A hair transplant can take anywhere from 4-8 hours in a single day, while some large procedures can span several days. The length of a hair transplant depends mostly on the number of grafts you’re having, though other factors can also affect session duration. Here, you’ll learn how long your procedure is likely to take.
Hair transplant duration varies depending on technique, graft count, and patient factors. FUE usually takes 5-7 hours (slightly longer than FUT) and large procedures can span multiple days. Preparation, surgeon skill, and graft preservation methods all influence the overall time and success of the surgery.
Key takeaways
Wimpole Clinic hair transplant surgeons Dr Dinesh Patel, Dr Chirag Gadhia and Dr Umear Ahmad give their expert clinical opinions throughout this article.
FUE generally takes 5-7 hours to complete, but it can take longer, especially if you’re transplanting a high number of grafts. Unless you’re told otherwise, you should expect to be at the clinic all day. One study found that it takes approximately 6.5 hours to transplant an average of 2973 grafts via FUE [1].
A key difference between FUE vs FUT is that FUE often takes longer, because the graft extraction method is slower. Each graft is harvested from the scalp individually.
Motorised FUE methods can speed up surgery times [1]. However, if your surgeon uses an implanter pen or direct hair implantation (DHI), the surgery could take longer. Instead of creating incisions and implanting them manually with forceps, the DHI method implants the graft without a pre-made slit. While this may seem more efficient, it can actually take longer, because the work can’t be done simultaneously (i.e. with one person making the incisions and another implanting the grafts).
FUT normally takes around 4-6 hours to complete. As with FUE and all hair transplants, the more grafts you need, the longer the surgery will take. FUT is often used for larger transplant volumes. In any case, you’re likely to be at the clinic all day if you’re having FUT surgery.
FUT is quicker than FUE because it involves removing a strip of skin from the patient’s donor area, then surgically dissecting the strip into individual grafts. This allows the grafts to be harvested more quickly than in FUE.
The table below shows how long a hair transplant is likely to take depending on the number of grafts you need, based on the average length of FUE surgery [1].
*Multi-day surgery.
Graft number and technique have the biggest impact on the duration of your hair transplant surgery, but other factors can also come into play.
If you’ve lost a lot of hair (think stage 4 and above on the Norwood Scale), your hair transplant surgery will naturally take longer than for those with earlier stages of hair loss.
This is one good reason to address your hair loss as soon as possible. The sooner you take care of your balding, the less time you’ll spend in the chair. Large hair transplants can sometimes span multiple days, as Dr Patel explains:
“Achieving optimal results in terms of both density and natural hair distribution may not always be feasible in one session, especially in individuals with extensive androgenetic alopecia or those with suboptimal donor area density. In these scenarios, a multi-stage surgical approach — spanning two or more sessions — can be advantageous. It allows for better planning, reduced graft stress, improved survival rates, and more precise redistribution of follicular units to match the patient’s aesthetic priorities and long-term goals.”
If you start treating your hair loss really early, you may not need a hair transplant at all. Medications like minoxidil and finasteride can be really effective for mild to moderate hair loss, like that seen in the early stages of male pattern baldness.
Some hair types require more precise graft extraction and placement, which often translates to longer surgery times.
For example, tightly curled or coiled hair is at higher risk of graft damage during FUE harvesting [2]. So if you opt for an FUE procedure, graft extraction may be slower than for those with other hair types. This is the main reason why FUT is often recommended to those undergoing an Afro hair transplant. Dr Gadhia explains:
“In Afro-Caribbean hair types, where curlier roots can make FUE extraction more challenging, FUT may be a more desirable option as it reduces the risk of follicular transection.
When deciding between FUT and FUE, a comprehensive assessment is essential. This should include evaluating scalp laxity, any previous hair transplant procedures, the patient’s willingness to shave the donor and recipient areas, and how the patient plans to style their hair in the future.”
Similarly, it’s also more challenging to extract grafts in patients with very fine hair. The recipient sites for fine hair must also be smaller and more precise, which can again increase the surgery duration for both FUE and FUT.
Clinics usually ask you to arrive early on the day of your hair transplant procedure so they can prepare you for surgery, design your hairline, and answer any last-minute questions you might have.
In addition, good clinics will monitor you for at least an hour after the procedure to make sure you’re well enough to go home. So you should expect to spend the entire day at the clinic, and head straight home (or to your hotel) after your procedure.
Any unexpected issues that arise during this cosmetic surgery may add some extra time to your procedure. Choosing a reputable clinic in the UK with the best hair transplant surgeon makes it less likely that you’ll experience any problems.
To be fully prepared, make sure you understand the potential for hair transplant complications. Be aware that these are more likely to occur in unsafe, unsanitary environments, or with unskilled practitioners. So it’s important to do your research and find a clinic you truly trust.
High graft volume hair transplants (i.e. 3000 grafts or more) are usually split over multiple days. Factors like surgeon fatigue, patient comfort, and graft viability come into play at this point, which is why we tend to limit single-day sessions to 3000 graft hair transplants. Dr Patel explains when he’s likely to recommend single versus multiple hair transplant sessions:
“When deciding whether to carry out a high-volume hair transplant in a single session or over multiple sessions, I consider a number of important factors. First, I look at the condition of the donor area—both its density and overall health—to ensure we can safely extract the required number of grafts without compromising future options.
“I also take into account the size and location of the recipient area, as well as the patient’s specific priorities; for example, if the patient is more concerned about the hairline than the crown, I would focus on that area first.
“In addition to these technical aspects, I assess the patient’s general health and how well they might tolerate a long procedure. Some individuals may find long sessions physically or emotionally tiring, which can affect their comfort and overall experience.
“Another key factor is graft survival—longer procedures can increase the risk of grafts being outside the body for too long, which may impact their viability.
“For these reasons, even when a patient is eligible for a high graft count, I personally prefer to perform the procedure in multiple sessions. This approach allows me to concentrate on one area at a time with precision, reduce surgical stress, and give the patient the best chance of natural-looking, lasting results.”
There are a few ways to reduce hair transplant surgery duration, but they’re not quick fixes. You’ll need to plan and prepare for them a few months in advance. Here’s what you can do:
Yes, studies suggest that some robotic hair transplant techniques can speed up the procedure, shortening overall hair transplant durations [3]. However, these techniques aren’t yet common or widespread, so you’ll likely pay a premium at clinics that do use them.
In most cases, you’ll be asked to arrive at the clinic at around 7.30am. We like to start early to ensure we have plenty of time to complete your hair transplant, and there’s no rushing at any point.
The finish time varies depending on how many hair grafts you need. You can expect to be at the clinic for most of the day, but many of our patients report that the time goes by quickly — you can watch TV, listen to podcasts, or even go to sleep.
“The procedure lasted around 8 hours, yet they made it feel effortless and stress-free. Spending the day with Nahid and Marjan was an absolute pleasure – their warmth, humour, and constant encouragement made the time fly by, turning what could have been a tiring procedure into a genuinely enjoyable experience.”
— B. Sam
“The procedure was done with Dr Dayah and his assistants, all of whom were extremely professional, knowledgeable and kind. I felt safe and knew they were all working their absolute hardest to make me as happy as they possibly could with my results, they were also truly the loveliest, friendliest people. I had no pain, I was comfortable, fell asleep several times even and enjoyed a lovely little lunch then was home before dinner. Still no pain today, Kristy called to make sure I was doing ok and run through the things I may have forgotten, as friendly and supportive as always.”
— JK
This varies from clinic to clinic, but you’ll normally have at least three breaks during a session: a morning break, a lunch break, and an afternoon break. You can also ask to pause the procedure for additional breaks as needed.
That said, we try to offer enough scheduled breaks that no additional breaks are necessary. These can disrupt the flow of the procedure and make it take longer, so we try to keep extra breaks to a minimum.
Out-of-body graft preservation is really important, as it can impact the long-term results of your hair transplant. Grafts are often kept in saline solution (or another specially-prepared preservation solution) to maximise their viability and survival rates [4].
Dr Ahmad explains more about graft preservation and survival:
“The most important thing that dictates graft survival rate is the quality of the grafts. Do they have good quality grafts? Do we have lots of ones [single follicle grafts]? Do we have mainly twos? Do we have loads of threes? If we’ve got lots of nice healthy three-haired grafts, we’re going to get the best outcome.
“To get the highest possible graft survival rates, we have to manage how we handle the grafts. We use forceps to handle them, and keep them in saline solution. Generally, we’re just really careful to treat the grafts with care.”
The initial phase of hair transplant recovery lasts around two weeks. This is a crucial aftercare period that can make or break your long-term results, so it’s important to get plenty of downtime after your hair transplant and avoid doing anything that could damage your grafts (such as doing too much exercise or sleeping in a flat position).
After the first two weeks, you can get back to your normal activities. But you’ll need to be patient while your hair grows in, as you may experience post-transplant shedding a few weeks after your procedure, and it can take 3-6 months to see new growth.
Full and final results are visible around 12-18 months after your procedure.
At the Wimpole Clinic, we do our best to make the hair transplant experience comfortable and even enjoyable for our patients. It’s part of our commitment to patient care, comfort, and satisfaction.
“I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better experience. From the moment I arrived, the entire team made me feel completely at ease. They were not only professional and attentive, but also genuinely lovely, funny people who made the day fly by.”— Will
“I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better experience. From the moment I arrived, the entire team made me feel completely at ease. They were not only professional and attentive, but also genuinely lovely, funny people who made the day fly by.”
— Will
If you have any questions about the potential duration of your hair transplant procedure, talk them through with one of our friendly patient advisors. Book your free consultation today to find out more about the hair transplant process, and get an estimate of how long your procedure could take.
Learn more about hair transplant procedure and recovery duration in these frequently asked questions.
It depends on how physical your job is. Those who work at a desk can normally go back after a week (or even less, if you feel comfortable doing so). Those who work in more physically demanding roles should take at least two weeks off work to minimise the risk of damaging the grafts. Learn more about going back to work after a hair transplant from Adam, our patient advisor:
Yes, there are some important things you need to do to prepare for a hair transplant. These steps are designed to reduce excess blood flow that could increase bleeding during the operation. For example, you may be asked to:
Follow the instructions from your clinic to ensure maximum efficiency on the day of surgery.
Having more technicians work on your transplant can help reduce the length of your session. However, there is a maximum number of people who can work on your hair at any given time, and large teams aren’t always necessary. Good clinics will know how many staff to assign to achieve the best efficiency and results.
It depends on how well the grafts are preserved. Research shows that graft survival decreases the longer the grafts are held outside the body, but tactics like chilling the grafts or placing them in saline solution can preserve their viability [5].
Good clinics will have longstanding measures in place to keep your grafts healthy and viable throughout your procedure. So choose a reputable, trustworthy clinic that has the credentials to handle a long procedure.
Wimpole Clinic Services:
Hair Transplants, Beard Transplants & Eyebrow Transplants.
Talk to a specialist
Dr Mir Malkani MBBS, MISHRS, FRCS, aged 59, is a pioneer and leader in the field of FUE Hair Transplants in the UK. He has performed over 7,000 hair transplant procedures in the last 21 years and is an innovator in FUE surgery due to his extensive experience. In-fact, Dr Malkani is one of the first three FUE surgeons in the UK and has developed modern FUE surgery techniques and is registered with the GMC (4702052). He has been performing FUE surgery since January 2008 and for the last five years almost exclusively performs this technique. Dr Malkani takes a keen interest in every patient and their surgery results. He performs surgical aspects himself thereby ensuring a high standard of work and accountability for each individual patient whilst complying with UK Law.
After achieving a Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1997, Dr Malkani had the opportunity to work in a range of specialties in Dublin, London, Sussex and The Midlands. This included Trauma Surgery, General Surgery, Plastic Surgery and Dermatology. Additionally, Dr Malkani has achieved qualifications in General Practice and has been a practising hair transplant Surgeon on a full-time basis since 2004. He worked for the Wimpole Clinic from 2013 to 2016 as a specialist FUE surgeon before setting up his own hair clinic in 2017 which eventually merged with Wimpole Clinic in 2019.
Since 2015 Dr Malkani has become the expert witness for the UK judicial system in order to provide expert medical opinions to the courts for hair transplant medical malpractices in the UK. He has been pivotal in helping the UK courts in improving the quality of hair transplant surgery in the UK and in patients suffering malpractice from poor unregulated work here in the UK. Dr Malkani has performed hair transplant surgery in England, Scotland, Ireland and in Sweden.
Dr Malkani has taken a keen interest in and practised facial aesthetics, body sculpting and hair loss for many years. His surgical qualifications, experience, skills and understanding of facial cosmetology has enabled him to master the most modern and advanced techniques and artistry of FUE hair Surgery. These outstanding skills have helped transform the lives of his male, female and transgender patients. He is one of the few around the world whose transaction rate (damage to grafts during extraction) is extremely low and is under 2%. This ensures a high volume of viable grafts and a good result without compromising the donor area. Dr Malkani is also one of a few surgeons in the UK who can harvest body hair in a hair transplant where there is a depleted donor area.
In 2008, Dr Malkani had the honour to be invited to lecture on The Art and Sciences of Hair Restoration surgery and Hair loss in the annual meeting of the British Association of Cosmetic Doctors at The Royal College of Physicians in London. Dr Malkani has trained others in the specialty of Hair Restoration Surgery in The United Kingdom, Italy and Asia. He has worked on thousands of hair transplant patients over the past 16 years and has kept abreast of constant new developments in the industry.
Membership of professional bodies by Dr Malkani includes full membership of The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery and The British Association of Cosmetic Doctors and British Medical Association. He has been featured by the national press and BBC as one of the key seniors, versatile hair transplant surgeons in the UK.
GMC Registration No: 4702052
