Content reviewed and updated: April 2024

How soon after the procedure will I be able to resume work?

Most patients undergoing an FUT procedure will return to work 3 days following their procedure. Most patients undergoing an FUE procedure will wait up to 2 weeks before returning to work to allow some of their hair to regrow as the entire head is shaved when undergoing an FUE procedure.

Find out more about the differences between FUT and FUE.

It is not possible to wear a hat for two weeks following either procedure as this time is required to allow the hair to become secure in its new location. Therefore, patients with jobs that require the wearing of a hard hat, helmet etc. should plan for 2 weeks away from work following their procedure.

Is it a good idea to keep the scalp covered by a hat or hair-piece?

No hats or hair pieces can be worn for 2 weeks following surgery as detailed above.

Continuous use of hair pieces is not encouraged as the scalp needs to “breathe” in order to heal optimally. However, those who wear hair pieces may continue to do so until the transplanted hair has grown, provided the hair piece is not worn continuously. Caps or hats may be worn as desired.

Growth of the transplanted hair is normally seen at 6 months following surgery with the hair normally fully grown by 18 months.

How soon can I exercise after treatments?

It is recommended to avoid strenuous physical activity for 4 weeks post operatively for FUT hair transplants and for 2 weeks for FUE hair transplants. This is to avoid the stretching of the scars.

What about swimming?

Swimming in a swimming pool is not permitted in the first two weeks following surgery to avoid infection as the water can contain chemicals as well as harmful bacteria and should be avoided until the healing process is complete. Gentle sea swimming is possible during this time.

FAQ Video – Returning to Work

Find out more about returning to work and exercise after a hair transplant by watching our FAQ video.

 

What am I doing while my treatment is taking place?

You may watch TV, listen to music or engage in conversation. Each treatment room is equipped with a TV, DVD, MP3 and CD Player.

How many grafts are placed at each session?

During your consultation the total number of grafts necessary will be estimated. The number of grafts placed at each session may vary. This depends on the extent of baldness and your available donor hair.

Does it hurt?

The great majority of our patients are quite comfortable both during and after their hair transplantation procedure. Occasionally a patient says he / she had some pain. You will be given pain killers for use after the procedure should they be required. Many of our patients find that they do not need to take any pain killers at all.

How is this surgical procedure performed?

Hair transplantation is a minor surgical operation which requires only local anaesthetic. There is initially some discomfort associated with the administration of the local anaesthetic. This is of very short duration. We have developed techniques to reduce this discomfort, and most patients tolerate this brief period very well.

The donor area (the back or sides of the scalp) as well as the recipient area (the bald or thinning area) are made numb with the local anaesthetic. Nowadays large grafts have been completely replaced by smaller grafts (follicular units). These smaller grafts produce a much more natural transition from thinning or baldness to increased hair growth. In most cases where very small grafts are used, the surgery can be accomplished almost without detection.

What is the procedure for small grafts?

For an FUT procedure, having calculated the amount of donor hair required, the hair to be transplanted is trimmed close to the scalp. The desired amount of donor skin and hair are then removed. This donor site is then stitched usually resulting in a fine scar which is covered by your existing hair. The scar is usually only detectable on close inspection. The donor hair-bearing skin is then dissected, using high-powered microscopes, into very small pieces. The slivers are then divided into individual hair follicles. All of this work is done using the microscope. These grafts are then carefully inserted into small openings made in the recipient area.

How long does the surgery take?

At HRBR we have a team of 18 nurses and technicians who are highly skilled in these techniques. Most operations take between 6 and 8 hours. This is exacting work and, therefore, requires considerable time.

What type of preparation is required prior to hair transplant surgery?

Detailed pre-operative instructions are forwarded to each patient prior to the surgery date. Patients also complete a Consent for Surgery form. We also highly recommend scalp massage pre surgery.

What is the time interval between hair transplant sessions?

Minimum time intervals will depend upon individual circumstances. Usually 6 months is allowed between sessions at the same recipient site to allow the transplanted hair to grow out. This is so it will not be damaged when making the new incisions at subsequent sessions. There is no maximum interval between sessions.

Watch How does a hair transplant work?

Watch How soon will I see a result?

Watch Will I need a general anaesthetic?

Watch Will it hurt?

About Hair Loss

What are the reasons for male pattern balding?

Male pattern balding is genetic and can be inherited from either parent. This condition makes some hair follicles susceptible to a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which occurs naturally in our bodies. DHT causes susceptible hair follicles to weaken. They gradually produce thinner, finer hairs. Eventually, the affected follicles stop producing hairs altogether and die. When this happens the hair is lost forever. There is no cure for pattern hair loss in men or in women.

Can you predict hair loss?

Hair loss cannot be precisely predicted. A comparison with an older relative such as a father or maternal grandfather will provide a good indication. The gene for baldness may well skip generations and/or individuals in the same family.

What is the difference between density and fullness?

Several factors contribute to hair that appears “thick” or “full”. Density, the number of hairs per sq.cm., is only one of these. Other factors include hair shaft diameter, colour, texture, and curl. These may be of equal or even greater importance than density in contributing to the appearance of a “full” head of hair.

In the early stages of balding the “thin look” is caused by a process called “miniaturization”. Hair is reduced in size but not actually lost. Therefore, while the density remains the same, an individual’s look of fullness can be significantly reduced.

Is my visit confidential?

At HRBR, we understand that hair loss can be a very sensitive subject for our patients. We carefully plan all appointments so that our patients rarely cross paths. All patients are shown to a private waiting room which is theirs to use alone while waiting for their consultation. In cases of large hair transplants, there is usually only one patient seen in a given day. All patient information is stored in our secure, password-encrypted database to guarantee complete confidentiality.

Hair Transplants

Is removing large amounts of donor hair unsafe?

The amount of donor hair required for the average large session of hair transplant surgery is well within safe limits. The hair restoration surgeon must ensure that the amount of hair that is taken from the donor area is appropriate and safe. This decision should be based on his or her experience.

Is it true that the blood supply of the scalp cannot support a large transplant?
The blood supply of the scalp is among the richest in the entire body. It can support the growth of many grafts. At HRBR, we can often transplant up to 4,000 grafts or 8,000 hairs in one hair transplant procedure using FUT.

Why do some hair transplants look so unnatural?

At HRBR, we use Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) which result in a very natural appearance. Great care is taken in the design and planning of every patients hair transplant at HRBR to ensure that the transplant remains completely undetectable.

There is no excuse whatsoever for a hair transplant to look unnatural. If it does, it is simply because it is a bad hair transplant.

What makes HRBR different to other hair restoration clinics?

HRBR is one of the leading hair restoration clinics in the UK and Ireland. It is one of the few, if not the only, clinic anywhere in the world where patients are dealing with qualified medical professionals throughout the entire process. Our hair transplant surgeons are vastly experienced and have over 80 years of combined experience in the UK and Ireland. They have 20 degrees, including nine fellowships, to their names; and have trained with renowned international experts in the hair restoration field. All interaction with HRBR is with our qualified medical professionals. There are no commercial salespeople involved at HRBR.

Our surgeons perform FUT and FUE techniques of hair transplant surgery. We do this in a similar but not identical way to other hair restoration clinics. What makes HRBR different is that we treat the procedure as if it were an organ transplant. We have a large team of qualified surgeons, nurses and technicians. The team ensures that the grafts are handled precisely and transplanted back into the patient in the most effective and time efficient manner possible. This results in a high success rate for our transplants.

We maintain the highest possible clinical standards by continuously training our staff. This is done through in-house programmes and participation at training seminars and conferences. We also conduct rigorous annual reviews.

Hair transplant surgery is a difficult decision – have you any words of wisdom?

Nobody necessarily needs a hair transplant. Trimming hair short and getting on with life is an option for some men with hair loss. The public often have little tolerance for bad hair transplants, comb-overs or wigs however they find baldness completely acceptable. It is the sufferer who often does not.

If you are considering a hair transplant, the first thing to say is that you should thoroughly research the subject to properly understand the procedure. Make sure that the team providing the treatment for hair loss can meet your expectations. Beware of commercial hair restoration clinics and salespeople who are not medically qualified to advise you. And remember that nobody can give you back a full head of hair.

The hair transplant should deal with your immediate hair loss concerns but must also take into account your future hair loss as you age. Planning for the future is critical as a hair transplant is permanent and will last for the rest of your life.

The final decision should be made by you and you alone. Nobody should influence your decision, not family, friends, doctors or salespeople. You are the only person capable of making this crucial decision. It is your self-image and appearance that is going to be changed. Take as much time as necessary to reflect wisely and to make a well-informed decision.

What we say at HRBR is that if you are unsure about whether or not to have a hair transplant, we advise you not to proceed until you are.

Hair loss in men

In most cases male hair loss is caused by hereditary Androgenetic Alopecia, more commonly known as “male pattern baldness”. The tendency for male pattern baldness is genetically inherited from either side of the family and begins to develop after puberty. The presence of the hormone Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), in a genetically susceptible man, is necessary for male pattern baldness to occur. There is no cure. Many myths exist regarding hair loss and baldness but it is most definitely not caused by poor circulation, clogged hair follicles, frequent shampooing, the wearing of hats and helmets or the presence of mites. Good nutrition can positively affect the quality, but not quantity, of hair.

Hair loss in women

There are many different causes of hair loss in women. Female pattern hair loss  is still being researched, but the hormone influences in hereditary hair loss in females are suspected to be different from those in males.

Some of the less common causes of hair loss in women, which are reversible with treatment, include thyroid disease, iron deficiency, high fever, surgery or general anaesthesia, “crash diets”, childbirth and certain medications.

There are also certain dermatologic scalp disorders that can result in temporary or permanent hair loss, such as frontal fibrosing alopecia, lichen planopilaris, and alopecia areata. Our resident consultant dermatologist can advise patients suffering from dermatological conditions.

Hair loss and hair transplant surgery

Hair transplant surgery is all about compromise, creating an illusion of fullness and density. The surgeon takes  hair from the donor area either by a strip or one by one and transplants the follicular units taken into the recipient balding or thinning areas. Donor hair, which is permanent and unaffected by the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), is redistributed to the balding (recipient) area. The art of transplant surgery evolves from the angulation of the grafts and the placement of the 1, 2, 3 and 4 hair follicular grafts in different locations. No new hair is created during the procedure. When transplanted, the density of follicular units is less than the original but the eye can have difficulty in detecting this.