Having a hair transplant is a significant decision to make. Many patients may not understand that a hair transplant is a surgical procedure used to treat hair loss. During the surgery, hair follicles are removed from one part of the scalp (called the donor site) and moved to another site that’s experiencing balding (called the recipient site). During this process, the hair follicles are transplanted into the recipient area. The work is done by a professionally trained and experienced surgeon.
As with other types of surgery, it’s important to ask your surgeon essential questions about the procedure, the recovery time, and more. So, we’ve compiled some of the most critical questions to ask your hair transplant surgeon in this guide.
1. What are the Qualifications of the Surgeon?
Before choosing a hair transplant surgeon, it’s important to ensure they have the right qualifications. Your surgeon should be licensed and board-certified. They should also have malpractice insurance.
In addition, it’s a good idea to ask if they can show you before and after pictures of their patients. If not, find a different surgeon who can show you a portfolio of their patients and the results of their hair transplant surgeries with this surgeon.
2. Where Will My Surgery Be Performed?
The hair transplant clinic should have CQC registration. It’s also best to ask whether the clinic is part of the private or public sector and whether the procedure will be performed in an office (clinic) or hospital.
The CQC (Care Quality Commission), an independent regulator, regulates the health and social care services in England. This organisation ensures the quality and safety of care patients receive care facilities, such as hospitals, hair transplant clinics, and more.
The surgery should be done with local anaesthesia and in a sterile environment. This applies whether the procedure is done in a hospital or a private clinic.
3. How Many Operations are Performed in the Clinic/Hospital Per Day?
This is a key question to ask your surgeon. Professional hair transplant clinics may perform 1-3 procedures a day. However, boutique clinics may perform hair transplants on as many as 20-30 people a day.
If a clinic performs a high number of surgeries a day, the probability of having good results is pretty low. In this situation, it’s too difficult to control the quality of your procedure or to ensure the environment is adequately sterilised.
It’s best to choose a hair transplant clinic that only does between 1-3 procedures a day.
4. Am I Too Young for a Hair Transplant?
The surgeon you choose should take time to thoroughly evaluate you and your condition. There are several conditions, including those that are age-related, that can have a direct impact on the success or failure of your hair transplant.
The main issue is the degree of hair loss and the future implications for your hair loss patterns. In younger patients, reputable surgeons work hard to preserve the hair and keep you from losing more.
The surgeon will also monitor your hair loss for a period of time, ensuring that a hair transplant procedure is right for you or not. Moreover, the surgeon must evaluate other health issues that can make you an excellent or poor candidate for hair transplant surgery.
5. How Many Hairs Will I Need?
The number of hairs needed for your procedure depends on the size of the scalp’s surface that needs to be covered, along with the desired density.
The surgeon should be able to evaluate your hair loss and determine how many grafts will be needed to get the results you want.
6. Will I Need Future Transplants?
The answer to this question depends on whether your hair loss has stabilised or not. It’s possible that you may experience further hair loss, which may mean you’ll need future hair transplants.
Your surgeon will consider future patterns of hair loss and recommend the best hair loss treatment plan that’s best for you.
7. Do I Have Enough Donor Hair?
A professional hair transplant surgeon will examine your donor area to see how many hairs can be transplanted. The size of the bald scalp area and the density you want also determine whether you have enough donor hair or not.
Reputable surgeons work to preserve your donor area as much as possible. They do this to make sure the area can be used again if you need additional hair transplant treatments in the future. They also ensure that scarring will be minimal, so you can wear your hair short after your procedure.
8. What are the Risks & Complications of the Surgery?
As with any medical procedure, a hair transplant does come with certain risks and complications. We want to stress that these surgeries are safe overall. But it’s best to know about the potential risks and complications of these surgeries.
Here are some possible side effects and complications a patient faces with a hair transplant:
- Infection
- Excessive bleeding
- Scarring
- Grafts may not “take”
- Pain
- Numbness
- Itching
- Swelling
- Cysts
Fortunately, if any of these issues develop, they are short-term and usually resolve quickly.
9. How Long Does the Procedure Take?
The answer to this question depends on the size of the area being treated and the number of hair follicles needed.
On average, a hair transplant may take between 2-6 hours. However, some patients may need to have their treatment done over 2 days. Your surgeon should let you know what to expect during your consultation.
10. When Will My Hair Start to Grow?
In most cases, you may be able to notice hair growth immediately after the procedure. However, it can take up to 1 year for your hair to fully regrow. Most patients see results within 6 months of their hair transplant.
11. How Much Does a Hair Transplant Take?
The answer depends on how large the bald area is and how many hair follicles will be needed. The cost is also dependent on the type of technique used.
Each patient’s needs are different. The surgeon will determine the cost of the procedure during your consultation. They will then offer a detailed summary of the process, the number of hair follicles needed, and more.
Concluding Thoughts
It’s a good idea to make a list of potential hair transplant clinics and ask each of them these questions. The right clinic is the one that offers the right answers and has a professional clinic that focuses on quality over quantity. They should be focused on your overall wellbeing and hair transplant results.
