Hair transplant: frequently asked questions

Safety and pain

Is a hair transplant safe?

A hair transplant is a simple, superficial procedure on the skin of the scalp and does not involve deep structures, so serious complications are uncommon. The centre has the equipment and training, including ACLS and BLS certification, to manage any problem during or after the procedure.

Is the procedure painful?

You feel minimal, tolerable pain for a fraction of a second, only when the local anaesthetic is injected. After that the area is numb; most patients relax, watch television or listen to music, and pain-minimising techniques are used throughout.

Are there any major complications after a hair transplant?

Major complications are uncommon, because the procedure does not involve nerves, large blood vessels or other deep structures. A small number of patients get temporary swelling of the face, which usually settles on its own without medicine; occasionally small pimple-like spots appear in the transplanted area, and these also usually settle by themselves.

Can a hair transplant affect the brain?

No. The surgery involves only the superficial layers of the scalp, not the skull bone or the structures beneath it, so it does not affect the brain or cause any mental problems.

The procedure

How long will I stay at the centre on the day?

A hair transplant is a day-care procedure: it takes 6 to 8 hours, and you can go home within about an hour of finishing. You come back the next day for a follow-up shampoo, which is complimentary, and you can return to work from day 1 if you work from home, or day 4 if you go to an office.

Do you shave my head for a hair transplant?

Not necessarily: the procedure can be done without removing your hair, though it costs more than when the hair is shaved, and the choice is yours. Without shaving, your appearance changes very little, and from the second day it is usually hard for others to tell.

What is ultra-refined follicular unit grafting?

It is a way of making very thin grafts, called ultra-refined follicles, by dissecting them under stereo microscopes. They are placed through very small slits made with micro-blades, and after regrowth they look natural, like your original hair. Read more about URFUG.

What are the benefits of the latest techniques?

The ultra-refined (URFUG) method gives more natural-looking hair after growth, which is hard to tell apart from your own hair.

How is the older method different from today's?

Older surgeries used large "plug" grafts; that method is now obsolete, and the results could be seen. Today hair is transplanted as follicular units, so the technique and technology a surgeon uses matter.

Recovery and results

Do hair transplants really work?

Yes: hair transplantation is a proven surgery, and the transplanted hair grows. You can cut it, and it grows back even after a clean shave. How full the result looks depends on the number of grafts implanted, and natural-looking results are the centre's focus.

How long does it take for the hair to grow fully?

New hair is visible from the 4th to 5th month, and the final result is seen from the 6th to 8th month; over this time the hair thickens until it matches your natural hair.

Can I cut my hair after it grows back?

Yes, you can cut your transplanted hair normally, just as you would your natural hair.

Will the surgery leave a big scar in the donor area?

Most patients have only a fine scar, because the centre uses trichophytic closure and other refined techniques for FUT. Rarely, depending on how a person's skin heals (for example a tendency to keloids), the scar may be noticeable. FUE leaves no linear scar.

How many sessions will I need?

Most patients need 1 to 3 sessions, depending on the size of the bald area and the quality and quantity of donor hair.

Is there an age limit for a hair transplant?

There is no upper age limit if you are medically fit; even patients of 80 can consider it. The lower age limit depends on the doctor's judgement and your own wishes. See whether you are a good candidate.

Techniques and session sizes

What is a mega session?

A mega session means transplanting 2,500 grafts in one session. More on session sizes.

What is a super mega session?

A super mega session means transplanting 4,000 grafts in one session.

What is a giga session?

A giga session means transplanting more than 4,000 grafts in one session.

What is dense packing?

Dense packing means placing a large number of grafts close together in each square centimetre to give density. At the centre, grafts are placed at 30 to 35 grafts per square centimetre, varying with balding and scalp health. More on dense packing.

Should I choose FUT or FUE?

It depends on the size of the bald area and your donor hair. FUT (the strip method) is a straightforward way to cover larger bald areas because more grafts can be implanted in one session; FUE suits smaller areas. Compare them in FUE vs FUT.

Choosing a clinic

How can I compare the quality of hair transplants?

Look at how natural the hairline is, how the grafts are placed and angled, the density of grafts per square centimetre, and the scar in the donor area. Read how to judge quality.

Some companies say they offer the greatest technique. Is it true?

Be cautious: companies often present themselves as different to attract customers, and some say their technique or instruments are special or patented. Read about myths and marketing claims, and check the cost and credentials yourself.

Before and after surgery

How long should my hair be before surgery?

At least 1 inch of hair length is recommended before the surgery.

Is the dressing after surgery uncomfortable?

The dressing is minimal: a head band, similar to a tennis head band, which helps reduce swelling, and a surgical cap to wear for 3 days.

Can I drive home after the procedure?

No. As a safety precaution, do not drive yourself home after the procedure.

What should I avoid straight after surgery?

• Driving yourself
• Touching or scratching the transplanted area
• Removing the head band for 72 hours

When can I go back to work?

You can return to work from day 1 if you work from home, or day 4 if you go to an office.

Will I need medicines after surgery?

The transplanted hair does not need medicine. Antibiotics to prevent infection and painkillers are given after surgery: antibiotics for 7 days and painkillers for 4 days, free of charge. Medicines may help you keep your existing hair, which is still affected by the hormones that cause balding; whether to take them is your choice, under a doctor's supervision.

How often do I come back for follow-up?

Its always better to stay in follow up atleast once a year, but it is not mandatory. You can come back at any time if you or the doctor feel it is needed, and you can call the clinic on +91 90004 11511 with any question after you go home.

When can I trim my hair?

After 2-3 weeks depending on the method of hair transplantation.

When can I exercise or swim?

Light activities after 5 days, jogging and running after 15 days, gym workouts after 20 days, and swimming after 1 month.

Do I need special oils or shampoos?

No. Oils act as conditioners and shampoos as cleansers; neither makes hair grow. An antiseptic shampoo is advised for 2 days before surgery.

More questions

Will there be much bleeding?

The scalp has many blood vessels, so careful technique is used to control bleeding during the procedure. Bleeding-time and clotting-time tests before surgery identify people with a bleeding tendency, so that precautions can be taken, or surgery can be advised against.

What about swelling or infection?

Swelling of the forehead can happen after a hair transplant. It is harmless and usually settles on its own within 2 to 3 days without medicine; the head band helps reduce it. Infection is uncommon because sterilisation is followed before and during surgery and antibiotics are given afterwards. You are advised to stay indoors for 24 hours after surgery.

Can there be other complications?

People who tend to form keloids (thick, raised scars) can develop one, so the doctor asks how your earlier wounds healed. Some discomfort at the stitches for a few days is common and settles on its own.

Is the transplanted hair permanent?

The transplanted hair comes from the donor area, where hair usually resists balding, and it keeps behaving like the hair it came from.

What affects the result?

• The number of grafts that can be taken from the donor area
• The quality of the donor hair: its thickness, curl, and the contrast between hair and skin colour
• Placing grafts in the natural direction of hair growth, and the density of placement
• The size of the bald area: the smaller the bald area and the denser the donor area, the better the outcome
• The skill of the surgeon and team, and the length of the procedure
• Personal factors such as long-term sun damage to the scalp, smoking, and some medicines

Should I have a personal or an online consultation?

A personal consultation is better: the doctor can examine your scalp, rule out other causes of hair loss, assess your donor hair and discuss your hairline and expectations. If you live far away, an online consultation is a good first step.

Do you help with accommodation?

Yes, the clinic can guide you. See where to stay near the clinic.

What is the difference between a hair follicle and a follicular unit?

A hair follicle holds a single hair. A follicular unit is a natural group of 1 to 4 hairs; a unit with more than 2 hairs is called a multi-follicular unit. The centre charges per graft (follicular unit), not per hair. 3,000 follicular units usually contain 5,000 to 6,000 hairs.

Is there such a thing as scarless hair transplant surgery?

FUE is sometimes advertised as "scarless", but it is better described as scalpel-free: it avoids a linear scar, but leaves small dot scars spread over the donor area.

Do laser combs help hair growth?

They may stimulate growth to a small extent while you use them, but the effect stops when you stop using them.

What about hair cloning?

Hair cloning is still being researched and is not available as a treatment.