​​1.  How long will the procedure take? ​

​Hair transplantation lasts 4-8 or more hours depending on:

a.  Number of grafts estimated to be transplanted   

< 500 grafts = approximately 4 hours   500-1000 grafts = approximately 4-6 hours   1000-2000 = approximately 6-8 hours   2000-3000+ = 8 hours or more

b.  Technique used to harvest the hair grafts   

 

Follicular Unit Transplantation (Strip FUT)

Length of surgery:  4-8+ hours depending on the number of grafts and certain factors that prolong surgery (ie. bleeding, popping up of grafts, slippery grafts, etc).

 

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) 

Length of surgery:  6-8+ hours depending on the number of grafts and certain factors that prolong surgery (ie. bleeding, popping up of grafts, slippery grafts, etc).

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2.  How long do I need to stay in the country?

​You will need a minimum of 3 days to a maximum of 7-10 days to remove the stitches.  The schedule can be broken down as follows:

Day 1 – Pre-op DayWhen you have already booked a schedule for surgery and have made a deposit of $500, please visit the clinic the day before your surgery date for your Pre-op consultation.  During this time, you will be given a more accurate estimation of the number of grafts you will require and discuss the procedure in more detail with your doctor.  A pre-operative instruction sheet will be provided. 

However, if coming a day before surgery is not possible, you may have pre-op on the same day as your surgery.

Day 2 – Day of surgery

Day 3 -  Post-operative carePlease visit the clinic for post-op management and instructions. 

You may leave after being seen by the doctor and have your stitches removed by a local physician anywhere.

Day 7-10  Removal of stitchesPlease visit the clinic for follow-up care and if you prefer to have the stitches removed before leaving the country.

 

​3.  Will it hurt during and after surgery? ​​​​​​​​​​

Hair transplant surgery is considered a minor procedure since it is only ‘skin deep’.  During surgery, local anesthetics are used as well as pain medications and sleeping pills that put you in a relaxed and drowsy state called “twilight” state.  After surgery, the pain is manageable and oftentimes negligible. To help relieve any discomfort, we provide appropriate pain medications and sleeping pills during your post-op recovery.

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4.  How long will the scar heal and will it be visible?

For strip FUT, there are 2 types of stitches – the larger non-absorbable stitches (retention stitches) that help hold the wound together and the smaller absorbable stitches that help appose the skin.  The scar from hair transplant surgery (donor area) usually heals and is strong enough to hold without retention stitches by 7-10 days after surgery.  It is important, however, to minimize over-stretching of the scalp by avoiding such activities that would require extensive head movements. Certain medications may be prescribed to help the wounds heal faster and it results in a cosmetically acceptable, less visible scar. Wearing your hair at least 1 cm to 1 inch long usually helps conceal the linear white scar. For FUE, scars from hair transplantation heal faster than the standard strip FUT.  It takes 3-5 days for the small circular punches to heal.  Though donor hairs at the back and sides should be shaved on the day of surgery, these hairs grow quickly enough to conceal the areas extracted.

 

 

5.  Do I need to take a leave of absence from work after having hair transplantation?

Most patients go back to work a few days after surgery.  We advice you to wear your hair long enough to cover the area(s) that have been transplanted such as the frontal area or temples.  Your existing hairs act as a camouflage while your hair grafts have not yet shed.  Within 2-4 weeks time, the scalp should more or less be back to normal, as most of the transplanted grafts should have fallen off and will start to regrow in 4 months. During the first few weeks, you can wear caps/hats/bandanas if your work permits.  You may also use hair fibers, which stick to existing thinning hairs and make it look thicker and fuller and camouflages the area well during recovery.

 

 

6.  When will I expect my hairs to grow?

Once the hair grafts have been transplanted, they usually start to fall off by 2 weeks time and continue to shed until about 4 weeks.  This is normal and is expected.  The grafts that have shed leave behind the “root” (containing stem cells) that will enable the hairs to regrow.  A “resting” phase of about 3-4 months is necessary to complete the hair cycle and as the hairs start to grow, they lengthen approximately 1cm each month as well as thicken in caliber.  Full growth is reached by 12-18 months.  It is important to be patient as the rates of hair growth can vary from person to person.  Final assessment should be made by 12-18 months before considering another hair transplant to add more density.

 

 

7.  Are there any complications from hair transplant surgery?

Complications from hair transplantation are usually minor and can be managed by simple techniques.  For more details, ask our specialists.Here are some of the more common complications: a.  Redness – This may last several weeks to months but do fade in time.  Avoiding direct sun exposure by wearing protective caps, hats, and bandanas is advised.

b.  Swelling – This is due to fluids from anesthesia injected onto the scalp, particularly at the frontal area, which flow down due to gravity.  Facial swelling occurs on the forehead and around the eyes, which can be minimized by using cold packs during the first 3-4 days.  Wearing a tight headband (to be provided) can minimize swelling and should be worn a few days after surgery.

c.  Numbness – This may last several weeks to months due to injury to the nerves on the head while injecting local anesthesia.

d.  Folliculitis – Pimple-like lesions on the scalp can occur and usually erupt within the first 2 months after surgery.  This is due to the accumulation of oils within the hair follicles as there are no exits or openings on the skin after the grafts shed.  Proper hygiene help prevent these eruptions, however, other factors such as oily skin and pre-existing skin infections may increase the risk. Warm compresses and topical antibiotics are usually needed for milder eruptions whereas oral medications may be necessary for more severe cases. 

e.  “Shock loss” – This is described as shedding of pre-existing hairs incurred by trauma during surgery and can occur over both the recipient as well as over the donor areas.  This hair loss (effluvium) is usually temporary and the shed hairs may be expected to regrow after 4 months (following the normal hair cycle).

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8.  I have Psoriasis on my scalp and have Pattern Baldness.  Can I undergo hair transplantation?

Certainly.  Though Psoriasis is a disease triggered by physical trauma to the skin, several cases of patients with psoriasis who underwent hair transplantation did not have aggravation of their skin lesions.  However, it is always best to control the inflammation prior to surgery with topical steroids and moisturizers. 

 

9.  I am a keloid former.  Can I undergo hair transplantation? 

Yes, although the risk of having a keloid scar over the donor area in either hair transplant techniques (FUT or FUE) is still present, there are ways to avoid or manage them if they do form. Weighing the risk and benefits is critical and these should be discussed thoroughly with your doctor.

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Learn more about our Hair Transplantation Procedure. ​

Contact our medical specialist TODAY.