"You have to be careful with your hair"

Dr. Andrea Bannert has been with since 2013. The doctor of biology and medicine editor initially carried out research in microbiology and is the team's expert on the tiny things: bacteria, viruses, molecules and genes. She also works as a freelancer for Bayerischer Rundfunk and various science magazines and writes fantasy novels and children's stories.

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First the thinker's forehead, then the bald back of the head - Paul Burgmann's head of hair had already happened in his early 20s. The diagnosis: genetic hair loss. The result: a huge kink in self-confidence. In an interview, Burgmann explains why he decided to have a hair transplant and how he experienced the operation.

Paul, ten days ago the doctors transplanted hair from your neck onto the bald spots on your head - how are you now?

I am glad that I have no more pain. I only feel a slight tug on the back of my head. Where the doctors cut out an eight-inch strip of my scalp to get enough hair to cover the bald spots. Fortunately, I can now look down again.

Why do you take on something like this at the age of 28?

My suffering was high. Excessive hair loss is particularly bad when you are still young: Anyone who becomes bald at the age of 40 is unlikely to attract any further attention. For me it started when I was in my early twenties. Friends and acquaintances made comments when the hair became increasingly thinner. At some point I started counting ...

You counted the hair that fell out?

Yes. But at 150 I usually stopped and realized: there are as many again in the brush. So I thought: shit, you have a real problem!

Many men don't care, some even go completely bald.

I have a very long, narrow face. I just don't think I would be bald. Maybe you get used to it over time, but I didn't want to accept the hair loss. I wanted to stop him.

Was hair transplant your first choice?

No, I've tried everything possible beforehand. Especially natural remedies such as nettle extract. But they didn't bring anything.

How long did the operation take?

From half past eight in the morning to two in the afternoon. Five and a half hours!

Did you notice anything from the operation?

Sure, almost everything. I only got a local anesthetic. The stings from the anesthetic were actually the worst: over a hundred! When the strip of skin was removed from the back of the head, two medical assistants began to separate the hair under the microscope. During that time, the doctor cut 1,200 small holes in my scalp. The individual, small hairs and their roots were then inserted into this - one to three hair follicles in each hole.

There is also a method in which individual hairs are removed and replanted in another place. Then you don't have to cut out a complete strip of skin.

That's right. But of course the hair becomes lighter in the places where it is removed. With the skin strip method, you simply pull the edges of the wound together and sew them up. Similar to a facelift. So the hair density remains the same.

What did you have to pay attention to after the operation?

Sure, sport and physical work are then initially taboo for a few weeks. I also have to be careful when blowing my nose because of the pressure that is created in the blood vessels. And I should also avoid the sun first.

But the worst was the first night. I was not allowed to lie on the transplanted hair and had to use two pillows to prevent so much blood from flowing into the head. I slept extremely badly there - also because of the pain.

At the moment your scalp is still crusted on top and the new hair looks very thin. When can you see the end result?

This takes a while! Now most of the transplanted hair is still on. But they will fall out first - before hopefully new hair will grow back. The full result will only be visible in six months.

Hair transplantation is not possible for everyone. What requirements did you have to meet?

I still have very strong, healthy hair on the back of my head. So it was easy to do. A single hair transplant would have been more difficult for me because I have dark blonde hair. With lighter hair, the roots are hard to see.

It cannot be ruled out that your hair loss will continue. Would you go under the knife again then?

If you had asked me directly after the operation last week, I would certainly have said: No way. Now I wouldn't rule it out. But of course I hope that I have a good solution for the next few years. My doctor recommended that I also take minoxidil. The active ingredient is applied locally to the hair and it improves blood circulation in the scalp. Hopefully this will slow down the hair loss significantly.

So your hairy problem is not finally solved ...

Don't expect miracles. I have only had 1200 so-called grafts transplanted. But you have to be careful with your hair - so nothing more was possible.

I hope stem cell research advances quickly. Then in ten years I can have my hair cloned and replanted as much as I want.

Paul, thank you very much for talking to us. I keep my fingers crossed for you that the end result will be good.

* The name has been changed by the editorial team. Our author Andrea Bannert knows Paul Burgmann personally.

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