Hair Transplant FAQs 

Hair transplants offer lasting results that are natural and virtually undetectable. The procedure involves transplanting individual hair follicles from a donor area to areas with thinning or no hair. These transplanted follicles continue to grow naturally, providing long-lasting and natural-looking results.

Hair transplants are considered long-lasting when patients diligently care for their transplanted hair and use hair loss medications to ensure the grafted hair remains healthy and vital. FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) hair transplants will remain on your head for as long as they would have lasted in the donor area from where they came from.

The longevity of results is largely attributed to the resilience of the transplanted follicles. With proper care, including regular maintenance and a healthy lifestyle, medical treatments for hair loss, individuals can expect their transplanted hair to endure for an extended period. 

FUE is renowned for its effectiveness and minimal scarring, making it a popular choice for those seeking a permanent hair loss treatment. The transplanted hair retains its characteristics and durability, ensuring a lasting solution to restore both confidence and a fuller head of hair.

An FUE hair transplant is generally low on the pain scale. 

The procedure is minimally invasive, and local anesthesia is used. Local anesthesia is administered to numb the donor and recipient areas, ensuring minimal discomfort during follicle extraction and transplantation. 

If pain is indeed reported by a patient, it is typically minor and well-tolerated, and can be mitigated by administering a little more local anesthesia. It is fair to compare hair transplant pain to your trips to the dentist - you may feel some odd sensations, but feeling genuine pain is very atypical and is rectified quickly with additional anesthesia. Sensations are often described as pressure rather than sharp pain.

Postoperatively, patients may experience mild soreness or swelling, manageable with prescribed pain medication. Individual pain tolerance and anxiety levels influence perception, but advancements in FUE techniques prioritize patient comfort. 

Overall, the procedure is designed to be minimally invasive, making FUE a well-tolerated option for effective hair restoration. 

We know everyone wants a direct answer to this question - but it’s nearly impossible to answer this accurately without seeing and assessing your head first.

Hair restoration costs vary widely by city and clinic reputation.

The cost of a hair transplant in your city primarily depends on three factors: 1) your current level of hair loss, 2) your own personal restoration goals, which can range from aggressive to conservative, and 3) the quality, reputation, and experience of the doctor/surgeon.

An accurate cost can be assessed for you during your free consultation.

The optimal age for a hair transplant depends on the progression of hair loss and if you have a receding hairline or balding on the crown.

Older men are considered slightly better candidates for transplants than very young ones. This is because it’s beneficial for the surgeon to fully visualize and understand your genetic balding pattern, which oftentimes hasn’t materialized yet for men in their early or mid 20s.

For slightly older men, the surgeon can properly plan a procedure that best suits your genetic balding pattern, and will suit you better as you age. This ensures the most positive result for the long-term. Early stages may benefit from non-surgical treatments like hair loss medications, while advanced cases might require a transplant for lasting results.

Consulting with specialists helps determine the best timing, considering factors like donor hair availability and overall health. Choosing the right age ensures effective and long-lasting hair loss treatment.

One of the most common questions we receive is “how many grafts do I need?”. To be completely transparent, we’ll need to see your head first before making this determination with any degree of accuracy. The number of grafts needed is dependent on two primary factors: 1) your personal level of hair loss, and 2) less intuitively, it is also dependent on whether your restoration goals are more aggressive or conservative.

Not necessarily, although historically, shaving your head has been the norm. In the 2020s, “no shave” hair transplants are becoming more and more popular, and Dr. Harris with RESTORE is one of the global leaders in performing no-shave hair transplants while actively training other doctors on how to perform them.

You’ll have more hair! So, in that sense, a hair transplant is noticeable. Otherwise, modern FUE hair transplants of the 2020s leave behind virtually no visible scarring. Think about how many celebrities and athletes have had hair transplants - many! Have you ever noticed a single one with visible scarring? Probably not - because modern techniques truly produce great results with more hair, with little to zero visible scarring.

Throughout their lives, even bald men can continuously grow hair within the “horseshoe” pattern around the back and sides of their head. (Although many choose to shave this area for cosmetic reasons to achieve the completely bald look). Those hair follicles from within that “horseshoe” pattern are stronger and more resilient than hair elsewhere on the head, and they grow throughout your life. Thus, a hair transplant is quite simple - we harvest some of the strong follicles from the back of the head, from the horseshoe, then simply relocate those to more desirable areas on the top of your head and along your hairline.

"Hair plugs" were an antiquated form of hair transplant surgery that existed in the 1980s and early 1990s, typically producing very poor results that were also highly noticeable. The surgeon would use a device similar to a hole punch device, and "punch out" circular groups of hair from the donor region, then "plug in" those same circular hole punches into the recipient area along the hairline. The repetitive and perfectly circular nature of the plugs looked awkward and unnatural. This type of surgery no longer exists today, although the stigma of the phrase "hair plugs" lingers onward, despite many advances in technology and a different style of surgery altogether.

The best candidates for hair transplants are men who are generally healthy, have a robust supply of remaining donor hair, and positive attitude about surgery. While there is no age requirement, it’s typically better to be slightly further along in your hair loss pattern, meaning men younger than 25 are not typically the best candidates.

Watch as Dr. Harris explains FUE Hair transplants

Although the original FUT “strip” method continues to exist today, and some surgeons continue to offer it, there is generally no good reason for a man to choose the strip method over the more modern FUE method. The risk of linear scarring using the strip method has caused it to fall out of favor with men in the 2010s and 2020s, and the vast majority of hair transplants today use the more modern FUE method.

The ARTAS robot style of hair transplant uses computer technology and 3D mapping to analyze and dissect hairs from your donor region. Otherwise, the entire procedure is exactly the same, as hairs are harvested from the back of your head, and moved by your surgeon to the front.

It’s common for men experiencing hair loss to consider alternative treatment options before ultimately deciding on a hair transplant. Usually, the first step is to begin taking hair loss medications, such as minoxidil and finasteride, which can help slow down the hair loss process.

Male pattern baldness is a genetic condition that causes men to lose their hair. Contrary to popular belief, the gene can come from either side of the family; not just the maternal one.

The average age of hair transplant patients at RESTORE is between 40 and 45, although that is strictly the average, because we treat men who are both younger and older.

Yes, a hair transplant will look natural, assuming you utilize a highly reputable doctor and clinic.

Yes - a hair transplant is worth it. In fact, most men tell us it’s the best investment they've ever made and wish they had done it sooner. Looking great, feeling confident, and putting forward the best version of yourself will pay off.

Other than (sometimes) saving a bit of money, there really aren't any pros to getting a hair transplant abroad.

However, there are many potential cons to having work done abroad, including: lower medical standards overseas, a higher risk of overharvesting your donor area, little or no surgeon accountability, no face-to-face pre-op consultations, no follow-ups, extensive travel time and expenses, and the increased stress of considering all of these potential cons.

This is mostly a cost choice, because the strip method is less expensive than the more modern FUE. However, the risk of linear scarring with the strip method is very high. For most clients, the risk/reward is simply not worth it, and FUE is the better method with less pain and a shorter recovery time.

Yes, a hair transplant will look natural, assuming you utilize a highly reputable doctor and clinic. Most of the unnatural looking results you can find online were performed overseas for a very low price and/or by physicians/surgeons lacking in skill and reputation.

At a free hair consultation with RESTORE hair, patients can expect a personalized and informative experience in their journey toward effective hair restoration. The session begins with a thorough examination of the patient's hair loss condition by experienced professionals. The consultation encompasses a discussion about various hair restoration options, including cutting-edge techniques such as hair transplants.
The knowledgeable team at RESTORE hair addresses individual concerns and goals, providing detailed insights into the available procedures. For those considering a hair transplant, such as the No-Shave Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), the consultation delves into the intricacies of the process. Patients gain a comprehensive understanding of how FUE works, from the extraction of donor hair to the meticulous transplantation process.
During the consultation, the emphasis is not only on addressing current hair loss but also on planning for long-term results. The team discusses potential outcomes, timelines for recovery, and the importance of postoperative care. Patients receive tailored advice on the most suitable approach based on their unique circumstances and expectations.
RESTORE hair prioritizes transparency and patient education, ensuring that individuals leave the consultation with a clear understanding of the chosen hair loss treatment path. The team also addresses any questions or concerns, fostering a sense of confidence and trust.
Beyond the technical aspects, the free consultation at RESTORE hair recognizes the emotional impact of hair loss. The team provides empathetic support, acknowledging the psychological aspects of the journey. Patients leave the consultation armed with knowledge, a personalized plan, and the assurance that they are in capable hands for their hair restoration needs.
In essence, the free hair consultation with RESTORE hair goes beyond a mere evaluation — it's an empowering experience where patients receive expert guidance, personalized recommendations, and the assurance that their hair restoration journey is in the hands of skilled professionals dedicated to achieving optimal and lasting results.

The Norwood Scale, a widely used classification system for male pattern baldness, categorizes hair loss stages from I to VII. It assesses receding hairlines, temple recession, and crown balding. This visual aid helps professionals diagnose and plan treatments, offering a standardized way to communicate the extent of male pattern baldness.

Yes! The Restore Hair No-Shave FUE hair transplant procedure offers a groundbreaking solution, allowing patients to undergo hair restoration without the need to shave their entire head. Individual hair grafts are moved from the back of your head where you are plentiful to the balding areas. 
During the initial consultation at Restore Hair, experienced professionals evaluate the feasibility of this innovative approach based on individual hair loss patterns and goals. Patients considering this procedure can expect a seamless experience with the skilled team at Restore Hair.
The No-Shave FUE not only preserves the natural appearance of the existing hair but also delivers the transformative results synonymous with traditional FUE transplants.
In essence, the no-shave FUE hair transplant at Restore Hair stands as a testament to the clinic's dedication to innovation and patient satisfaction. The procedure's success lies not only in its technical efficiency but also in the comprehensive support provided during the consultation and throughout the transformative journey, reaffirming Restore Hair's position as a leader in advanced and patient-focused hair restoration.

Recovery time after a Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) hair transplant is relatively short. You will almost certainly want to rest a bit immediately after returning home from the surgery, and possibly for another day or so. 

You could theoretically go back to work the next day, and some men do, but most patients opt to take a few days off before returning to work. The donor and recipient area may have minor redness and swelling that are generally healed and back to normal within 5-7 days. 

Patients can usually resume regular activities within a few days but should avoid strenuous exercise for a few weeks. 

Complete recovery and visible hair growth may take several months, emphasizing the need for patience.

Adherence to post operative care instructions, including gentle hair washing and avoiding certain activities, is crucial for optimal and successful FUE hair transplant outcomes.

For the first few days after your surgery, we ask you to take it easy.

Please don’t work out, don’t touch or pick at the follicles, don’t expose your head to lots of direct sunshine, don’t wear helmets, and so on. Basically, you want your newly transplanted follicles to exist in an extremely “mild” environment without any touching, irritation, or unnecessary agitation, to maximize their opportunity to take root and grow strongly.

However, you can resume other normal activities such as working, shopping, driving, etc. the next day. You can start to workout on the fourth day following the procedure.

After roughly 7 days, you can resume all of life’s normal activities without fear of damaging the newly transplanted follicles. However, for about one additional week after that, we still ask that you use common sense and don’t do anything totally egregious, like fiercely yanking or tugging on the new hair.

Growth after hair transplantation varies from patient to patient..

Some patients begin seeing new hair growth as early as 3 months, while many others begin seeing new hair growth by 6 months. In rare cases, it can take a little longer. 

The initial growth is very exciting, but it is typically not indicative of the full and final results. For some men, it takes 9 to 15 months post-op for the new hair to fully grow in and for the final cosmetic result to be reached.

Patience is crucial, as it can take up to 18 months, providing a comprehensive and long-lasting solution to hair loss.

Regular follow-ups with the surgeon during this period ensure proper monitoring and address any concerns in the journey towards restored hair density.

Modern FUE hair transplants leave virtually no visible scarring, and are visually superior to the old “strip” (FUT) method. However, it is technically false to say that it’s impossible for scarring to occur. Any cosmetic surgery that involves penetration of the skin can sometimes leave a miniscule amount of minor scarring behind. Although, in the case of FUE hair transplants, those theoretical scars are the size of tiny pinpricks, and you will enjoy the benefit of covering and concealing them with your hair.

Post-op redness in both the donor area and the recipient area varies from person to person. Typically, African Americans and other men with darker/tanner skin will experience the least amount of post-op redness with a faster return to normal. Caucasian men with very pale skin will also heal perfectly fine, but they may experience some lingering redness for slightly longer before returning to normal.

You can shower the day after the procedure, however we do ask that you follow a special protocol for washing your hair as we want the newly transplanted follicles to firmly take root and avoid any trauma that could knock them loose.

You can shower the day after the procedure, however we do ask that you follow a special protocol for washing your hair as we want the newly transplanted follicles to firmly take root and avoid any trauma that could knock them loose.

Absolutely, and this is extremely common in the days and weeks following your procedure. It’s critically important in those first few days post-op that you avoid disturbing and jostling the newly transplanted hairs.

We ask that you not exercise after a hair transplant for a three days following the surgery. After three days feel free to return to your normal exercise routine without any worries. The only actions we would like you to avoid for 1 week are wearing a helmet and swimming.

We ask that you take the rest of the day off after your surgery. However, theoretically, you could return to work the next day. A high percentage of men take-off at least a few days following their surgery, and/or schedule several consecutive work-from-home days after the surgery.

A very small percentage of men will experience a phenomenon called “shock loss”after their hair transplant procedure. What is shock loss? It’s an uncommon reaction to the surgery, and it describes the temporary loss of hair that is otherwise healthy in your donor and recipient regions. Even in procedures that are executed correctly, shock loss can still occur in some men, although ultimately, the hair will regrow after several months.

Possible side effects after a hair transplant include: (1) swelling of the forehead, which eventually disappears on its own after a few days. (2) temporary in-grown hairs, in both the donor area and and the recipient area. These can appear a few weeks after the surgery, but are not permanent and will eventually dissipate on their own; and (3) a condition known as “shock loss” which can also occur in some patients. “Shock loss” is temporary hair loss of otherwise healthy hair in the donor and recipient regions. This can feel traumatic to patients for obvious reasons, but shock loss typically reverses itself and the hair returns after several months. This happens in approximately 15% of patients. However, using minoxidil for several weeks prior to your procedure can reduce the chance of it occurring by 50%.

Because hair transplants are an outpatient procedure, the recovery process is typically focused on pain management and avoiding certain activities that could be a detriment to the growth of the new hair. You will have thousands of tiny scabs that will resolve themselves naturally over the course of the next 7 to 10 days. You will occasionally feel slight pain that can be resolved with pain medication. And we ask that you avoid certain activities that could damage the new hairs.

In the first few days after a hair transplant, we ask that you use a neck roll for support while sleeping and keep your head elevated at 20-30 degrees. This stabilizes your head position and prevents you from rolling over in the middle of the night, which protects your newly transplanted follies from accidentally making contact with anything. You may think you can control your position while sleeping, but we strongly recommend a neck pillow for those first few nights, just in case. The head elevation is to minimize the risk of forehead swelling.

To answer concisely, no - there is no correlation whatsoever between a hair transplant and dandruff. However, dandruff after a hair transplant can occur for other reasons, like beginning to use a new hair loss shampoo or a topical medication like Rogaine, which happens commonly.

We actually encounter this scenario very frequently. After a hair transplant, we've noticed that lots of men start some kind of new, experimental, non-FDA approved “rapid growth” shampoo. More often than not, it is this change in a lifelong hair habit/routine that ultimately becomes the cause of their dandruff, rather than the surgery itself.

After three days - go for it. However, we strongly advise you to warn your partner to avoid tugging, pulling, or even running their fingers through your hair for a week  after the surgery.

Yes - we can fix a bad hair transplant, assuming there are enough follicles remaining on your head within the donor region to harvest from.
Typically, bad transplants fall into three camps 1) unnatural looking hairline, 2) low density, 3) linear scarring from the old strip method.
A bad hair transplant with an unnatural looking hairline can be fixed through softening or simply changing its shape. Meanwhile a low density bad hair transplant can be fixed by inserting additional follicles into the desired area. Lastly, bad hair transplants with linear scarring can be minimized by inserting new follicles directly into the scar itself, to help minimize the appearence of the scar, or by having SMP performed in that area. SMP stands for "scalp micro-pigmentation", which is essentially a small tattoo made to look like hair follicles to cover the area.

To simply accept balding is increasingly becoming more of a personal choice. You can choose to accept your balding, which of course is quite admirable, or you can choose to fight against it with the advanced medications and technology of the 2020s, which continue to increase in effectiveness.

If you’re bald, and you feel confident about being bald, yes, women like it. The issue with being bald is that, no matter how hard some bald men try, they simply cannot feel fully confident while bald or balding.

The bottom line is that non-surgical options like pills, creams, and shampoos can help slow down hair loss slightly, but 99% of the time they cannot reverse it. Meanwhile, a hair transplant tangibly reverses your hair loss, and restores hair into places where it doesn’t currently exist.

If you're a man, the easiest way to make your hair thicker is through defensive therapies like finasteride or minoxidil, or via a hair transplant. More organic methods include the right diet and vitamins.

EverHair is the most aggressive non-surgical treatment plan available for male pattern baldness - it includes finasteride, minoxidil, laser treatment, and PRP treatment, all of which are clinically proven methods. When applied together, all four treatments can produce noticeable results.

PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. This particular therapy uses an enhanced concentration of a patient's own platelets to stimulate and accelerate hair growth in the scalp. Because it's your own platelets, the results can promote more growth than what would occur naturally.

Minoxidil is an FDA-approved medication for male pattern baldness, and it's also the generic name for Rogaine. They are synonymous and interchangeable. Minoxidil is considered a defensive therapy, and can help slow down hair loss, but ultimately, it is rare that it restores results to a much more youthful appearance all on its own.

Finasteride is a medication, and it's the generic name for Propecia. They are synonymous and interchangeable. Finasteride is one of the most common treatments for male-pattern baldness, and it's FDA-approved to help slow down hair loss.

If Rogaine was the magic solution to baldness, and it reliably produced super impressive results, then most bald men would use it, and suddenly there would be very few bald men in the world. However, it doesn’t quite work that effectively. Rogaine can definitely help slow down your hair loss slightly, and sometimes it can even help regrow a few dozen hairs, but it simply doesn’t have the ability to fully reverse hair loss and restore a much younger hairline. Nearly all of the dramatic before and after photos you see for impressive hair regrowth, whether it’s from celebrities or regular guys, comes from hair transplants..

Propecia is also known for slowing hair loss and helping to thicken existing hair. Depending on your stage and pattern of loss, a combination of defensive therapies along with a transplant procedure is usually recommended.

Possible Propecia side effects are rare (less than 2% of patients) and can include: decreased sexual appetite, erectile dysfunction, decreased semen, lump and tenderness in the chest, pain in the testicles, and inabiltiy to urinate normally. Allergic reactions to the drug itself are extremely rare.

Possible side effects of Rogaine include: itchy scalp, flaking of the scalp, chest pain, heart palpitations, irregular or fast heartbeats, headaches, flushing, and swelling. Allergic reactions are extremely rare.

For men, getting a haircut every 4 to 6 weeks is usually the ideal for maintaining a nice and neat style. Of course, this depends on the individual’s hair type and the desired look.

Many wonder about how quickly hair can grow. Scientists estimate that the average head of hair grows at a rate of about half an inch per month. Additionally, hair grows 10% faster during the summer months, although this difference isn't particularly noticeable.

Meanwhile, some complain that their hair grows too slowly, while others boast that they need a haircut every two weeks. So what is the true answer to how fast hair can grow? Although personal genetics play a huge role in how quickly your hair grows, there are several other factors in play that can influence your rate of growth.

Yes and no. While dandruff itself doesn't cause balding, it can worsen underlying conditions if not treated properly, or if you scratch your scalp too aggressively.