A 1000 graft hair transplant is ideal for tackling mild to moderate balding caused by male or female pattern hair loss. 1000 grafts is a relatively small procedure, so it’s reserved for those in the early stages of hair loss.
Considering a 1000-graft hair transplant? Find out all you need to know about this procedure here, including costs, eligibility, recovery timescales and how to maintain your hair long-term.
Key takeaways
A 1000-graft hair transplant is a relatively low volume used to treat small to medium areas of hair loss. A good hair transplant typically has 35 to 40 grafts per cm² at the hairline, and 20 to 25 grafts per cm² at the crown [1]. So, depending on the location of your hair loss, here’s the coverage you can expect from a 1000-graft hair transplant:
These photos of Wimpole Clinic patients will give you an idea of the coverage you can expect:
Before and 8 months after an FUE hairline transplant
Before and 12 months after a crown/mid-scalp hair transplant for density
A 1000-graft hair transplant can typically restore hair loss up to Norwood stage 3, depending on your age and hair restoration goals. However, there are varying degrees of hair loss even within each stage, so it’s important to get a professional quote.
Our experienced patient advisors at our nationwide Wimpole Clinic locations can assess your hair loss with a simple physical exam, giving you an accurate estimate of the number of grafts you need. Just book a consultation at your nearest clinic to get started.
It depends on many different factors, including your hair type and density. In general, you can fill in areas of light hair loss at both temples with around 1000 grafts. You may need more grafts for progressive hair loss that’s beginning to affect the mid-scalp.
Our hair graft calculator can estimate how many grafts you may need to fill in your balding areas.
Most prospective patients who haven’t had a hair transplant previously will be eligible for a 1000 graft hair transplant. Patients with unharvested hair transplant donor areas should have plenty of grafts available, meaning it’s safe to take 1000 grafts without making your donor region look thin or patchy.
However, other eligibility criteria also apply. Hair transplant recipients must:
Because a 1000 graft hair transplant is most suitable before you’ve lost too much hair, there are viable non-surgical alternatives that could work. The most popular of these are finasteride and minoxidil — hair loss treatments that are licensed for male pattern baldness.
These treatments are effective (especially when you combine minoxidil and finasteride) but they need to be used consistently to maintain the effects. If you stop using them, your hair loss will resume.
A hair transplant, meanwhile, won’t prevent ongoing hair loss, but it can permanently replace hair you’ve already lost. That’s why most people use a combination of non-surgical and surgical treatments to stabilise and replenish their hair.
These hair transplant before and after images show what kind of results you can expect from a 1000 graft hair transplant.
Before and 8 months after an Afro-textured hair transplant (FUT)
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It depends on your personal circumstances. FUE is often preferable, as it leaves minimal scarring and has a slightly more straightforward recovery process. FUE is also generally the preferred choice for relatively low volume graft harvesting (such as 1000 grafts).
FUT is sometimes the more suitable option, particularly if you have very curly or coily hair, as it’s less likely to damage the grafts. At our award-winning hair transplant clinic, your surgeon will discuss the different options and make a recommendation based on your hair type and preference.
A 1000-graft hair transplant takes around 5-6 hours. FUE typically takes slightly longer than FUT, as it takes more time to harvest the grafts.
Here’s what to expect at your hair transplant appointment:
Regardless of how many grafts you have, it normally takes around a year to 18 months to see your final results. However, with good aftercare, you should start to get an indication of your results within six months.
The first two weeks post-procedure are the most important in the hair transplant timeline in terms of aftercare and recovery, but also the most uncomfortable. During the hair transplant recovery period, it’s important to get as much rest as you can, and minimise the risk of damage to your grafts.
After the first two weeks you can return to most of your normal activities. Around this time, your newly transplanted grafts may start to shed their hairs. While this can be alarming, hair transplant shedding is very normal, and makes way for permanent new growth a few weeks later.
On average, a 1000 graft hair transplant costs £3,250 (based on an average UK cost-per-graft of £3.25 established in our research [2]). However, the overall cost depends on several factors, including:
By comparison, a 1000 graft hair transplant in Los Angeles costs around $6,960 (£5,530), while the same volume hair transplant in Turkey costs £550 on average.
It is possible that you’ll need additional procedures in future. This is normally the case if you don’t take steps to stabilise your hair loss (such as using finasteride and/or minoxidil) or if your hair loss continues despite these measures.
To reduce the likelihood of needing multiple hair transplants, it’s best to wait until your hair loss has stabilised before getting a hair transplant.
If you take steps to maintain your hair transplant, it can last a lifetime. The transplanted grafts aren’t vulnerable to the hormones that cause hair loss, so they won’t fall out, but the hair around them can. This can leave you with an unnatural-looking hairline, so it’s really important to reduce any ongoing hair loss.
Finasteride and minoxidil are the most common treatments, but others that may be effective include:
If you’re unsure which option is right for you, speak to your hair transplant clinic. They can recommend treatments based on your specific symptoms and circumstances.
Considering enhancing your hairline with a hair transplant? Book your free consultation at the Wimpole Clinic. Our patient advisors are on hand to guide you through the process, answer any questions you have, and tell you how many hair grafts you’ll need. You’ll also meet with a surgeon, so you can find out more about the procedure itself.
See all our clinic locations to find your nearest Wimpole Clinic branch.
Learn more about getting a low volume hair transplant in these frequently asked questions.
There’s no set minimum number of hair grafts; it depends on your goals. It is certainly possible to get less than 1000 grafts if necessary. Some of our patients get 500 graft hair transplants or even less.
According to our patient advisor Sophie,
“In terms of the least amount of grafts, sometimes people are really looking just for that perfect hairline. And if there’s just one little gap that’s bothering them, we can fill that in. That can be from as low as 100 grafts.” Watch the full video:
Yes, it’s possible to get a 1000 graft hair transplant using the unshaven FUE technique. However, there are some limitations to getting an unshaven hair transplant, so you should discuss these with your surgeon before agreeing to it.
Each graft holds between 1 and 5 hairs [4]. Depending on the grafts that are extracted from your donor region, 1000 grafts normally yield around 2000 to 2500 hairs [5].
You can request more grafts, but extracting more grafts than you need can put you at risk of hair transplant overharvesting. This reduces the amount of grafts available for future procedures.
To know whether your graft quote is accurate, we recommend getting quotes from multiple clinics. Clinics that offer ‘maximum grafts’ or similar are likely to quote more grafts than necessary, jeopardising your future hair maintenance.
Wimpole Clinic Services:
Hair Transplants, Beard Transplants & Eyebrow Transplants.
Talk to a specialist
Dr Meena Zareie (GMC number 7722917) is the first female member of Wimpole Clinic’s Hair Transplant Surgeons team.
Dr Meena started her journey in the hair transplant industry 8 years ago, where she worked closely with leading surgeons to hone her skills, having conducted more than 1,000 FUE hair transplants.
Starting as a technician and nurse while working simultaneously for the NHS, she decided to take her passion for helping patients with hair loss further.
Her qualifications include an MD doctorate from the prestigious Medical University of Warsaw, and a Master’s degree in Drug Toxicology with the institute of cancer therapeutics. She has previously completed a bachelor’s in Biomedical Science, and is qualified in minor aesthetic and dermatological procedures for the face and body. She is a member of the British Medical Association and is a registered doctor on the General Medical Council.
Her passion for perfection and attention to detail is what drew Dr Meena to the aesthetic industry. She has completed additional FUE Hair transplant training with renowned hair transplant doctors in Georgia and Iran, and has developed a fine motor skills which serve to produce outstanding results, as each procedure is carried out with ultimate care and meticulous attention to the detail. Dr Meena’s care for her patients and work shows in her results is a real credit to the hair transplant industry.
