Hair transplant7 min read
Hair transplant FAQ: straightforward answers to the questions patients ask most
Before booking a hair transplant, most people want the same things explained: will it work for my type of hair loss, which method is right, where the grafts come from, how the day of surgery goes and when the result will show. This guide answers those questions in plain language and explains what to discuss with a doctor before you decide.
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Medically reviewed by Ellina V. Goncharova, dermatovenereologist, trichologist, surgeon. Review date: .
The main points in 30 seconds
- A transplant moves your own follicles from the back and sides of the head; it does not create new hair.
- It suits mainly androgenetic alopecia; alopecia areata is a contraindication.
- FUE is used for androgenetic alopecia; FUE with DHI also adds density.
- The procedure is done under local anaesthesia, and you usually go home the same day.
- New growth starts at 3–4 months; the final result appears at 12–18 months.
Key facts about the procedure
- Stay in clinicSame day
- Final result12–18 months
- AnaesthesiaLocal
- Price
$2,700from $2,200
Hair transplant basics: what it is and who it helps
A hair transplant moves your own hair follicles from a dense, stable donor area, usually the back and sides of the head, to places where hair has thinned or been lost. The follicles keep the properties of the area they came from, which is why donor hair is chosen from zones that are usually resistant to pattern hair loss.
Hair Transplant London, Hair Transplant Dublin — price and consultation.
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WhatsAppIt is worth being clear about what a transplant does. It redistributes hair you already have; it does not create new follicles and does not stop the process that caused the loss. Native hair around the transplanted area may continue to thin over the years, so the plan should take future loss into account.
The typical candidate has androgenetic (pattern) hair loss that has become relatively stable, a donor area with enough healthy follicles and realistic expectations about density.
Does it work for every type of hair loss?
No. A transplant is suitable mainly for androgenetic alopecia, the most common hereditary form of hair loss in both men and women. It also helps to add density where hair has become thin in a stable pattern.
More on this topic: Hair Transplant, Hair Transplant for Women, FUE Hair Transplant, FUE & DHI Hair Transplant in Singapore, FUE & DHI Hair Transplant in Málaga.
Other kinds of hair loss need a different approach first:
- Alopecia areata (patchy, autoimmune hair loss) is treated by a dermatologist; transplanting into active patches is not appropriate.
- Shedding after illness, stress, childbirth or hormonal changes often recovers once the cause is addressed, so a transplant is not the first step.
- Extensive loss with a weak donor area may not leave enough follicles for the result a patient hopes for.
This is why an examination of the scalp and the donor area comes before any decision. A doctor may also recommend tests to find the cause of the hair loss.
Hair transplant abroad: choose a city and clinic
Prices, the clinic and a free online consultation for each city:
Methods: FUE, DHI and combined technique
Modern transplants are based on extracting individual follicular units rather than cutting out a strip of skin.
FUE
- How grafts are placed
- Grafts are extracted one by one and placed into small channels made in the recipient area
- Usually used for
- Androgenetic alopecia
DHI
- How grafts are placed
- Grafts are loaded into an implanter pen and inserted directly, without opening channels in advance
- Usually used for
- Precise placement, working between existing hair
FUE + DHI
- How grafts are placed
- FUE extraction combined with DHI implantation
- Usually used for
- Androgenetic alopecia and adding density
The method is not something to choose from a brochure. The doctor recommends it after assessing the size of the area, how much native hair remains, the quality of the donor zone and the density you want.
Donor areas: head, beard and body
The main donor area is the back and sides of the head. Hair there is usually the most resistant to pattern hair loss, and it matches scalp hair in thickness and texture.
Beard and body hair are sometimes used by surgeons as an additional source when the scalp donor area is limited. This hair differs in thickness, growth cycle and texture, so it is generally regarded as a supplementary option and is decided on individually.
Grafts from the back of the head can also be moved to the face, for example to restore or shape a beard or eyebrows. In this case the transplanted hair keeps the properties of scalp hair and needs trimming.
Preparation and the day of the procedure
Before surgery, the doctor examines the scalp, counts the grafts needed and plans the hairline. Blood tests are usually required, and you receive instructions on medicines, alcohol and smoking in the days before the procedure.
The procedure itself is performed under local anaesthesia, so you are awake but the area is numb. Depending on the number of grafts it usually takes several hours, often most of a day. Grafts are extracted from the donor area and then implanted into the thinning zone.
A hair transplant is an outpatient procedure: most people go home or back to their hotel the same day, with written aftercare instructions for washing, sleeping and protecting the grafts.
Recovery and when results appear
The first days bring some swelling and small crusts in the recipient area, while the donor area heals from tiny punctures. Many people return to office work within about a week, and sport and saunas are resumed later on the doctor’s advice.
- First 1–2 weeks: crusts come off and swelling goes down.
- 2–4 weeks: the transplanted hairs usually shed. This is expected; the follicles stay in place.
- 3–4 months: new hairs begin to grow.
- 6–9 months: density becomes clearly visible.
- 12–18 months: the final result and a natural hairline take shape.
Results vary from person to person. Graft survival depends on the quality of the donor hair, the technique, the condition of the skin and how carefully aftercare is followed.
Contraindications to know in advance
A transplant is postponed or not recommended in several situations:
- active scalp inflammation or infection;
- alopecia areata or other hair loss that has not yet been diagnosed and treated;
- serious uncontrolled illnesses, such as poorly controlled diabetes or heart disease;
- blood clotting disorders;
- intolerance to local anaesthetics;
- an insufficient donor area for the planned result;
- unrealistic expectations or a very young age with loss that is still progressing fast.
If a transplant will not help, a good doctor says so at the consultation and suggests what to do first.
Getting a personal plan at City Medical Centre
City Medical Centre performs hair transplants under local anaesthesia using FUE, DHI and the combined FUE and DHI protocol: FUE for androgenetic alopecia, and the combined method for androgenetic alopecia and densification. The clinic also transplants hair to the beard and eyebrows using grafts from the back of the head.
City Medical Centre does not use beard or body hair as a donor source, does not perform FUT strip surgery and does not operate in alopecia areata, which is first treated by a dermatologist.
The first consultation is free and can be held online: send photos of the thinning area and the back of your head via Telegram, and the doctor will assess the donor area, count the grafts and say whether a transplant will help. The cost is quoted after the assessment and fixed in the contract, follow-up visits are planned at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, and a personal coordinator supports you throughout. Learn more on the hair transplant page.
How recovery usually goes
- 0-10 daysHealing: the crusts come off, the swelling goes down, the area gradually recovers
- 2-4 weeksShedding of the transplanted hairs: a normal stage, only the hairs fall out, the follicles stay in place
- 3-4 monthsGrowth begins: new hairs gradually appear, the result starts to show
- 6-9 monthsVisible density: the hair becomes thicker, the main volume and contour are visible
- 12-18 monthsFinal result: the final density and a natural hairline take shape
Sources
- NHS — Hair transplant
- American Academy of Dermatology — Hair loss: hair transplants
- NHS — Hair loss
- PubMed / NCBI — Follicular Unit Extraction for Hair Transplantation: An Update (Actas Dermosifiliogr, 2017)
- PubMed / NCBI — Donor site healing in follicular unit extraction hair transplantation (Cell Mol Biol, 2025)
Medical disclaimer. This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. It does not replace a consultation with a doctor. Every procedure has contraindications and risks. Read more · How we prepare and review medical content
Frequently asked questions
Can hair transplant help any type of baldness?
No. It works mainly for androgenetic (pattern) hair loss and for adding density in stable thinning. Alopecia areata is treated by a dermatologist first, and shedding after illness, stress or hormonal changes often recovers once the cause is addressed. The doctor decides after examining the scalp and the donor area.
Can I choose the transplant method myself?
You can tell the doctor your preferences, but the method is recommended after an examination. FUE is used for androgenetic alopecia, while the combined FUE and DHI technique is also used to add density. The choice depends on the size of the area, the remaining native hair and the donor zone.
Can I go home the same day after a hair transplant?
Yes. A hair transplant is done under local anaesthesia as an outpatient procedure, so most people go home or back to their hotel the same day. You receive written instructions on sleeping position, washing your hair and protecting the grafts during the first days.
When will I see hair transplant results?
Transplanted hairs usually shed within two to four weeks, new growth starts at around three to four months, visible density appears at six to nine months and the final result takes shape at twelve to eighteen months. The pace varies from person to person.
How much does a hair transplant cost?
The price depends mainly on the number of grafts, the method and the size of the area to be treated. It is named after the doctor has examined the donor area and counted the grafts, and it is then fixed in the contract. A free consultation, including online, is the way to get an exact quote.
Do I need to travel to Turkey for a good hair transplant?
No. Good results depend on the doctor’s involvement, a careful graft count, a realistic plan and proper follow-up, not on the country. Wherever you go, check who performs the procedure, what is included in the price and how aftercare and check-ups are organised.
Have a question about your case? Get a free consultation
Message a coordinator on Telegram: we reply right in the chat, and you can send photos and questions there too.
- The first consultation is free, online consultations are available
- The doctor names the cost after the assessment, and it is fixed in the contract
- A personal coordinator guides you from the first message to recovery
Message our coordinator
We reply right in the chat — you can send photos
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