1. Will hair transplants ever fall out?

No. Hair that is transplanted takes advantage of the theory of donor dominance, which states that hair taken from the back of the scalp will maintain its own genetic destiny. This means that it will grow as long as it was otherwise programmed to grow, even when you move it to the front or sides of the head. For most people, that is a lifetime!


2. Does my head have to be shaved for surgery?

Not at all! Your surgeon may trim just the area which he or she is harvesting from the back of the scalp, but then they will remove that area and divide it into individual follicular units, and suture or staple that skin back together. You certainly do not need to shave the frontal areas which are going to be transplanted. If anything, keeping that hair long will help camouflage any scabbing that occurs where those new grafts grow in. Scabbing usually only lasts for 1-2 weeks after surgery.


3. Is it safe to do large sessions?

When surgeons harvest hairs for transplantation, the technique is no different from any other cutaneous surgery such as the removal of a skin cancer. Most surgeons harvest an elliptical strip from the back of the head which is 10-25 cm in length and about 1cm wide. The area is then closed with sutures or staples, which stay in place for 7-10 days. Longer strips will provide a larger number of grafts, and are just as safe as performing smaller sessions. The recovery may be a little more difficult, but most surgeons provide adequate pain medication and will follow you closely after surgery.


4. How do I know if I need a large megasession?

Megasessions are large sessions where 1000 or more follicular unit grafts are transplanted in a single session. Not everyone needs this many grafts. You and your doctor should decide together approximately how many grafts you will need to obtain the desired coverage. This will depend on your age, degree of thinning, caliber of your hair, and aesthetic goals. And, if you are starting early you may elect to have a small session to begin with and then pursue a 2nd surgery several years later as the hair continues to thin.


5. How many hairs are transplanted per session?

An unfortunate legacy of the last 20-30 years is pluggy oversized hair transplants, which look unnatural, like doll' s hair. Hair naturally grows in groupings of 1-3 or 4 hairs. Thus, it is essential to preserve the natural anatomy of hair follicles when restoring a frame around the face. The vast majority of patients elect to receive between 1000-2000 hairs per session.


6. When should a hair transplant be done?

There is no single time when it is best to have hair transplantation.We usually recommend waiting at least until your late 20' s or early 30' s to assess the degree of hair loss. This also allows time to try medical options such as finasteride and minoxidil for men, or minoxidil for women. Finasteride can regrow hair in over 90% of men, and has been FDA approved for hair loss for over 10 years now. Minoxidil is a topically applied solution that can help retain the hair you have and potentially thicken other hairs. Most patients choose a combination of medical and surgical options for their hair loss.