What Is a Hair Transplant?
A hair transplant is a surgical procedure that moves hair from an area of thicker growth to an area of thinning or baldness on the scalp. It is used for hair loss in men and women. A transplant does not prevent future hair loss from male pattern baldness.
Central Dermatology Center offers hair transplant consultations with Dr. Leeor Porges, a board-certified, ISHRS fellowship-trained dermatologist who performs both FUT and FUE, along with medical and non-surgical options for hair loss prevention when appropriate.
Hair transplant surgery is a cosmetic procedure. The goal is to restore hair in selected thinning or bald areas, but the treatment plan should also account for the possibility of continued hair loss over time.
The Consultation
Your consultation includes a review of your hair loss, diagnosis, and treatment plan. If a hair transplant is appropriate, your provider explains the available methods and discusses which approach may fit your goals. If surgery is not feasible, the evaluation may include trichoscopy, scalp biopsy, or blood work when medically necessary to assess and treat a medical hair-loss condition.
A hair restoration consultation is listed at $150. Confirm the fee when scheduling.
The consultation is the time to discuss the full decision, including the procedure, donor hair, expected recovery, costs, and the limits of transplant surgery. A procedure date can be set after the treatment approach has been reviewed.
Bring photos of your hair when it was fullest, during thinning, and currently. You may also bring an example of a hairstyle you hope to replicate. Photographs are taken during the consultation, and hairline options may be reviewed and drawn on the scalp.
The Procedure
During a transplant, the scalp is numbed. Hair is taken from a donor area, the recipient area is prepared, and small cuts are made where the transplanted hair will be placed. Healthy hair is then placed into those sites.
The two main harvesting methods are follicular unit extraction (FUE) and follicular unit transplantation (FUT). The method is selected during consultation based on factors such as the donor area, amount of hair needed, and hairstyle preferences.
FUE harvests individual follicles and does not leave a linear scar. It may be preferred by younger men and people who want shorter hairstyles. FUT removes donor hair differently and may be discussed when it fits the amount of hair being transplanted. More detail about both approaches is available on the Hair Restoration Methods page.
Risks and Recovery
Possible risks include bleeding, infection, scarring, and unnatural-looking tufts of hair growth. After the procedure, the hair restoration team provides medications, supplies, and aftercare instructions. Protect the transplant area from the sun and follow those instructions carefully.
New hair growth may begin around four to five months after treatment and may thicken over the following six to nine months. Procedure and recovery time vary by method and treatment plan.
Recovery instructions, medications, supplies, and activity guidance are individualized after the procedure.
Procedure Cost
Procedure cost depends on the number of grafts and the method used. Discuss the number of grafts, method, current payment arrangements, and total cost during the consultation. Confirm these details before scheduling the procedure.
