Deciding to undergo hair transplant surgery to restore lost hair is a significant decision with so many things to think about. There are so many different hair restoration options out there and picking the one that’s right for you isn’t easy. In this blog, we discuss the six critical questions to ask any potential transplant surgeon before choosing them for a procedure.
Why Should I Pick This Surgeon?
If there’s one critical part of a hair transplant surgery, it’s choosing the right surgeon. Start your research by visiting websites such as the International Alliance Of Hair Restoration Surgeons and similar professional bodies. Picking a surgeon from a list of professionals means you’ve already set the bar very high. Things can only get better from here, right? Once you have a shortlist, you can find one who is local to you so that you can visit and meet them face to face. England, Turkey and other European countries have decent hair transplant surgeons.
What Can I Do To Improve My Hair Transplant?
A hair transplant should be the last port of call instead of the first. Hair restoration specialists would recommend you try medical treatments such as Minoxidil or Finasteride for about a year before undergoing a transplant.
Firstly, Taking the medical route first means there’s more hair to use for donor purposes. Secondly, if the regrowth is successful, there’s going to be less ground to cover for the transplant. This may make it less expensive, as well as improve the chances of a fuller coverage.
Which Type Of Hair Transplant Should I Choose?
There are three main types of hair transplant treatments.
- Follicular Unit extraction (FUE)
- Follicular Unit transplantation (FUT)
- Advanced Trico Pigmentation (ATP)
Each of these procedures has its pros and cons, and your surgeon will explain each of these treatments. They will also help you to decide which is the best treatment for your particular situation.
FUE is a trendy procedure and involves extracting hair follicles from a donor area. Individual hair follicles are then inserted into the bald areas. This is a longer process because the strands are extracted individually.
Get your surgeon to explain each procedure in detail and ask a lot of questions. Also, ask to see before and after pictures of past patients.
How Much Should I Expect To Pay?
Different clinics and surgeons will charge different amounts for transplant surgery. Other factors affecting price include the procedure you choose plus how many treatments you will need. As a ballpark figure, typical costs are as follows:
- FUE – expect to pay between £5,000 and £12,000
- FUT – prices start from around £5,000 to £8,000
- ATP – is the cheapest with costs of between £1,000 and £3,000
A transplant clinic will be able to give you a quotation after your initial consultation with the surgeon. Ensure that the costs you receive cover everything you will need.
How Much Downtime Can I expect after the Procedure?
Depending on the treatment you have, you may need just a day or two to recover. Some treatments may leave scarring, and you may feel comfortable being off work for some time while the scars heal. If you have enough hair to cover the scars then you may well be ready to go with little time off.
Results from a hair transplant procedure will take a few weeks to start showing up. This is simply due to the natural hair growth cycle. Expect to see the full effect of the transplant in about a year after the surgery.
Will I Need Another Transplant Procedure In The Future?
Hair follicles for transplant retain the genetic characteristic of their donor site. Hereditary hair loss conditions such as alopecia do not affect the back of the head and hair harvesting from these areas ensure the hair will grow as usual. Consequently, the transplanted hair will grow into healthy strands permanently. This makes it quite unlikely that you will need follow-up procedures in the future.
However, if the area for coverage is too large or a surgeon makes a mistake during the first procedure, corrective procedures may well be necessary. Preventing avoidable mistakes due to inadequate skills or surgeon experience is one of the reasons why choosing a reputable surgeon is essential.
Ready To Take The Next Step?
We hope this article has opened your eyes to some of the pertinent questions to ask not only yourself but any potential surgeons before going ahead with hair transplant surgery. Vinci Hair Clinic offers hair restoration treatments in over forty clinics around the world. Wherever you live, there is a Vinci Hair Clinic near you and hair specialist ready to help you on your way to amazing hair. Contact one of our clinics and schedule a consultation to discuss your hair transplant options today.
