Frequently Asked Questions for Hair Transplant Surgery

Am I a good candidate for Hair Transplant surgery?

Most of the men who are balding can be benefited from hair transplant surgery; even women. Men with early stages of baldness have much better results than late ones. It is important to have realistic expectation and to find out a hair transplant surgeon who can meet your expectation.

Hair transplant is largely a matter of demand and supply. Supply of hair is how much hair in donor area and demand is determined by how much bald area you want to cover and what degree of density.

How does Hair Transplant work?

Hair transplant is really an art in which redistribution of hair is done from donor area (occipital area, beard etc) which contains bald resistant hair follicle and is implanted in bald area. This process works for lifetime. The hair follicles taken from back of head are genetically resistant to baldness.

What is FUE hair transplant technique?

FUE is most popular hair restoration cosmetic surgery procedure. It is one of most advanced and effective cosmetic surgery done today. This is a universally accepted method. It was first adopted by dermatologists and now by plastic surgeon all over the world. Read more about FUE Hair Transplant here.

The advantages are: No scar, no stitches, no use of knife and large session nowadays.

Will my Hair Transplant results look natural?

As we say hair transplant surgery is an artistry and mainly depend on surgeon skills and technique. If hair transplant is done in the right and well planned way it gives amazing results and looks natural. As hair transplant skill and techniques varies a lot as do the results. It is important to choose the right procedure and the best surgeon to assure that you get good and natural results.

How long does Hair Transplant procedure take?

Normally, a typical session of 2000 to 3000 hair grafts takes 6-8 hours of duration on outpatient basis under local anesthesia. The patients arrive in the morning and are discharged late afternoon / evening.

Is Hair Transplant painful?

The procedure is performed under local anesthesia. Once the skin is anesthetise, no pain or discomfort is experienced during the procedure. Local anesthesia is infiltrated in both the donor as well as the recipient area which is effective for around 8-10 hrs or even more. Most of the patients feel soreness or numbness / heaviness in scalp region after surgery which can easily be controlled by oral pain killers and the symptoms decrease or go away after 5 to 7 days of surgery.

How many grafts are needed for good results?

The amount of hair grafts needed ultimately depends on your degree of baldness and how much density you want. It depends on how full you desire your hair density to be. To give you a rough estimate GradeI / II MPB nearly approx 1500 to 2000 hair follicles are required to give good results.

What is the recovery and healing time after FUE Hair Transplant surgery?

Downtime / healing time is very much less as compared to FUT procedure because of very small (micro) incision and less invasive procedure. This results in rapid healing. Most of the patients feel fine within a day or two following the surgery while some patient have swelling over forehead, soreness and numbness at operative site which generally recovers in a few days.

How will the transplanted area look and feel after surgery?

The transplanted area will have scabbing and may look pink for 7-10 days after procedure. There is usually a bit of redness, soreness and numbness which will last for a few days.

How long will I need to be off work after the surgery?

We advise our patients to take at least 3-4 days of off work / leave because some of you may experience oedema(swelling) over forehead, redness at surgical site etc. And after 3-4 days, it is advisable to wear a hat to work. You can apply ice-pack and take some medication for reducing swelling but scabbing takes its own course of time to heal. After 5th day, you can wash your hair with a mild shampoo and remove scab. We advise not to pick scab with finger nails.

What is shedding (shock loss) after surgery?

Some shedding of hair after hair transplant surgery is common and is known as Telogen Effluvium. It will begin around 10-14 days after surgery and can continue upto 6 weeks. Its normal phenomenon after surgery and should not be the cause of concern. In this phase only hair falls but roots are still intact. Minoxidil and finasteride combination may decrease the risk of shedding after hair transplant.

Will smoking affect the results of Hair Transplant procedure?

Smoking decreases blood flow to scalp thus contributing to poor wound healing. Smoking is also considered to be a factor in poor hair growth. A common recommendation is to abstain from smoking for atleast 1 week prior to surgery and for at least 3-4 weeks after procedure has been completed.

After surgery, how long will it be before I can start seeing a difference?

It takes around 6-8 months to start to see a cosmetic difference. The period between surgery and new hair growth is typically 2-3 months. Each hair takes its own time so change will happen gradually. Transplanted hair grow very thin initially and gradually become thicker and fuller over time. After one year transplanted hair will be fully mature and will continue to grow for lifetime.

What is Male Pattern Baldness?

It is most common cause of baldness; also known as Androgenic Alopecia, MPB is related to your genes and male sex hormone. It usually follows a pattern of receding hairline and hair thinning on crown and frontal scalp. It starts with hair loss above temples generating typically ‘m’ shaped pattern of hair loss. It is also associated with obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, thyroid and anemia etc. Learn more about Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) here.

What is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)?

PRP is an autologous preparation of blood plasma with platelets. It contains growth factors and other bioactive proteins that aid in wound healing. In order to obtain it, a patient’s blood is spun in a centrifuge that separates the solid from liquid components. Some hair transplant surgeons use PRP in either by, storing the grafts until they are placed on the scalp, or by injecting PRP into the scalp prior to the placement of grafts. The results of studies on the use of PRP as an adjunctive modality in hair transplantation remains controversial.

How much does Hair Transplant Surgery cost?

Every FUE hair transplant is unique to the patient’s individual needs. Some might need a relatively minor hairline correction. Others may need a significant restoration. The ultimate cost of your FUE hair transplant will depend on the scope of the procedure.

Many doctors charge based on the number of grafts required.

In general, FUE fees are higher than FUT fees.

It’s also possible to find a doctor who charges for the overall procedure and not by the graft. It’s important to discuss how the cost of your procedure will be calculated during your consultation.

The average cost of a FUE hair transplant in India ranges from 55,000 to 3 lakh rupees depending on the surgeon, amount of hair follicle required and the city / state you live in.

In our case, we are charging Rs 25/ hair follicle for FUE/FUT (as surgical procedure). We have packages for FUE / FUT starting from Rs. 70,000 upto 1 lakh depending upon the need of a patient.

How do I choose a Hair Transplant Surgeon?

A consultation with a board-certified surgeon is a good place to start. It is important to find a doctor with great credentials, especially with a proven history of great results in FUE hair transplants. It’s also important to find a doctor you trust. You should be comfortable with their bedside manner and trust them to do the procedure and provide the follow-up care you desire.

Looking for a hair transplant specialist in Gwalior?

Book a consultation with Dr Navdeep Chavan (+91-9407213371), Hair Transplant Surgeon, Gwalior

Consult, take opinion and evaluate yourself. By talking to a an experienced surgeon you will get a professional evaluation and hair restorative plan (medical /surgical) as well as an estimate about the procedure. For free consultation call us at +91-9407213371.

View our surgery results here: Pre & Post images for Hair Transplant Surgery, Gwalior.