A 500 graft hair transplant is usually the minimum number of grafts you can get in one session and is considered a small hair transplant. If you need fewer grafts than this, your hair loss may not be extensive enough to need a hair transplant.
Instead, you may be able to try non-surgical hair loss treatments like platelet-rich plasma (PRP), minoxidil, or finasteride to reverse your hair loss. We offer both hair transplants and an extensive range of evidence-based hair loss treatments at the Wimpole Clinic.
In this article, discover what coverage you can get from a 500 graft hair transplant, how much it costs in the UK, what the recovery process is like, and who can benefit from this type of transplant.
Key takeaways
Wimpole Clinic hair transplants surgeons Dr Patel and Dr Dayah share their insights on different aspects of 500 graft hair transplants.
During the hair restoration procedure, hair transplant surgeons take healthy hair follicles from one part of the head and transplant them to areas of thinning or balding. This hair is known as donor hair and usually comes from the back or sides of the head.
These hair follicles are normally extracted from the donor area and transplanted through a graft, which is the term for a piece of skin or tissue that contains hair follicles. Grafts can be taken in strips (as in follicular unit transplantation, or FUT) or as individual units (as in follicular unit extraction, or FUE).
Learn more here about the differences between FUE and FUT.
A 500-graft hair transplant provides light scalp coverage, so it’s suitable for patients who don’t have extensive hair loss. Most people getting a 500 graft hair transplant aim for coverage in zone 1, or to address very light thinning in zone 2 or 6:
The following photos show real-life Wimpole Clinic patients before and after their hair transplant. Each of these patients has had a 500-graft procedure:
Afro hair transplant patient — FUE results after 7 months
Female hair transplant patient — FUT results after 10 months
The following Wimpole Clinic patient had just 400 grafts, see his results after 6 months:
This shows how your hair type and colour can influence how quickly you notice results. A 2025 review [1] found that thicker hairs provide better scalp coverage, helping create a denser look. Similarly, people whose hair and skin tones are similar tend to achieve fuller-looking results due to lower contrast with the scalp.
In contrast, darker hair on lighter skin can make thinning areas stand out more, meaning graft placement must be especially precise. As shown in this Afro hair transplant, curly hair naturally offers greater scalp coverage, so it often requires fewer grafts than straight hair to achieve a similar result [2].
As the above photos show, 500 grafts are enough to make a difference to people who have relatively light hair loss. Many women who have slightly widened partings will choose this graft volume to increase their hair density and prevent too much of the scalp from being visible. This applies to women who have stage 1 hair loss on the Ludwig Scale:
Men who are affected by male pattern baldness often seek treatment when their hair loss is more extensive, so they tend to need more grafts. However, if you get hair restoration surgery soon enough, you may be able to get a 500 graft hair transplant and manage any future hair loss with minoxidil or dihydrotestosterone (DHT) blockers.
Our hair graft calculator tool can give you an approximate estimate of how many hair grafts you might need. Men at stage 2 or stage 3 on the Norwood Scale may be appropriate candidates for a 500 graft FUT or FUE procedure, depending on their age. See the Norwood Scale below:
It usually takes 3-4 months to see early improvements from a 500-graft hair transplant, and 12-18 months to see the full results. Your hair may look worse before it looks better due to shock loss (the shedding of native and transplanted hairs).
Shock loss usually happens within the first few weeks to months following a hair transplant, but tends to completely resolve by months 3-4. And as our hair transplant reviews show, it’s worth the wait.
By month 3-4, your transplanted follicles will start growing new hair. Density will continue to improve over the following months and by month 12-18, you’ll have a thicker head of hair that should last a lifetime.
The graft number needed to fully restore hair to your liking will vary depending on the extent of hair loss that has already occurred. Many patients need more than 500 hair grafts. Find out how many hair grafts you’ll need in our guides to other hair graft volumes:
Across the UK, the average cost of a hair graft is £3.25. So you can get a 500-graft hair transplant for £1,625 on average. You’ll pay a slight premium to have a procedure at a Harley Street hair transplant clinic, as this is one of the most esteemed areas for cosmetic surgery in the world.
At the Wimpole Clinic, our hair transplant prices start at £3,499 for FUE and FUT hair transplants. FUT transplants tend to cost a bit more due to the larger medical team required for the procedure. See our UK hair transplant cost analysis for more details.
For a 500-graft hair transplant, recovery is generally faster compared to larger procedures. For example, Dr Dayah shares that the larger the surgery, the more hair transplant swelling you may experience, although recovery timelines can vary slightly between FUE and FUT.
The diagram above shows the general timeline for different aspects of hair transplant recovery. For a 500 graft FUE hair transplant, some aspects such as scalp redness, hair transplant scabbing, swelling and pain are likely to be on the faster side to resolve.
A 2019 study found that patients experienced significantly less pain following an FUE transplant compared to FUT. Pain was almost gone by day 3 post-op in the FUT group, but only minimal pain was present even on day 1 for patients who had FUE [3].
For a 500 graft FUT transplant, the recipient area will likely heal quickly, but the donor area may take a little longer. This is because FUT involves removing a small strip of skin from the donor area, making it more invasive than FUE, which uses tiny individual extractions that cause less trauma and heal faster.
Dr Patel shares,
“There is a noticeable difference in the levels of pain and discomfort experienced between FUE and FUT, both during and after the surgery. FUE is usually less invasive and generally causes less pain during recovery, while FUT tends to cause more postoperative discomfort due to the linear scar and sutures.”
Additional treatments can significantly improve hair growth density following a 500-graft hair transplant. Surgeons often recommend a combination of therapies tailored to your specific hair loss pattern and goals.
Finasteride (for men) and minoxidil (for men and women) are typically prescribed to stabilise ongoing hair loss and stimulate follicles for hair growth. These treatments help maintain surrounding native hair and can improve the density of the transplant area [4-5].
One study found that taking 1 mg of finasteride daily from four weeks before surgery until 48 weeks after a hair transplant improved the density of existing scalp hair, and increased overall hair coverage around the transplanted area [4].
Research suggests that using PRP during and after surgery can help transplanted hairs grow better and faster [6]. It works by improving blood flow and nourishing the hair follicles, which helps them heal and thrive after the procedure.
Laser treatments can improve blood flow and cellular activity around transplanted follicles, supporting early growth phases and reducing inflammation. Research suggests that low-level laser therapy can significantly increase hair density for men and women with androgenetic alopecia [7].
Using gentle shampoos, maintaining good scalp hygiene, and making sure you’re eating the right food for hair growth (including plenty of protein, iron, and vitamin D) all support the healing process and improve long-term outcomes.
Yes, you can usually have a second hair transplant after an initial 500-graft procedure, as long as your donor area remains healthy and has enough available follicles. A 500 graft session is relatively small, so it typically uses only a small portion of your donor supply.
Whether you have enough grafts for future surgery depends on factors such as your hair density at the back and sides of the scalp, the size of the donor zone, and how efficiently grafts were extracted during your first procedure. Skilled surgeons plan each session carefully to preserve donor density and make sure there’s enough left for any future treatments you may need as hair loss progresses.
Most people have enough donor hair to support several hair transplant sessions if they’re planned carefully. Since a 500-graft procedure uses only a small portion of the average donor supply (around 6,000 grafts [8]), there’s usually plenty left for future treatments if needed.
While you can measure your hair loss against the Norwood or Ludwig scales visually, the best way to get an accurate graft quote is by visiting a hair transplant clinic. It can be difficult to assess your own hair loss, so it’s important to get a professional opinion from an experienced hair transplant surgeon.
The Wimpole Clinic has been awarded best hair transplant clinic for four years running. We’re one of the longest-standing hair clinics in the UK, having performed over 25,000 successful procedures since we opened our doors in 1975.
Our trichology team will examine the extent of your hair loss to give you an accurate quote for your hair transplant. Book a consultation to get your free quote and ask any questions you have about hair transplants or other hair restoration options.
Patients at Norwood stage 7 (the most advanced stage of male pattern baldness) typically need 4,500-5000 grafts for good results. However, it’s not always possible to perform a hair transplant this large without compromising the donor area, especially in a single session. Your surgeon will discuss the best way to achieve your goals safely.
To avoid overharvesting and keep the donor area looking natural, most surgeons recommend a maximum of around 2,500 to 3,000 grafts in a single session [9]. This helps ensure even extraction, healthy healing, and enough donor hair left for any future procedures.
Covering a bald spot on the crown generally requires around 1500 grafts, but may need more or less depending on the size of the area and desired density. Learn more here about how many hair grafts you need to get the results you want.
A hair transplant is permanent because grafts are taken from areas resistant to hair loss. However, your surrounding natural hair may continue to thin over time. Maintaining results often involves using medications like finasteride or minoxidil, and you may even choose to have a second hair transplant later down the line if you continue to lose hair.
Wimpole Clinic Services:
Hair Transplants, Beard Transplants & Eyebrow Transplants.
Talk to a specialist
Dr. Dinesh Patel (GMC No: 7992217) began his medical journey by earning his MBBS degree, followed by an MD in Anaesthesiology. In 2008, he initiated his practice as an anaesthesiologist in the domain of hair transplantation, which ignited his passion for specialising in this field.
Dr. Patel underwent advanced training, completed a fellowship in hair transplantation, and actively participated in numerous national and international hair restoration conferences and live surgery workshops. Since 2009, he has exclusively focused on the field of hair transplantation and has successfully performed over 4,000 procedures.
Dr. Patel’s extensive experience encompasses a broad range of procedures, including hair transplantation for male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia), female hair transplantation, beard transplantation, and eyebrow transplantation. He has also achieved remarkable results in complex cases involving scarring alopecia, traumatic alopecia, and post-burn hair restoration. Over the past few years, he has contributed to the field by training numerous physicians and technical assistants in the follicular unit extraction (FUE) technique.
Renowned for his exceptional skill and compassionate approach, Dr. Patel is a highly regarded hair transplant surgeon specialising in both follicular unit extraction (FUE) and follicular unit transplantation (FUT) techniques. He is adept at integrating cutting-edge hair loss treatments such as low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy into his practice, ensuring optimal outcomes for his patients.
With a master’s degree in Anaesthesiology, Dr. Patel is deeply committed to a patient-centred approach. His expertise in effective pain management ensures patient comfort throughout the procedure and during the recovery process. Furthermore, he excels in providing clear and comprehensive guidance on medical and pharmaceutical treatment options for androgenetic alopecia, addressing both male and female pattern hair loss, as well as other forms of alopecia.
Through active participation in various conferences and specialised training programmes, he remains at the forefront of innovation, continuously updating his knowledge of novel approaches and cutting-edge technologies in the field of hair restoration.
