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Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Hair Specialist

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Whole FUE Hair Transplantation operation is done by you?
    • It is the most common question that asked to me. I wish I can be able to do whole operation by myself. But this is not possible unfortunately. Hair transplantation is a labor intense, meticulous, time consuming operation that makes it impossible for a surgeon to do it alone. In my practise; I do the patient initial consultation ( both via mail or phone or text message) by myself, I don't use an asisstant. I inform my patient about everything I know, prepare for the operation, design the frontal hairline, make the surgical plan and distribution, prepare the recipient sites and surveillance of the whole procedure till the end. After the operation also I do follw up by myself. Graft harvesting and implantation is done by my fixed team who are very experienced and trustworthy.
  • Is FUE Hair Transplant Painful and What Kind of Anesthesia do You Use?
    • We perform our hair transplant procedures using long-acting, local anesthesia, so after the initial injections, the patient doesn’t experience any pain or discomfort. The local anesthesia (a combination of Lidocaine and Marcaine) lasts about 4-6 hours. For long sessions, we give additional anesthesia before the first wears off.
  • Is FUE Scarless Surgery?
    • All hair transplant procedures leave scars. FUT produces a linear scar at the back of the scalp that may be visible if you keep your hair short. FUE, on the other hand, leaves small dot scars at the back of the scalp that are not visible if you keep your hair 5 mm long. Even in patients who heal with no dot like scars, color difference due to pigmentation change will be evident in donor area.
  • Will there be so much swelling after FUE Hair Transplantation?
    • If you obey the instructions given to you. Probably you won't experience so much swelling after the operation. Do not bend your neck forward and sleep with your head raised at a 45- degree angle for the first 3 nights after the procedure; this may help to prevent swelling. You may use a recliner chair or 3-4 pillows.
  • Are there any scars visible in the recipient area? How long after the operation will redness, marks, or scars reside?
    • The scabs should fade in about 10-14 days, the redness should fade in 3 weeks, although there is significant patient to patient variability. Blonde patients with blue eyes and very fair skin may have prolonged redness till 1-2 month. I prepare tiny recipient sites that prevent visible scarring, pitting, or other surface irregularities as a result of the procedure in most of the cases. Particularly patients with thin hair are more lucky.
  • How Many Hair Transplant Sessions Will I Need?
    • The answer depends on the degree of your hair loss grade, pattern and personal goals. The first session of a FUE hair transplant should be done as a stand-alone procedure with the following three objectives: Establishing a frame to the face by creating, or reinforcing, the frontal hairline. Providing coverage to the thinning, or bald, areas of the scalp, extending at least to the vertex transition point. Adding sufficient density so that the result will look natural.
  • Why Would One Desire Second Hair Transplant?
    • There are several reasons why one would want a second hair transplant, such as: To increase the density in a previously transplanted area; To refine the hairline created in the first transplant; To focuse on increased crown coverage, when appropriate; To address further hair loss that’s occurred after the first hair transplant (age, patients wishes, donor reserve, and the likely extent of any future balding in the planning of your first hair transplant session should be considered). If a second transplant is desired, patients are advised to wait at least 12 months after the first transplant. This is because over the course of the first year, the first transplanted hairs have grown in and the progressive increase in a hair’s diameter, texture and length can markedly change the look of the hair restoration and also the donor area will heal completely during this period making the second graft harvesting possible.
  • Will I Need Multiple FUE Hair Transplants Over Time?
    • It is not uncommon for men to go through multiple FUE procedures over 10 plus year time frame. After the initial FUE procedure to address moderate hair loss, the patient continues their natural balding to where they must undergo another FUE hair transplantation in order to get back to their desired look. Hair transplantation is not a “1 and done” procedure.
  • Does the Donor Area Decrease in Size Over Time?
    • Having a hair transplant at an early age does not protect the donor supply. If your donor area diminishes over time, then the transplanted grafts will fall out as well. Hair does not become permanent just because is moved in a hair transplant. We prefer to take the grafts from the safest zone in donor area paticularly in young patients whose donor area stability is not evident.
  • Can One Session Hair Transplant Completely Replace My Significantly Lost Hair?
    • In most cases, this is not possible. In FUE Hair Transplantation what we do is to move hair, cannot create new hair. Surgical hair transplantation takes existing hair from the donor area (located in the back and on the sides of the scalp) and moves (transplants) them to the part of the scalp that has lost hair. It is usually the case that there is not enough hair in one’s donor area to replace all lost hair. In persons with extensive hair loss, FUE hair transplantation can often produce a dramatic improvement in one’s appearance but not complete coverage.
  • When Can I Fly Home After a Hair Transplant and Will I Need to Return?
    • You can fly home the second postoperative day after removal of the dressing. Patients that travel can have first head wash in their home town. We provide instructions both written and visual. There should be no other reason to return to us other than an optional one-year follow up.
  • Can Hair Transplant Damage Existing Hair Follicles In An Area Having Thinning or Normal Hair?
    • FUE hair transplant does not cause loss of hair follicles in the recipient area. The procedure may very rarely cause a temporary “shock” loss of the hair. It is a physiologic response to the trauma to the scalp which is caused by surgery. Hair that is healthy is going to come back after some period of time generally 3-6 months. Hair that may be near the end of its lifespan may not return. When a hair transplant is performed at the proper time, in the proper candidate, shock hair loss should just be an incidental issue.

      Typically, when shedding occurs, a patient looks a little thinner during the several month period following the transplant, before the transplanted hair has started to grow. The thinning is often more noticeable to the patient than to others. Shedding is generally noted as a thinning, rather than of masses of hair falling out.

      In general, the more miniaturization one has and the more rapid the hair loss, the more likely shedding will be from the hair restoration surgery. Young, actively balding patients would be at the greatest risk. Older patients with stable hair loss would have the least risk. In either situation, since miniaturized hair is eventually going to be lost, the effluvium has no long-term effect on the outcome of the procedure.
  • After Hair Transplant Is There Shock Hair Loss In Donor Area?
    • Shedding after a hair transplant is also referred to by “shock fall out.” The correct medical term is “effluvium” which literally means shedding. It is usually the miniaturized hair (i.e. the hair that is at the end of its lifespan due to genetic balding) that is most likely to be shed. Less likely, some healthy hair will be shed, but this should re-grow. Shock hair loss after FUE can rarely been seen, but is generally not significant and should eventually recover completely. For most patients, effluvium is not a major issue and should not be a cause for concern.
  • Can you do a hair transplant using someone else’s hair?
    • Unfortunately, this is not possible because your body would reject the hair transplant without the use of immunosuppressive drugs. The problem with immune suppressants is that they will lower your natural immune response, increasing your susceptibility to infections and even cancer, and you’ll have to take them for the rest of your life.
  • How Are Follicular Unit Grafts Distributed in a Hair Transplant?
    • Actually the transplanted hair is not evenly distributed. It is usually front weighted, so that the hair restoration will look most full when looking at the person head on.Framing the face is the most important part of the restoration. Covering the top is the next most important region and, if the patient has enough donor supply, then hair can be added to the crown region.
  • Do You Transplant Hair Evenly if I Part My Hair on one side?
    • On a first procedure, generally the sites/grafts should placed symmetrically, even if a patient combs his hair to one side. The reason is that the person may change his styling after the procedure. Once the first hair transplant grows in and the person decides how he wants to wear his hair long-term a second session can be weighted to accommodate this. If a person decides to comb his hair back, then forward weighting is used.
  • Does Surgeon Determine Angle of Hair In Hair Transplant?
    • The exit angle of the recipient sites largely determines the hair direction and angles. Hair should be planted the way it grows (i.e., in a forward and horizontal direction at the frontal hairline.) It is extremely important that it is transplanted that way to look natural. The body will alter the angle a bit as it heals, usually elevating it slightly. In a properly performed hair transplant, a straight-up appearance should be due to combing style, it should not have been a result of the actual procedure. Hair should never be transplanted perpendicular to the scalp.
  • Can I Have an FUE Hair Transplant Using Beard Hair?
    • Sometimes we use beard hair especially in patients who don't have sufficient reserve in scalp donor area, as an adjuct to increase graft number transplanted. Beard hair is thicker and growth rate is higher than scalp hair. Major drawback of beard donor area is possibility of visible scar formation. Most commonly grafts are taken from the lower border of neck beard area, least prone to scar formation. It is reported that as much as 2000 grafts taken from beard if you include cheek area, I personally not consider this safe, around 500 -800 grafts from lower neck will be more proper.
  • Do You Perform Hair Transplants With Body Or Leg Hair?
    • We don't prefer to do it because of unsatisfactory results not worth the trade off. Scalp hair, unlike the rest of the body, has multiple hairs rising out of each follicle. With leg and body hair, you have only one hair per follicle, not follicular units of multiple hairs. In men you want full thickness hair, so fine hair can make it look like it is miniaturizing, as it does when you’re losing it.Also scars left at donor areas which can't be concealed is an other major drawback. Body hair is dependent on androgenic hormones, with aging hormone levels drops and body hairs will be miniaturized even more or completely shed.
  • How Will Hair Transplant Look If Donor Area Hair Is Dark And Recipient Area Hair Is Gray?
    • The hair is taken from the back and sides of the scalp are randomly inserted into the recipient area. That way, the color of the harvested hair will be mixed and will match perfectly.
  • Why Is It Important to Wash My Scalp After a Hair Transplant?
    • The purpose of head washes is to remove scabs and dried blood. This will allow for quicker healing, less inflammation (redness), and a reduced incidence of infection. It will also shorten the time post-op where the procedure might be detectable. In our practice, patients are instructed to start gently washing the recipient area third day after the surgery. It is important when shampooing, or rinsing the transplanted area, that you are gentle for the first 10 days following surgery. DO NOT RUB, PICK, OR SCRATCH, as this may dislodge grafts. If there is still any residual crusting ten days after operation, you will begin to wash with gentle massage. The follicular unit grafts are made to fit snugly into the recipient sites and will not be dislodged in the shower, as long as the patient washes gently.
  • Can Scabs Harm Hair Transplant Two Weeks After Procedure?
    • No, it will not. If follicular units were used for the hair transplant, the grafts should be permanent at 10 days. After this time, you can scrub as much as you need to get the scabs off.
  • After a Hair Transplant Will Hair Fall Out At The Root?
    • When there is shedding after a hair transplant, it is the hair that is lost, not the follicle that contains the growth center (the follicle eventually produces the new hair). Since the “hair” usually consists of a hair shaft and the inner and outer root sheaths, which creates a little bulb at the end of the hair, it looks like the hair is “falling out at the root.” Do not be concerned as this is not the growth center.
  • Can I Play Contact Sports Right After a FUE Procedure?
    • We recommend waiting at least 30 days before playing any contact sport, like football, as transplanted grafts could be dislodged if vigorously rubbed.For the first 10 days, you should avoid any activities that rub or put direct pressure on your scalp. After 10 days, you may resume your normal daily activities including mild exercise. Body building or competetive sports (basketball, football) should be postponed for1 month.
  • When Will I See Full Results Of Hair Transplant?
    • It generally takes a year to see the full results of a hair transplant. Growth usually begins around 2 1/2 to 3 months and at 6-8 months the hair transplant starts to become combable. Over the course of a year, the hair will gain in thickness and in length and may also change in character. During this time, hair will often become silkier, less kinky or take on a wave, depending upon the original characteristics of the patient’s hair.
  • After Hair Transplant, When Can Patients Expose Scalp To Sunlight?
    • Following a hair transplant, patients should protect their scalps from the sun for about a month.This does not mean one needs to stay indoors. It just means that after a hair restoration surgery you should wear a hat or a good sunscreen when outdoors. Sunburns on the scalp should be avoided, not just for persons having a hair transplant, but for everyone.
  • After Hair Transplant, is it OK to Pop or Scratch Pimples on Scalp?
    • It is common to get small pimples that begin to erupt 1-2 months post-op. These are due to newly growing hairs trying to work their way through the skin. The pimples are transient and should be left to resolve on their own. If they persist, you should see your doctor. Persistent inflamed pimples can be treated with antibiotics and may occasionally need to be drained.
  • When Can I Resume Smoking After a Hair Transplant?
    • Although it is not known exactly how long one should avoid smoking before and after a hair transplant a common recommendation is to abstain from one week prior to surgery until two weeks after the procedure. Smoking causes constriction of blood vessels and decreased blood flow to the scalp, predominantly due to its nicotine content. Also, carbon monoxide in smoke decreases the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.These factors both contribute to poor wound healing after a hair transplant and can increase the chance of a wound infection and scarring. Smoking may also contribute to poor hair growth.
  • When I can use Toppik, Wax, or Dye my hair after FUE Hair Transplantation?
    • Do not dye your hair for 3 months following the procedure. Use natural dyes. Do not use cosmetic camouflage agents (such as Toppik) for at least 14 days following your procedure. Wax or Gels can be used after your hair gets longer.
  • When numbness and dysethesias will subside after FUE Hair Transplantation?
    • Numbness, tingling or similar sensations may occur temporarily on your donor and recipient area. These are the results of cutting small nerve endings in the skin during the course of harvesting the grafts and creating the recipient sites. This generally disappears within a few weeks to months, as nerve endings re-grow.
  • When can I have a hair cut after FUE Hair Transplantation?
    • You may have a hair cut for corrective purposes (especially the untouched areas during operation and the donor area ) 1 month after the operation. DO NOT SHAVE THE IMPLANTED AREA WITH RAZOR FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS.
  • When can I swim after FUE Hair Transplantation?
    • Swimming in sea allowed after 3 weeks, in pool after 6 weeks. Because pool water contains chlorur and many fungi and bacteria. Solarium and sauna (hot tub, Turkish hamam) forbidden for 3 months.
  • What shall I eat or not to eat after FUE Hair Transplantation?
    • There is not a specific regime after the procedure. At the first three days after the procedure I personally recommend to decrease salt intake in order to prevent aggrevation of the edema. Otherwise, you can eat whatever you want, but foods rich in vitamins and proteins will be better. Alcohol consumption is also not recommended during medication use after the operation.
  • What can I use for itching after FUE Hair Transplantation?
    • You may experience some itching either in the transplanted area or in the donor area following the procedure. In general, itching is part of the healing process and should not be a cause for concern. A common contributing factor may be dryness, applying moisturizing lotion can help to alleviate itching. You may also experience itching as the new hairs grow in. If the itching is bothersome to you, purchase Hydrocortisone Ointment 1% which may be bought over the counter (it must be in Ointment form, not a cream). This may be applied locally to the areas that itch, as needed, up to four times a day. If this doesnt help you may use antihistaminic tablets one or two times a day.
  • What can I do for swelling after FUE Hair Transplantation?
    • If there is significant swelling, it usually occurs around the 2nd to the 5th day post-op. The swelling usually begins at the hairline and then, from gravity, it gradually moves down the forehead and settles into the bridge of the nose and around the eyes. Occasionally, it may cause the eyelids to swell shut for a short period of time especially if you remove headband earlier than first hairwash, bend your neck forward or slept in straight position. Even extreme swelling always resolves by itself after a few days and does not require any special treatment. It should not be a cause for concern.
  • Some of my existing non-transplanted hair has fallen out after the operation. When can I expect to have my original hair again?
    • The hair which is shed generally grows back together with the transplanted hair beginning at about three months. You should expect hair that is shaved for the FUE procedure to grow back right away at the normal rate of 1/2mm per day. The shedding (also called shock hair loss) doesn’t mean permanent damage to the hair follicles. What it refers to is a physiological, or normal, response to trauma to the scalp which is caused by the hair restoration procedure. In general, only the hair that is affected by androgens and that has begun to decrease in diameter is shed after a transplant. This hair would be lost in the near term anyway. Existing healthy hair is unlikely to shed, but if it were to shed, you could expect it to grow back as the transplanted hair grows in.