sites, maintaining a uniform appearance.
Conclusion: The process of extracting donor hair grafts for hair transplants is carefully managed to prevent visible gaps in the donor area. The randomized extraction technique and the natural regrowth of hair ensure that the donor site remains aesthetically pleasing and that patients do not need to worry about unsightly patches. Proper planning and technique make hair transplantation a reliable solution for restoring hair without compromising the appearance of the donor area.
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