What is a Hair Transplant?

John M

Hi, I'm John. About age 30 my hair started receding. After trying lots of products I eventually decided on a hair transplant. And now I have my hair back.

A hair transplant is where hair follicles are surgically removed from the back of your head and then transplanted into an area where you have lost hair, usually at the crown or on the hairline. Read more HERE.

There are two types of hair transplants, FUT (strip) and FUE. FUT or strip transplants were the predecessor of FUE transplants.

In a FUT procedure, a surgeon will remove a small strip of skin from the back of your head, and stitch the gap together.

The surgeon will then extract the hair follicles from that donor strip and implant them into the area you have hair lost.

A FUT procedure is slightly faster and the donor area heals quicker, but it will leave a horizontal scar at the back of your head. So you will not be able to cut your hair short without it being visible.

FUE transplants are the more modern option and do not leave a scar. In an FUE transplant, a surgeon will extract small skin grafts one by one from the back of your head. A graft will be between 1-2mm in diameter and will contain between 2 and 5 individual hair follicles.

The surgeon will take a number of grafts and then extract the individual follicles from the grafts and implant them into an area where you have hair loss. This process takes a little longer, costs a little more, but leaves no scarring.

The implanting of hairs does not differ between FUT and FUE. The only difference is the extraction method.

Hair transplant surgery dates back as early as the ’50s but has really come along massively over the last 10 – 15 years.

So doctors have been performing these procedures and perfecting them for years. In the realm of cosmetic procedure’s hair transplants are considered to be one of the least invasive and one of the more straightforward procedures.

Typically a hair transplant procedure can be done in a day. Larger procedures may take two days, one for extraction and one for implanting.

Healing is fast, just a few weeks. But it can take up to 12 months for you to see the full effect of the transplant because your transplanted follicles go through shock and need a couple of months before they can start growing new hairs.

Before considering a transplant you may want to look at trying some hair loss products.

Top 5 Reasons to go abroad for a Hair Transplant

1. Save at least 60% on the cost

A hair transplant in Europe is at least 60% cheaper than in the UK. And most packages are all inclusive, including your accommodation and airport transfers.

2. Europe has some of the most experienced surgeons in the world

Europe has more clinics, which have been established and running for much longer than clinics in the UK. The price is also lower, making it more accessible for people.

Surgeons in Europe will have carried out hundreds, if not thousands more procedures than UK based surgeons. Because of this some UK clinics will bring in surgeons from Europe to carry out your procedure.

3. Hair restoration clinics in Europe are state or the art

Many facilities in Europe are dedicated hair restoration clinics. They only perform that type of treatment. As such all equipment, facilities, techniques and staff are specialists in hair restoration.

Hair restoration is only now becoming more popular in the UK, so many UK clinics are general cosmetic facilities that carry out various procedures.

4. Get even more value by making your transplant into a holiday

Europe is such a popular holiday destination for many reasons, the culture, history, sights, cuisine, shopping, great weather, your money goes further, it’s widely English speaking, and it’s just 2 or 3 hours away by plane.

The list goes on! So why not travel a few days earlier, grab a low cost Airbnb or hotel, take a friend or partner and enjoy the city for a few days before your transplant.

5. Hassle free process

It’s so easy to get an assessment and price. Contact the clinic, arrange an initial consultation in the UK with your surgeon, or do an online consultation by sending a few pictures and answering some basic questions.

Once you’re happy, pick a date and you’re done! The clinic will send you all the paperwork and itinerary so you know exactly what’s happening. You don’t pay until you go for treatment.

You just hop on the plane. A transfer car will meet you as you get off the plane and take you to the clinic. It’s such an easy process. Easy!

Top 5 Hair Transplant Tips

1. Know your post-op timeline – The key dates!

You need to take the upmost care in the first 7 days
You can leave the house after 7 days, but I advise you take at least 2 weeks off work.
You won’t be able to wear a hat or exercise for up to 4 weeks after.
Around 2 – 4 weeks your new hair will fall out, you’ll look a little red and sore – similar to sunburn.
Around 4 months your new hair starts growing and looking good.
By 6 months you can’t tell you’ve had a transplant.

You can get a haircut after the first month, or you can keep it short yourself with clippers until it starts to grow back.

2. Pick the right time to schedule your treatment

Good clinics will be busy, so you may have to wait 2 months to get an appointment – this is a good thing. So knowing that and knowing your post-op timeline (above) means you can plan the perfect time around your social or work calendar.

If you have important social events coming up, particularly if you know you’ll be photographed then you may plan your transplant 6 months in advance, or wait until your calendar is free.

3. Set your expectations

If your hair has receded at the front you’ll want the clinic to draw an expected hairline on your head or on pictures of you as soon as possible. They’ll then also talk about the number of grafts or hairs you’ll need and how thick the result will look.

The sooner you can establish this, the sooner you’ll know exactly what to expect. A good clinic will also take into consideration a natural looking hair line for your age and your face and head shape. Have an honest conversation and be open to their expert feedback.

4. Knowing what the journey home looks like

There’s no way around it, you’ll have to go out in public to travel home. The worst part is sitting at the airport for 2 hours or so whilst you wait for your plane.

I found it was best to embrace it. People are nice for the most part and won’t stare, and if one or two do who cares – you will never see those people again! You may even be at the airport with other transplant patients, I wasn’t the only one!

Take a travel pillow and have someone pick you up if possible, so you can exit swiftly and get back home as soon as possible. It’s natural to be self-conscious, but it’s over fast and well worth it.

Tip! Just take carry-on luggage to keep your check-in and wait time down.

5. Choosing the right clinic

Pick somewhere you can travel to and from easily
Check their reviews online, not just on their site!
Do they have a good quality website and professional looking emails?
Can you see actual case studies of previous patients online?
Do they have an address? Can you see it on Google street view?
Can you meet your surgeon for a consultation beforehand?
Do you know someone who’s been there before – first hand opinion is amazing!

John M

Hi, I'm John. About age 30 my hair started receding. After trying lots of products I eventually decided on a hair transplant. And now I have my hair back.

A Simple Way To Keep Hair Healthy And Thick

Do you want to keep your hair without surgery? I get it … surgery can be expensive and frightening. Although it’s the most effective solution when things go bad and it helped me, you still experience some discomfort and have to take some time off from work.