Interaction With Dr Arika Bansal, Co-Founder & Chief Hair Restoration Surgeon - Eugenix

What can you tell us about the Hair Transplant Industry in India?

The global hair transplant industry has been growing at a CAGR of 25%, and over the course of the pandemic, that number has gone much higher. The pandemic presented a unique opportunity for people who had been considering a hair transplant. Generally, the recovery period for a hair transplant procedure is 6-8 weeks. During this recovery period, people avoid social interactions to avoid unwanted attention. The lockdown provided the social cover people needed to avoid attention as people stayed indoors and had minimal social interaction. As a result, we got more queries and had more people visiting us for hair transplants.

There are several factors why hair transplants have become popular nowadays. Earlier, hair transplants were expensive, and only a handful of clinics were present. People were hesitant to opt for them because they were unreliable, expensive and awareness was low. Thankfully, advancements in science and technology have made hair transplants highly effective, cost-efficient and people are more open in considering this as the solution.

Additionally, men have become more conscious of their looks. They have built a positive attitude and are generally more receptive to hair transplants than before. These are some of the factors that have contributed to the popularity of hair transplants.

Eugenix Hair Sciences pioneered the DHT technique. Can you tell me more about how this came into being?

Dr Pradeep and I invented DHT technique and shared it with the world in 2013 through a highly respected, peer-reviewed scientific journal. It was critically acclaimed by the medical fraternity and brought us recognition. It has now become the preferred choice for hair transplants for surgeons and patients alike globally.

Direct Hair Transplant technique is a modified version of FUE that delivers superior results. DHT is minimally invasive, grants more control to the surgeon with regards to the angle, depth and direction of the transplanted hair and takes a shorter time to operate. The biggest advantage of DHT is that it allows for 2x more hair to be transplanted compared to FUE. Another significant advantage of DHT over the other forms of procedure is that it results in a look that is natural and undetectable to the naked eye.

How does Eugenix aim to reverse cosmetic tourism in India?

For a long time, elite Indians who wanted a hair transplant and were unwilling to compromise on quality went to countries like the USA, UK, Greece and Turkey. Until then, India lacked qualified hair transplant providers, and the ones who were present, were not reliable. But after inventing DHT technique in India and sharing it with global medical community, the world took notice of it. The advent of DHT has reversed the trend of cosmetic tourism and has made India the new global playing field for Hair restoration. Soon patients from overseas started visiting us for high quality and natural-looking hair transplants at a fraction of the cost.

We now have patients visit us from all corners of the world, even from countries that were once renowned for hair restoration.

Approximately 40% of our patients visit us from overseas, and that number has been steadily increasing. India has now become a popular destination for high-quality hair transplants, and elite Indians have realised that the best hair transplant services the world offers are right here in their own country.

What are the major causes of hair loss, and how can we work on curbing this problem?

We lose 50-100 strands of hair every day, and it is a normal process. But if you start losing more than that, then it is chronic, and you should book an appointment with a hair expert and get it checked.

There are many factors that lead to hair loss, such as heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions and age. Among them, heredity related hair loss is the most common and affects 50% of people. There are external too that affect hair health. Poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking and drinking, pollution, rising stress levels and lack of proper sleep are other factors that contribute to hair loss.

Hair loss can be reversed and treated but, in some cases, a hair transplant becomes the only choice. Here are some general tips to follow to minimize hair loss.

· Use minimum hair styling products and don’t style your hair too much

· Pat dry hair instead of rubbing against your towel

· Have nutritious, home-cooked food rich in iron and protein

There are certain myths around hair transplants such as pain, hair fall right after the surgery etc. Can you explain 2-3 of these myths to us?

Myth: The results of hair transplant look unnatural

Fact: The truth couldn’t be further. The results of a hair transplant procedure can give natural look if done by an expert. A good surgeon will determine the placement & the angle of the hair to create a natural look. We have numerous cases to support the above where it is impossible to tell if a person has had a hair transplant.

Myth: Hair transplant surgery is extremely painful

Fact: Hair Transplant surgery is completed under local anaesthesia. One can head home on the same of being operated and resume daily activities from the subsequent day.

Myth: A hair Transplant will offer you immediate results

Fact: The results of a hair transplant surgery is noticeable in 6-8 months. To see the final results, it takes 9 – 12 months.

Myth: Large grafts will produce more hair density

Fact: The density of the hair depends upon the number of grafts transplanted and not on the dimensions of the graft. In fact, larger grafts may end with unnatural-looking hair.

Myth: The transplanted hair requires specialized treatment

Fact: Another common misconception which isn't proven to be true. Three weeks after the operation, hair follicles become permanent and don’t require any specialized treatment.

Finally, what are your plans for the coming few years?

In last 5 years, we have grown exponentially. Patients from overseas have developed a liking for us since 40% of our patients are foreign. We have been growing aggressively to meet the demands for flawless and undetectable hair transplants. We were also recently invited by the first family of Dubai to set up our operations there with state-of-the-art infrastructure, and it will be operational soon. We have also been invited by investors to set up centers in China, USA, UK & Australia.

We are also conducting research on Stem Cells and how we can use them for hair transplants. The research is still ongoing, but it is set to revolutionize the global hair transplant industry once again.