A Hair Transplant is a procedure designed to move hair from one part of the head where there is sufficient hair to another part of the head where more hair is desired. This can be to rejuvenate a hairline, feminize or masculinize a hairline, reduce a widow’s peak, increase density to thinning areas, cover-up scars on the scalp, and various other reasons. Hair transplants have been done for decades, but the technology, procedure, and techniques have changed significantly over time.

Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is the newer and more advanced of the two primary methods of obtaining hair follicles for hair transplantation. Follicles are naturally occurring groups of one to six hairs which are moved from one place of the scalp to another. The other method is called FUT or strip harvesting which is largely falling out of favour as an extraction method. The procedure involves surgically cutting or incising a full-thickness hair follicle skin graft with a tiny circular punch on a motorized hand piece and subsequently carefully extracting it from the scalp to be placed in the donor balding scalp. This is done with extreme care, accuracy, and finesse, to ensure the survival of the follicles. The follicles are skillfully placed into recipient sites in the scalp with particular care and attention paid to the angle, direction, and depth of each follicle to ensure the most natural result possible.

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) is an older technique rarely used today. Although it is the right for some people, and we will refer those people when appropriate, FUE is the best procedure for the vast majority of patients. FUT leaves a linear scar at the back of the scalp, because a full-thickness strip of scalp is cut out and dissected down into individual grafts. This results in a longer and more painful recovery period, more noticeable scarring, and is not possible for those with a tight scalp.

There are many factors that make a good hair transplant candidate. A healthy, active, non-smoker with androgenetic alopecia who has realistic goals makes the best candidate. Some things that make a hair transplant a less ideal option are people on blood thinners, people with hair loss from an autoimmune condition, people with poorly controlled diabetes or thyroid function, among others. Preferably, hair transplants are not done patients younger than 25 years of age, and are best done on those over 30, but we are always open to assessing each patient on a case-by-case basis. If you are interested in a hair transplant, we encourage you to come in for a consultation to find out if it would be a good fit for you.

Down time depends on each person. While FUE typically has a shorter recovery period than FUT, there is still some down time. There are two factors that determine down time. First, the activities that the patient is involved in may be restricted for the first few days to weeks in order to protect the newly placed follicles. These follicles are quite delicate, especially in the first few days following a transplant, and it is important to protect them to maximize the results of the procedure. Second, one’s own comfort with having other’s see that they have had a procedure plays a role. Some patients are completely comfortable to share their hair restoration journey with others, and we are thrilled when they do; however, others may be more reserved for various reasons, and we fully respect that. The more reserved may have a longer “down time” as, depending on the details of the procedure, it may take some time until it is not noticeable that they have had a procedure.

The most common side effects are short-lived and quite tolerable. These include swelling, itching, and sometimes a bit of bleeding. Occasionally, patients may experience a tingling sensation in the scalp. Much more rare is infection and failure of the procedure. Although these are always a possibility, they are extremely rare. We take measures to optimize the success of the procedure and avoid infection.

Ideally, a hair transplant is a one-and-done experience. As mentioned above, sometimes patients opt for further procedures, which can be done at (of after) 12 months from the previous one. Sometimes, a single session is clearly not going to be enough, and plans will be discussed with the patient for pre-determined/expected future procedures as a multi-step plan.

It's important to understand that results can vary. While we strive for optimal outcomes, several factors beyond our control can influence the final result. It typically takes up to 12 months to see the full effect of a hair transplant. In some cases, patients may desire additional density, which can be discussed after the 12-month post-op period.

Please note, payment covers the initial procedure. Any future procedures will be charged at the prevailing hair transplant rate at the time of booking.