Hair Transplant - The FAQ’s
We have put the most frequently asked questions to our resident hair transplant expert Eamonn Henry.
What is a hair transplant?
A hair transplant is a surgical procedure which removes hair follicles from a ‘donor site’ normally at the back of the head and transplants these into the ‘recipient site’ usually in the crown or hairline.
What types are hair transplant are there?
There are 2 main types of hair transplant procedures:
Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT).
At MHR Belfast, we only advise on the FUE procedure, with FUT not listed as a treatment within our clinic.
FUT has higher chances of visible scarring in the donor site due to a strip of tissue being removed from the scalp for transplantation and therefore stitches are required to close the donor site.
FUE involves the extraction of individual follicle units which are transplanted into the recipient site. Scarring is kept to a minimum as the extraction leaves tiny dots not visible to the eye, with no requirement for stitches.
The FUE procedure does take longer, but we consider this the best choice for our clients due to reduced healing time on the donor site and additional care required from the surgeon as they are implanting individual hairs, not strips of hair tissue.
Does a hair transplant hurt?
Surprisingly, the answer is not as much as you would think. Minimal pain, maybe uncomfortable and feels a bit odd is the best way to describe it.
The transplant itself is carried out under local anaesthetic which is injected into the scalp prior to extraction from the donor site. You would be awake and alert for the whole procedure. The main area of pain believe it or not comes from the small pin pricks for the anaesthetic injection at the start of the procedure.
Many of our clients have said they are surprised the procedure isn’t more painful. They even get to watch Netflix during the procedure and get a break for lunch after all hairs are extracted and before the hair is transplanted.
The MHR Belfast Expert that you met at your consultation will be your touch point for one on one advice and support in the weeks leading up to the procedures and in the critical days post procedure. The same Expert will be involved in the Aftercare Package for 8 months post procedure, which is a complimentary service with FUE treatments through MHR Belfast.
The Aftercare package services are in the MHR Belfast offices.
When to expect to see results?
At MHR Belfast, we always advise clients in their initial consultation of standard timeframes for full results, being between 9 months and 1 year, however clients can start to see a growth after 3 months. Hair Transplants are all about the long game.
Our Aftercare Package is aimed at speeding up results from the transplant and protecting your investment.
Can hair be lost after a hair transplant?
It is very normal to lose the hair 2 to 3 weeks after the procedure but it is important to not let that cause panic. We explain to all hair transplant clients that hair will fall out but the follicle remains implanted which is the key part.
The transplanted follicles will shed the hair like normal but they will also start growing new hair in its place. As long as the transplanted follicle is healthy and remains in place following the procedure, new hair will grow.
The aim of our Aftercare Package is not just to protect the transplanted hair but also your existing hair. Hair loss from your existing (non transplanted) hair will continue as the hair transplant is not a cure for hair loss, so we recommend treatments included in this package to ensure your existing hair looks as good as the transplanted hair.
How long does a hair transplant last?
It does take a minimum of 9 months to start to see the full result but the transplanted hair is an almost permanent solution with only healthy follicles transplanted and so it is visibly long lasting.
That is why our Aftercare Package shifts to focusing on existing hair (i.e. that wasn’t transplanted, near the original hair loss area) as that hair doesn’t come with the promise of sticking around for life and is likely to have the same fate of the original hair that was lost.
The hair transplant in conjunction with the Aftercare Package will ensure results for every hair on your head.
Best age to get a hair transplant?
It isn’t usually down to age but saying that clients typically can get a hair transplant from the age of 25.
Factors other than age impact on the suitability of a client to get a transplant, like how significant current hair loss is, the health of the donor site, genetic and family history of hair loss etc.
We would suggest at the initial stages of hair loss that a client gets in touch so we can start preventative treatments, which could avoid the need for a transplant. The earlier we can see a client, gives them the best chance for retaining their own hair without surgical intervention.
Can women get hair transplants?
Of course. Admittedly there are fewer women who opt for a hair transplant and that is why it has been seen as a male only treatment, however this is not the case at all.
Women don’t lose their hair in the same way men do and so don’t face the same issues as men with male pattern baldness.
But there has been a surge in the uptake of this procedure with women in recent years, particularly from the damage caused from the increased popularity of hair extensions and heated hair styling products.
Does the full head have to be shaved for a hair transplant?
Good news, no you don’t, so this makes hair transplants more feasible. The back of the head (donor site) is shaved but it can be covered by longer hair if you have that after the procedure. The shaving of the donor site can also be blended into your existing hair cut if you have short hair.
After the procedure a loose hat can be worn but we advise to avoid anything contacting the transplanted hair for a number of weeks following the transplant.
Can hair be washed straight after a hair transplant?
Straight after as in the same day or next few days … No.
But closer to a week after is fine. Our MHR Belfast Expert will be able to assist in reminding the client of these timeframes and are available to advise at any time as part of the Aftercare Package.
Time needs to be given to let the follicles settle into their new home and washing too soon can cause them to fall out prematurely.
Our Experts are also on hand for helping remove the bandages, protecting the donor site from infection and bleeding.
Can a person have more than one hair transplant?
Yes, it is possible but dependant on the donor site and how well the person heals after the first transplant and also how well the transplanted hair takes.
A MHR Belfast Expert will be able to advise.
A hair transplant can only be done on your head?
Hair transplants aren’t restricted to just the head although they are the most popular choice.
Beard and Eyebrow transplants are also on our treatment list and the results are just as impressive and natural as a hair transplant on the head.
What is the recommended recovery time after a hair transplant?
We would always recommend 2 weeks recovery time after the procedure, more so to avoid the head or scalp coming into contact with anything that could affect the transplanted hair follicles.
The follicles need to fully embed into the scalp so reducing the risk of any unnecessary contact is advised.
We can always advise each client on down time after the procedure and what lines of work are ok to return to within the recovery window. We will be in contact with the client every couple of days in the recovery period to advise as different clients recover at different rates. We want clients to get the best results for their investment, so that will be the centre thought when we are advising.
If you have any other questions just give us a call or drop us a text.