Hair Transplant Frequently Asked Questions
At PraxisHair, we aim to make sure you have all the information you need to make the right hair restoration decision. These hair transplants FAQs will answer any questions you have about hair transplant eligibility, surgery, aftercare, and more.
What You Would Like To Learn About
General Transplant Questions
A hair transplant is a cosmetic surgical procedure that involves removing healthy hair follicles from a donor area of the scalp and transplanting them into areas affected by thinning or hair loss.
Hair transplants are intended to deliver permanent results. However, the success of the procedure depends on factors such as the skill of the surgeon and how well you maintain your transplanted hair. Selecting a trusted clinic with an experienced surgeon and following all aftercare guidance will help ensure lifelong results.
Yes. When performed by a skilled, experienced surgeon at a reputable clinic, hair transplants are often more than 95% effective. Loxia’s hair transplant success rate is 97-100%.
Hair transplants relocate healthy hair follicles—typically from the back of the head, or occasionally the chest or beard—to areas of permanent hair loss.
Yes, similar to scalp hair, FUE techniques can be used to give you fuller facial hair.
The 2 most common types of transplant are follicular unit extraction (FUE) and follicular unit transplantation (FUT). We are highly specialised in FUE so we only offer FUE in our clinic. We believe FUT is an inferior technique due to the wide linear scar that looks unpleasant.
Before undergoing a hair transplant, you should first determine whether you’re a good candidate for the procedure. Hair transplants are not suitable for everyone, particularly those whose hair loss is caused by conditions like chemotherapy or certain autoimmune diseases. Selecting a reputable clinic with an experienced surgeon and a strong history of positive results is equally important.
The cost of a hair transplant depends on how much hair you have lost. We charge 1200 up to 5000 USD depending on number of grafts and the complexity of the case.
If your hair transplant is completed by an experienced surgeon at a good clinic, it’s rare for the procedure to fail. Loxia’s success rate is between 99% and 100%.
The surgery takes place under local anaesthetic, so you won’t feel anything during the procedure. Local anaesthetic process is the painful part of the procedure. Afterwards you may experience some soreness and swelling across the scalp, but otherwise hair transplants are usually painless.
our donor area is the region of the body where healthy hair follicles are harvested for a hair transplant. While this is usually the scalp, the beard or chest can also serve as donor areas in certain cases.
Donor area management involves strategically planning graft extraction to minimise overharvesting and ensure enough donor hair remains available for future transplants.
Yes. If your donor area is well-managed, you can have multiple hair transplants until you get the results you want.
Yes. Good hair transplants give permanent, natural-looking results. If your hair transplant is successful, you won’t be able to tell the difference between your natural hair and your transplanted hair.
Eligibility
Yes. Hair transplants are suitable for individuals of any sex or gender, provided they meet the necessary criteria related to age, hair loss pattern, and general health.
Yes. Hair transplants are suitable for people with afro-textured hair. While follicle extraction can be more complex, this does not usually affect the overall procedure success rate compared to straight hair.
When considering a hair transplant, the rate of hair loss is often more significant than age.
If you’ve begun experiencing hair loss in your late teens or twenties, it’s understandable to want to take action early. However, it may still be too soon to consider a hair transplant. Speaking with a hair restoration specialist about non-surgical treatment options can help.
Yes. If your donor area is not over harvested and is managed well, you can get as much hair transplants until you reach your desired results.
Hair transplant eligibility depends on the amount of hair available in your donor area and whether there are enough grafts to cover the thinning or balding regions. Individuals at Norwood stage 6 or 7 may have lost too much hair. However, every case is unique, so it’s important to book a consultation to determine your eligibility. Loxia’s patients are usually Norwood 6 or 7.
Before Surgery
At your first consultation, you’ll have a thorough assessment to determine if hair restoration is right for you. This includes questions about your lifestyle and medical history, a physical exam of your scalp and hair, and a discussion about your goals. The clinician will explain the procedure in detail and go over any possible risks.
It’s very important that you disclose an accurate medical history to your surgeon so they can provide you with safe treatment. This is especially important if you have any history of abnormal bleeding, haemophilia, heart attacks, epilepsy, allergic reaction to drugs or any drugs being taken to thin the blood.
Like all surgeries, there are potential complications when you have a hair transplant. This includes infection and ongoing scalp soreness. There’s also a risk that your hair transplant may fail, though this is unlikely with an experienced clinic.
Before your hair transplant:
– Stop taking aspirin 7 days before.
– Avoid alcohol and exercise 48 hours prior.
– Avoid smoking 24 hours before.
– Wash your hair the night before or morning of surgery.
– Massage your scalp to boost blood flow.
You should stop smoking 24 hours before your hair transplant. Smoking can interfere with the healing process, so it’s essential to stop smoking after your hair transplant to give your grafts the best chance of successful growth.
You should stop drinking alcohol 48 hours before your hair transplant. Alcohol impacts your blood pressure, and can also thin the blood, making it more difficult for your wounds to heal.
You shouldn’t exercise 48 hours before your hair transplant appointment.
While some clinics advise against cutting the hair before a transplant. We find no difference whether our patients come with their hair long or fully short. Hair assessment is typically done using magnifying devices to aid in orientation and direction assessment.
Your hair and scalp should be clean before your procedure. We recommend washing it the night before or the morning of your surgery. Don’t use thickening shampoos or other harsh products.
Yes. Local anaesthetic requires needles, but we can keep them out of view to make you more comfortable. Let us know if you’re nervous about injections — many patients are.
Day Of Surgery
Yes. Even if you’re feeling nervous, it’s best to eat a light meal before your surgery. Have a light breakfast for morning appointments or a light lunch for afternoon ones. Try to limit caffeine in the hours before your procedure if you can.
Avoid tops with narrow necks, as they can dislodge your grafts when taking them off. A wide-necked t-shirt or button-down shirt (our recommendation) is much easier to slip on and off after your procedure.
Hair transplants usually take 4–5 hours, longer if many grafts are needed. You’ll also spend at least an extra hour at the clinic resting. Because timing can vary, don’t schedule anything else on the day of your procedure.
Some people with trypophobia—a fear of clustered holes—worry about hair transplants. While older techniques could leave noticeable holes, modern procedures only create tiny scabs that usually don’t trigger this phobia.
Arrive at the clinic by 9 am for your hairline to be drawn. You’ll receive mild sedatives and local anaesthetic before your FUE procedure begins. Patients can watch a film, and breaks for lunch and the toilet are provided during the day.
Once the procedure is complete, your surgeon will dress your scalp and explain how to care for your new grafts. Sticking to these aftercare instructions is key to helping your hair transplant heal and thrive.
Many patients are given a mild sedative before their procedure. If you do take one, you won’t be able to drive afterward. We can help by booking a taxi to get you home or back to your hotel.
If you’re using public transport, make sure a friend or family member can pick you up and travel home with you for safety.
After Surgery
After your surgery, you’ll be given paracetamol to manage pain and prednisolone to reduce swelling. Avoid any medications containing ibuprofen for up to 4 days after your procedure.
You’ll also need to spray your transplanted area with saline solution to help prevent infection and promote healing. Spray at least three times a day; more frequent spraying can support faster recovery.
You will be given a box containing all required medications with instructions on how often to use them after the surgery.
Your hair transplant is fragile during the first few days and weeks after surgery, so some lifestyle adjustments are necessary, especially if you lead an active lifestyle. Avoid the following during your initial recovery:
– Alcohol: 4 days
– Sex: 6 days
– Exercise: 2 weeks
– Swimming: 4 weeks
– Sun exposure: 2 months
Additionally, wear button-down or wide-necked tops for the first week or so to prevent dislodging your grafts when changing clothes.
You can wash your hair from 3 days after your procedure. But you’ll need to be extremely careful and use specialist techniques for the first 2 weeks post-procedure. We’ll advise you on the right technique to wash your hair after the procedure.
If you have an FUE procedure, you won’t have any stitches. Instead, your surgeon will wrap your head in a gauze dressing to protect your wounds. You can change this by dampening the gauze (avoiding the transplanted area) and peeling it off.
For the first 4-5 nights you should sleep with your head in an elevated position. Use a rolled up towel or extra pillows to prop your head up while you sleep.
We recommend taking at least a week off work to recover from hair transplant surgery. Scabbing can remain visible for a couple of weeks, so you may also want time off for cosmetic reasons. Learn more about managing hair transplant scabbing.
Most patients are able to go home the same day as their surgery. You can typically get back to work and resume regular exercise around a week later, but check with your surgeon if you have any doubts.
Most people see the final results from their hair transplant around 12 months after surgery. However, not everyone has the same recovery timeframe, so it can take up to 18 months.
It takes around 2 weeks for the swelling and scabbing on your scalp to settle down, and after around 4 weeks the hair transplant should no longer be noticeable. At around 3-6 months you should start to see sustained hair growth in the transplanted areas.
Hair shedding is normal after a transplant. Your new follicles may go into shock a few weeks after surgery, but new growth should appear within weeks to months.
Wait at least 4 weeks after surgery to dye your hair. Your scalp is sensitive, and a patch test is recommended, even if you’ve used hair dye before.
Most people can get their hair cut without restrictions around 3 weeks after transplant surgery.
FUE leaves a series of small dot-shaped scars. However, these scars stem from tiny cuts that heal on their own, eventually fading and becoming unnoticeable.
Pattern baldness may continue after a transplant if preventive treatment isn’t used. Your consultant can recommend Minoxidil or Finasteride, and a follow-up appointment can help plan further care if needed.
You should avoid working out or swimming for at least a month after your hair transplant.
You should wait at least 7 days before drinking alcohol.
You should avoid putting your hair transplant in direct sunlight for at least 14 days after your procedure. We don’t recommend using suncream to cover your hair transplant during this time as it can cause infection. You might also dislodge your hair grafts when applying suncream.
Wait at least 21 days after your hair transplant before wearing a hat or helmet. If your scalp is still healing, it may be wise to wait a few additional days to avoid dislodging your grafts.