A hair transplant surgery usually takes around 4 to 8 hours to complete. However, considering the surgery preparation and post-procedure monitoring you’ll probably be at the clinic for the entire day, so don’t make other plans!
One study of 207 hair transplants found that the average hair transplant procedure time was 385 minutes (just under 6 and a half hours) [1].
The length of your surgery depends on a few different factors, including the type of hair transplant you have, and how many hair grafts you need.
In this article, you’ll learn how to estimate how long it will take to perform your hair transplant operation.
There are many factors to consider when estimating surgical time. Here are 5 things that can impact how long you’re in the surgical chair and how long you’ll need to spend at the hair transplant clinic.
If you’ve lost a lot of hair , for example stages 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 you can if it’s worrying you. The sooner you take care of your balding, the less time you’ll spend in the chair.
Plus, if you catch it 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.
The extent of your hair loss is directly linked to the number of hair grafts you need. Here’s a quick rundown of the Norwood stages and how many grafts are typically needed for each one, plus how this translates to hair transplant time:
FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) hair transplants are usually a longer process than FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) hair transplants. While the implantation time is very similar, it usually takes much longer to extract individual hair follicles using FUE procedure methods than with the strip surgery technique.
An FUE hair transplant typically takes 5-7 hours, while FUT hair transplants usually take 4-6 hours. Find out more about the difference between FUT vs FUE.
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 undue 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.
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 or so 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.
Hair transplantation is a permanent solution for anyone who has suffered the loss of their hair. A few hours of discomfort can give you patients transformative new hair that lasts a lifetime. Hair transplants are permanent and will last your whole life, especially if you maintain your hair with Finasteride or another appropriate hair maintenance solution. Find out more about how long a hair transplant lasts.
You’ll feel back to normal within a few days of your procedure however it should be noted that it takes much longer to see your hair transplant results as the transplanted hair will need to settle into its new position and begin its hair growth cycle.
Find out what to expect during hair transplant recovery and when in our hair transplant recovery timeline or book a free consultation today to speak with an experienced hair loss specialist who can answer any questions you might have. Not sure of what to ask your hair loss specialist? Check out our list of questions you really want to ask before a hair transplant.
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