How Long Does A Hair Transplant Take? Surgery Timeline

According to a MedlinePlus report, over 50 million men and 30 million women suffer from hair loss.

If you’re one of them and planning to undergo hair transplant surgery, it’s only natural to be curious about its process.

So, how long does a hair transplant take? And what is its procedure?

How Long Is Hair Transplant Surgery?

Hair transplants involve moving healthy hair follicles and planting them at the balding site. Its purpose is to revitalize the hair production of the afflicted area and promote hair growth.

The time it takes to plant the hair grafts depends on two factors. These include the number of hair grafts and the specific method that the surgeon uses.

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

Follicular unit extraction is the most popular method of hair restoration surgery. It’s a simple process of extracting hair grafts from a donor site and replanting them in the recipient area.

Here’s the process for FUE:

1. FUE uses a device called a micromotor.
2. Using this tool, the surgeon extracts hair grafts from parts of the scalp with healthy hair production.
3. Once the grafts are collected, the implantation phase begins.
4. The surgeon will make small incisions on the scalp’s surface and manually plant the grafts.

Follicular unit extraction is a meticulous process that could take 6 to 8 hours per session for several days. In cases with severe balding, sessions could last for 10 to 12 hours.

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)

Follicular unit transplantation employs a more complicated process than FUE. In this technique, the surgeon cuts a patch of your scalp’s skin with healthy hair follicles.

Here are the steps for FUT:

1. The process begins by locating an appropriate donor site.
2. Once they find a donor area with healthy hair, they’ll mark the spot and shave the hair shorter.
3. Then, using a scalpel, the surgeon will cut out the donor patch and close the wound with sutures.
4. A technician will process and prepare the hair grafts for transplantation.
5. Finally, they’ll make a series of small incisions and insert the hair follicles.

In comparison, the FUT hair transplant method is faster than FUE. The whole surgical process will take only around 4 to 8 hours.

How Long Do Hair Transplants Take To See Results?

After the surgery, you’ll have to wait a few months to see some improvements. Reports reveal that most people see results in 6 to 12 months.

Another thing to note is the hair loss that could follow immediately after the procedure. It may sound troubling, but it’s a temporary phase, and your hair should regrow afterward.

Bottom Line

If it’s your first time undergoing hair restoration procedures for your hair loss, it’s only natural to think: How long does a hair transplant take?

Well, the duration of the surgery depends on the number of grafts to plant and the method of transplant. FUE is a lot simpler, but it needs a few hours of consecutive sessions.

On the other hand, FUT involves cutting a piece of your scalp but requires a shorter operation time. With this, you should be able to prepare yourself before your hair transplant schedule!