10 questions you should ask your Surgeon before your Hair Transplant

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Up to 50% of men will have experienced some degree of hair loss by the time they reach 50. And for many, hair loss will occur far earlier, whilst they are still in their 20s, 30s or even late teens.

Deciding to undergo a hair transplant procedure is a huge step and here at The Private Clinic, we strongly advise anyone considering the procedure to take the time to research their doctor first.

Our advice is to choose your clinic based on the doctor and their experience. During your consultation ask your doctor lots of questions, about their experience, how many cases have they treated prior to this, do they have before and after photos that they can share with you. The most important thing is that you achieve your desired results, safely.

We understand that there is a lot of information to absorb when considering undergoing a Hair Transplant procedure and so we have outlined some questions for you to ask your surgeon. We’ve also provided expert advice from our highly experienced Hair Transplant surgeons.

1. Am I too young for a hair transplant?

Every case we are presented with is evaluated thoroughly on an individual basis, and there are several age-related factors that play a part in candidate suitability for a hair transplant procedure.

The main consideration for our surgeons is the current degree of hair loss and the future implications of the patient’s hair loss patterns. We do as much as we can to help preserve the hair and prevent further hair loss for our younger patients. We also monitor the patient’s hair loss over a period of time, allowing us to then decide the most suitable time for a hair transplant procedure, permanently restoring the lost hair.

Find out more about the role age plays in Hair Transplant procedures here.

2. How many hairs will I need?

This will always depend on the size of the surface you’d like covered, as well as the density we’d want to achieve. Our Hair Transplant Surgeons will be able to assess your hair loss and let you know how many hair grafts you will need in order to get the results you want.

Find out more about how many hair grafts are required in a hair transplant here.

3. How much does a hair transplant cost?

Every FUE Hair Transplant procedure we carry out is designed to suit the patient’s specific needs. We treat our patients on a case-by-case basis so you will only be able to get an accurate figure on how much as hair transplant procedure is going to cost you by attending a consultation and scalp assessment in clinic. Each patient’s needs are different and so at The Private Clinic we like to work by hair and not graft ensuring that only the strongest and healthiest follicles are used giving you the best results.

Find out more about the price of hair transplants here.

4. Should I use hair loss medication in addition to my hair transplant?

Younger patients are often advised to start using Finasteride or Minoxidil to hold their pre-existing hair for as long as possible, by slowing the rhythm and rate of hair loss. Our expert Hair Transplant Surgeons will be able to offer advice on best hair loss medication to use and when to start using it in relation to your hair transplant procedure.

5. Will I need future transplants?

If your hair loss has not yet stabilised, further hair loss may result in you requiring further hair transplant procedures in the future. This is why it is extremely important to consult with your surgeon regarding the degree of hair loss you are experiencing. Our surgeons will be able to gauge any future patterns and advise on the best hair loss treatment plan to suit you. Additional hair transplant procedures is often a common problem for younger patients as their hair loss will continue to progress as they age. In some cases, further hair loss is not the reason for additional hair transplant procedures but instead patients sometimes wish to further increase the density of their hair as the hair loss was too severe for full density to be restored with just one procedure alone.

Find out more about second hair transplant procedures here.

Or find out more about what to expect 10 years following a hair transplant here.

6. Do I have enough donor hair?

Your Hair Transplant surgeon will need to examine your donor area to determine how many hairs can be transplanted. The size of the bald surface and the density you want to achieve will also determine if your donor hair is sufficient. Our expert hair transplant surgeons work hard to preserve your donor area as much as possible to ensure that the area can be used again should you require a hair transplant again in the future whilst also ensuring that any scarring is minimal allowing the patient to wear their hair short post-hair transplant procedure should they wish.

Find out more about the importance of donor hair here.

7. Has my hair loss stabilised?

With the use of special magnifying apparatus, your Hair Transplant Surgeon can measure your degree of hair loss in various areas of your scalp. They will be checking the percentage of hairs that are in the Telogen phase (resting phase) of the hair growth cycle. You will also be asked to monitor any further thinning or hair loss. A hair transplant procedure is not able to stop hair loss, but performing a procedure at a time when your hair loss is as stabilised as possible will ensure you achieve longer-lasting results.

8. Will the results look completely natural?

The phenomenal skills and techniques of our surgeons and their perfection of the FUE hair transplant method ensure that you will have the most natural results. The grafting techniques associated with the FUE method treats each hair follicle independently, so placement of the implanted hair can be managed, giving you natural looking, dense hair.

9. How long does the procedure take?

Depending on the size of the treated area and the number of hair required for the procedure, the hair transplant can take, on average, between 2-6 hours per day. Some patients may need to split their hair transplant procedure over two days, this will be agreed upon prior to your procedure in your consultation.

10. When will my hair start to grow?

You will be able to notice the difference immediately after the procedure is complete as you’ll see the outline of your new hair. However, it will take approximately 1 year for your hair to fully grow – you will notice daily progress as your hair grows with most patients starting to see results after 6 months.

Find out more about what to expect following your hair transplant procedure here.

Additional Questions to ask

What procedures are on offer and why?
What do you think about the differences between FUE and FUT?
Can I see lots of before and after photos?
How many patients have you treated?
Can I speak to former patients?
Can I see written testimonials?
How long have you been working?
What accreditation and memberships do you have?
Can I see any proof of qualifications? Any websites to visit to verify, for example?
What is the experience of the hair transplant technicians?
How much can be harvested in one session? Can it all be achieved in one session?
How many grafts are needed now and what is likely to happen in the future?
How and where will the grafts be taken from the donor areas?
Am I a good candidate and why?
Am I being realistic?
How suitable am I?
Can I see any closely comparable before and after pictures of patients?
Do you recommend hair loss medication before and after the procedure to help?
What about taking hair loss medication after the transplant? Can you prescribe them?
What aftercare is required?
What pre-procedure care is needed?
Have you had a hair transplant? (One of the very few professions where you’re recommended to ask)
What are the full costs going forward? Do you need more consultations?
Are there any pre-procedure or post-procedure costs? Is there any need for a contingency plan in case extra time and costs are needed?
Is the price I’m quoted the price I’ll end up paying?
How long after the consultation is it possible to book a procedure?

FUE Hair Transplants at The Private Clinic

The Private Clinic of Harley Street offers the latest and most advanced FUE Hair Transplant procedures available.

We pride ourselves on ensuring we deliver the best quality and most comprehensive care:

You will be treated by highly experienced Doctors who are highly skilled in FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) and treat hundreds of patients every year.
FUE is a minimally invasive treatment (meaning there is no cutting of a strip), and carried out under local anaesthetic – many patients either watch TV, or even fall asleep during the procedure.
No stitches are required after treatment. This means that the recovery time is also reduced when compared to Strip surgery (FUT).
We use the finest instruments, resulting in as minimal trauma to your scalp.
Our advanced skills and techniques ensure that the donor looks intact after the hair transplant procedure. Hair can be kept short if you prefer without any obvious scarring.
Following treatment, there will be no linear scarring across the back of your head as seen with the strip method (FUT) – you’ll be free to wear your hair long or short.
We choose the best follicular unit (a group of hairs), this ensures that only the strongest, healthiest grafts are used for your hair transplant procedure. See our Hair Transplant videos here.
Results will look natural, with denser packing. Hair is implanted in the direction that matches your hair growth.
We are one of the very few clinics able to offer Unshaven Hair Transplants (U-FUE) (the long-hair hair transplant). Ideal for those who prefer not to shave beforehand. At your consultation, we will be able to advise you on whether an unshaven procedure is suitable for you.
30% of all patients that come to us have been somewhere before and need further work to improve on a disappointing result. This could be a previous bad hair transplant or we can cover linear scars caused by FUT hair transplants. Find out more here.
We treat Afro-Caribbean hair as well as eyebrows, beard and facial hair.