Hair Transplant
Also known as FUE, FUT, follicular unit extraction, hair restoration
Moves DHT-resistant hair from the back of the head to where you need it. It relocates hair; it does not create it.
US $4,000–20,000 depending on graft count. Turkey typically $2,000–4,000 — quality varies enormously and revisions are costly.
How it works
Follicles from the permanent donor zone at the back and sides of the scalp are harvested — individually in FUE, or as a strip in FUT — then implanted into recipient sites. Donor hair retains its genetic resistance to DHT, so it survives in its new location.
How it's used
Get on medical therapy (finasteride and/or minoxidil) first and stabilise your loss before transplanting; otherwise native hair keeps receding around the grafts and you end up with an island. Transplanting before roughly 25 is generally unwise because the final loss pattern is not yet known. Verify the surgeon personally performs the work rather than delegating to technicians, and be extremely careful with clinics selling on graft count alone.
Trade-offs
In favour
- Permanent relocation of DHT-resistant hair
- Natural-looking with modern technique and good hairline design
- FUE leaves no linear scar
- Can restore a hairline, temples, crown, beard or brows
Against
- Finite donor supply — you cannot transplant unlimited grafts
- Does not stop ongoing loss of native hair
- Multiple sessions often needed
- Expensive, and bad results are difficult to repair
Risks and side effects
- Poor hairline design that ages badly — the single most common bad outcome
- Donor site depletion and visible thinning at the back
- Shock loss of surrounding native hair, usually temporary
- Folliculitis and ingrown hairs
- Scarring — a linear scar with FUT, dot scars with FUE
- Graft failure and poor yield with inexperienced technicians
- Numbness of the scalp
Recovery
Days 1–3: swelling of the forehead, careful washing, sleep elevated. Days 7–10: scabs clear, recipient area still pink. Weeks 2–4: transplanted hairs shed — this is normal and expected. Months 3–6: new growth begins. Months 6–18: density steadily builds to the final result.
How good is the evidence?
Well-established with good outcomes in experienced hands. Results vary widely by clinic, and the industry has significant quality control problems.
Sources
- Hair restoration surgery standardsInternational Society of Hair Restoration Surgery
- Follicular unit extraction outcomesPubMed
Sources point to guideline bodies and literature searches rather than single papers, so they stay accurate as the evidence moves.