You are here: Home » FAQ » Hair Transplant FAQ

Hair Transplant FAQ

What is Follicular Unit Transplantation?

Follicular Unit Transplantation [ FUT ] is a procedure where hair is transplanted exclusively in its naturally occurring groups of one to four hairs. These groups or follicular units are obtained through the microscopic dissection of skin tissue taken from the donor region of the scalp. Because Follicular Unit Transplantation reproduces the way hair grows naturally, results appear completely natural and are indistinguishable from one’s original hair.

If Hair Loss is Progressive, Then Why Do Hair Transplants Work?

The donor area is the strip of hair at the back of the head that is genetically programmed not to fall out. Even very bald individuals generally maintain their donor area. You can remove about half of the donor area before it becomes noticeable cosmetically.  Average available donor hair is 5,000 follicular units, not all of which can be harvested at one time.

Hair loss need not be permanent.

Is it Safe to Remove Large Amounts of Hair?

The experience and judgment of the surgeon that will ensure that the amount of hair that is harvested from the donor area is safe and appropriate for the planned session.

How Do You Ensure the Grafts Survive Transplantation?

Graft survival and growth following transplantation is key to the success of hair transplantation.  This process is limited by tissue oxygenation, not blood supply as is commonly perceived.

Today’s most refined technology of microscopic follicular unit transplantation allows oxygen to easily diffuse to the small one to four hair grafts contained within the follicular units. The blood supply of the scalp is among the richest in the entire body which enables it to support the growth of large numbers of grafts provided that they are small in size.

Why Can't You Do 5,000 Grafts At Once?

The simple answer is that it would be difficult to get a good closure at the site of incision, so for large cases we will recommend that a course of treatment involving more than one session of surgery.

How Long Should I Wait Before a 2nd Procedure?

The scalp is normally sufficiently recuperated to allow a second procedure by the six month mark following the previous surgery. The hair from the prior procedure has begun to grow at this point but has not yet reached full maturity.

If you are positive that you require additional density or coverage, a second or repeat surgery can be scheduled as early as six months.  However, if you are unsure or want to see the full results of the 1st procedure, then we would recommend waiting a year.

Is Hair Transplantation Painful?

This is not only a frequently asked question, it is a common fear for most prospective hair transplant patients. After they have completed their procedures, they are surprised at how comfortable they were throughout the procedure. Local anaesthetic is administered very slowly to provide optimal comfort for your personal needs.

We believe that having a hair restoration procedure is the beginning of a new life and the entire process should not be a painful one.

Aren't Laser Hair Transplants Better?

No. Lasers were investigated over a decade ago for their use in hair transplantation, but were found to have a number of limitations that rendered them undesirable as a technology for surgical hair restoration; specifically the use of high energy light and heat energy to thermally ablate (burn) an opening in the skin. Despite being a focused beam of light, collateral heat injury is created within the surrounding tissue that is detrimental to graft survival.

The use of very small grafts in today’s transplantation procedures necessitates an optimal receptor zone field to ensure graft survival. Control of the transplanted hair’s angle of growth is an additional key aspect of a high quality hair transplant and varies literally from site to site in some regions. The degree of control required to effect these changes is best obtained by a practiced human hand manipulating a miniature machined steel blade.

Can Someone Else Donate His or Her Hair for Me?

No, unfortunately this is not possible as your body would reject someone else's hair.

What About Hair Cloning?

Hair cloning technology is being explored, but it is probably at least 10 years from being available to the consumer.

Until such time as hair cloning is a real and viable option, hair transplantation is the most natural looking method to reverse hair loss, provided the surgeon is also an artist.

How Does Follicular Unit Transplantation differ from Follicular Unit Extraction?

In Follicular Unit Transplantation the hair for relocation is obtained by surgically excising a strip of hair bearing skin from the donor region of the scalp. The skin edges of this wound are then sutured closed and the result is typically a thin, fine line scar oriented horizontally across the back of the head. Follicular Unit Extraction or FUE is a contemporary revival of an antiquated technique of obtaining donor hair in which a small circular cutting instrument is used to harvest follicular units one at a time from the donor area. Each harvest or extraction creates a small circular scar and a transplant session creates a number of discontinuous, individual scars contrasting with the continuous linear scar of FUT. Short hair styles are well supported with either method of harvesting. Large session sizes are much more easily accomplished utilizing FUT technique and costs for FUE are often quadruple the cost of FUT on a per graft basis.

What Age Limits Apply to Hair Transplantation?

Male pattern hair loss is genetic in nature and can begin as early as the second decade of life - in the teens.

Medical therapy designed to ward off future hair loss can begin as early as a young man reaches maturity and begins to exhibit early signs of hair loss. Our approach favours establishing contact early with patients experiencing or destined to experience hair loss so that educational efforts can begin to establish a thorough understanding of the nature of hair loss and medical and surgical options for managing this condition.

Surgical intervention can begin at 18 provided the patient understands the importance of elective surgery and the implications of early intervention in a condition that is often progressive over many decades of time.

Is Hair Transplant Surgery Available for Women?

Depending on the nature and degree of hair loss women can be excellent candidates for hair transplantation surgery.

Hair transplantation involves the relocation of hair from an area of greater density and fullness in the back of the scalp to an area of hair loss on top of the head. Women who have generalised thinning may not possess sufficient healthy donor hair to allow for a transplant to take place without negative impact upon the source of the donation.

However, hair transplantation can be a very valid option for many women suffering hair loss.  It is important to balance the potential gain against the possible risks or downside when contemplating a procedure that is not reversible.

Can Eyebrows be Transplanted?

Yes they can. We offer a whole variety of facial hair aesthetics including eyebrows, moustaches, sideburns, and goatees. However, the donor hair is still the posterior scalp hair and as such it will grow as scalp hair does; which will make trimming/grooming essential.

What Happens on the Day of the Hair Transplant?

The day of surgery is outlined fully together on this website, together with on our pre-operative instructions for patients.

We will explain everything fully at your consultation, provide an information pack and ensure that we discuss everything fully before and during the day itself, so that you feel fully informed and at ease with the process.

After a Strip Harvest will the Scalp Return to Normal?

The scalp will regain most of its original flexibility through the process of skin remodeling following a hair transplant. The majority of this occurs within the first 6 to 8 months following a procedure.

Scalp flexibility or laxity varies from individual to individual and this difference to an extent dictates the amount of hair that can be removed from the donor area over time. If an individual possesses a tight scalp the maximum harvest or yield is less than someone with a very flexible scalp for a comparable density of hair. Even with multiple procedures patients rarely report lingering tightness unless their history includes scalp reductions or lift procedures.

Is Fine Hair Less Successful in Hair Transplantation?

No. Fine hair transplants with the same success as any other type of hair. The nature of fine hair is such that the coverage it affords is comparably less than thick hair. The appearance is none-the-less natural and familiar to the individual as his or her original hair type.

Should I Cut My Hair Prior to Surgery?

Hair length entering a procedure should be sufficiently long in the donor area ½" or longer to allow hair from above the donor incision to drape down and cover the sutured area upon completion of the transplant.

Shorter cuts are allowed provided the patient is willing to have the surgical wound on display for the ten days the sutures are in place. Hair length within the recipient zone can be cut to the patient’s preferred length.

Shorter lengths make the work of managing the hair during the procedure easier and longer styles offer greater ease of concealing the worksite for the week or so that there is visible evidence of the procedure.

Can Hair be Transplanted into Scar Tissue?

Hair can most certainly be transplanted into skin affected by scarring - either that resulting from surgical trauma or other injury. Some adjustments are made when transplanting scarred areas such as decreasing the density of grafts placed per session. However repeat sessions are possible and often density values resulting in significant coverage and camouflage can be achieved.