Hair Transplant FAQs
Should I be thinking about a transplant at the first sign of hair loss?
Should I be thinking about a transplant at the first sign of hair loss? If you start to notice your hair thinning, the first thing we recommend is a medicated treatment to prevent this, rather than a transplant. Propecia and Minoxidil work to stimulate the hair follicle growth, which may postpone or prevent the need for surgery. These treatments save the hair that you currently have and are definitely the first steps to take when you notice your hair is starting to thin.
Do I need to be hairy on other parts of my body to have a transplant?
No, the hair for a transplant is taken from a strip at the back of the head where follicles are resistant to the effects of DHT (the natural metabolite of the human body that is the main reason for hair loss.) When these hair follicles are transplanted they maintain their natural resistance. Hair on other parts of the body is not always the same texture so wouldn't provide a completely natural looking result.
Are hair transplants really painful?
Transplant procedures are carried out under local anaesthetic, so the entire area is completely numb. However, as the procedure takes several hours to perform it does require a considerable amount of commitment.
What exactly does the procedure involve?
At Transform, we offer two hair transplant options - traditional hair transplant surgery plus the latest Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) treatment.
Traditional surgery involving hair follicles being taken from the back of the scalp, in the form of a strip. This is then divided and each hair follicle is individually transplanted into the area being treated. The re-implantation process itself involves first agreeing an area, density and pattern for the transplantation, before creating small incisions for the follicles to be placed.
The final result can be seen 4-6 months after the procedure has taken place and will be natural and virtually undetectable. FUE hair treatments offer a less-invasive, painless method with no tell-tale scarring for patients.
This process takes fully intact, individual hairs from nearly any part of the body, but usually the sides and back of the head, which are then implanted into the balding area.
Why are other non-surgical treatments sometimes recommended alongside a surgical transplant?
In some cases, male patterned hair loss can be ongoing. This means hair could thin and recede away from the transplanted areas. To avoid this, we recommend non-surgical treatments like Propecia.
Will I eventually lose the hair that's been transplanted as a result of hormonal changes?
No, transplanted hair isn't affected by hormones. However, this won't stop your other hair from continuing to recede naturally so this is why many patients continue to use Propecia and Minoxidil.
Can I still have a transplant if I'm completely bald?
If you look at someone who’s ‘lost all their hair’, they don’t completely lose hair at the back and sides. We transplant hair from this area. The result obviously wouldn't be a full head of hair, but it can still be done in a natural way. If you are in this situation, we recommend having a consultation with your surgeon to get an idea of the best treatment for you.
Will it be obvious I've had a transplant?
With the various, intricate techniques and instruments used in the transplants, and the way in which procedures have developed, the results we can achieve now are natural and undetectable. We do however advise patients to take between 7 to 10 days off work following their procedure to ensure that their scalp is fully healed.