Trypophobia is a condition in which you experience feelings of fear, disgust, or distaste when seeing clusters of small holes. While some hair transplant patients experience trypophobic feelings after their procedure, this is uncommon, and normally associated with unnecessarily large FUE punch wounds. Any feelings of trypophobia are normally mild and manageable.
Please note this article contains images that those with trypophobia may find distressing. These are blurred, but you can click each image to view it.
Please note this article contains images that those with trypophobia may find distressing. Sensitive images are hidden, but you can click through each warning to view them.
If you feel uneasy, disgusted, or anxious at the sight of clusters of small holes, you may have trypophobia. Some prospective patients worry about triggering their trypophobia when they get a hair transplant. But with the right support, you can overcome your phobia and get fantastic results.
Key takeaways
Trypophobia is an intense feeling of discomfort when looking at clusters of small holes [1]. While the name suggests feelings of fear, for many trypophobes, the feeling is more associated with discomfort or dislike [2].
Some hair transplant techniques involve extracting hair grafts from the scalp one-by-one, creating a pattern of small round wounds at the back of the head. This can make you feel uneasy or uncomfortable if you have trypophobia.
Trypophobia is surprisingly common, affecting between 10-18% of the adult population [3]. So if you’re concerned about getting a hair transplant due to this condition, you’re not alone. It’s a concern shared by many others, and one we have encountered at the Wimpole Clinic.
It’s not currently known exactly what causes trypophobia, though many researchers have suggested possible causes. For example, some scientists have theorised that humans subconsciously associate clusters of holes with skin diseases and poisonous animals, creating an instinctive aversion to these images [4].
However, others have said trypophobia is often present alongside generalised anxiety disorder and depression [2]. So it may be a symptom of other conditions as well as a phobia in its own right.
Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is more likely to trigger a trypophobic response than follicular unit transplantation (FUT). That’s because FUE involves individually extracting hair grafts, leaving a pattern of holes in the donor region. However, because the donor area is normally at the back of the scalp, this isn’t visible without mirrors or photos.
More often, trypophobic responses are triggered during the research stage. Many clinics publish images and videos of patients during and after surgery, which you may come across as you’re researching clinics and learning how the surgery is performed.
Once your hair transplant has healed, you shouldn’t generally see any effects that could trigger a trypophobic reaction. In rare cases, you may develop folliculitis after a hair transplant, which results in small pimples on the surface of the skin. However, folliculitis normally resembles bumps rather than holes, which is much less likely to trigger trypophobia.
In FUE, a round tool called a micro-punch is used to harvest each hair graft. Each punch extraction leaves a small round wound in the scalp.
Modern FUE practitioners use grafts ranging from 0.8 mm to 1 mm in diameter [5]. Larger punches may be necessary for patients with curly and Afro hair types, as it’s less likely to result in graft damage.
According to research, “medium-sized, tightly grouped, high-contrast holes are more typically the trigger [for trypophobia] because they distort the natural visual balance our brains prefer. [6]” Because hair transplant wounds are tiny, closely spaced, and don’t have substantial contrast, good hair transplant technique shouldn’t result in any major feelings of trypophobia.
That said, larger punches may leave holes that are more likely to trigger a trypophobic reaction. So the smaller the punch, the less likely you are to experience unease or discomfort about your graft extraction area.
Other factors, such as skin tone, may also have a minor impact. Contrast between the graft extraction wound and light skin tones is higher than in those with dark skin tones, which may worsen trypophobia.
In short, yes. Many trypophobic patients have successful hair transplants without any major reactions. It’s all about discussing your concerns with your clinic so they can put the appropriate support systems in place.
These supportive measures may include:
Hair transplant holes are normally small and unevenly distributed. They differ substantially from images that normally trigger trypophobia, such as lotus flower seed pods, as the holes are far smaller.
Below you can see the typical post-surgery outcome of an FUE hair transplant patient (in this case, England cricket captain Ben Stokes. Learn more about Ben Stokes’s hair transplant at the Wimpole Clinic, including his full-term results.) Click the image to view his donor and recipient areas immediately post-surgery:
Some clinics — particularly inexperienced or unqualified surgeons — have been known to use unnecessarily large punches, which can increase the chances of experiencing a trypophobic reaction. They also increase the risk of scarring and hair transplant overharvesting, both of which can jeopardise your results.
Important: The image set below is graphic and may trigger a trypophobic reaction. It shows the donor area after an oversized punch has been used.
Thankfully, these techniques are very outdated and therefore no longer offered by most clinics. However, you may encounter the odd clinic where these techniques are still used, particularly in countries like Turkey where it’s easier for clinics to evade health and safety regulations.
It only takes a couple of days for the wounds to start to scab over. Hair transplant scabs aren’t usually a trigger for trypophobia, so after the first couple of days you’re over the worst.
Good aftercare can help your wounds heal more quickly. Watch these videos from our team to learn more.
Find out how long scabs normally last and what to do if you bump your head after a hair transplant.
See how to encourage optimal scab formation immediately after your hair transplant from our patient advisor Caj.
Learn when and how to soften up scabs post-transplant with gentle shampoo and massage techniques.
Some people are aware of their phobias from a young age. However for less common phobias – like trypophobia – you may not realise you have it until later on in life.
The simplest way to find out if you have trypophobia is to look at potentially triggering images. We’ve compiled a set of images that can help you diagnose trypophobia. If any of the following images make you feel uneasy or uncomfortable, you may have trypophobia:
Yes. If you’re keen to get a hair transplant but are concerned about triggering your trypophobia, there are some steps you can take to minimise the chance of discomfort or anxiety. Here’s what to do.
If you have any kind of phobia that could impact your surgery — whether it’s trypophobia or trypanophobia (fear of needles) — it’s essential that you work with a good clinic that’s capable of helping you manage this. This is important because:
At the Wimpole Clinic, we’ve helped patients with many different phobias and fears around the hair transplant process. We take a patient-centred approach to ensure you get the support you need throughout the entire process. Book a free consultation to learn more at your nearest clinic location.
Unlike FUE, in which grafts are extracted individually, FUT involves removing a strip of skin which is then dissected into single grafts. The strip is then closed using surgical stitches, leaving one linear wound rather than multiple round wounds. This can make the donor area less triggering during the initial recovery period, though it can leave a visible scar if you wear your hair short at the back.
Watch the video below to learn more about the differences between FUE vs FUT from our surgeon, Dr Peter Thomas:
Certain treatments can help speed up hair transplant healing time, which may minimise the time you spend dealing with potential trypophobia triggers.
Low level laser therapy is a painless, non-invasive treatment that involves directing light beams of a specific frequency at your scalp to promote hair growth and healing. Research suggests it may reduce hair transplant healing times [7].
Platelet-rich plasma hair loss therapy can also accelerate wound healing in the donor area [8]. PRP therapy involves injecting platelets from your own blood into the scalp to promote follicle cell proliferation and growth.
Early research suggests that exposure therapy may be an effective treatment for trypophobia [9]. Exposing patients to images that induce trypophobic reactions may desensitise them to similar stimuli over time.
This type of therapy should be conducted with the support of a therapist or counsellor, as it may be distressing, especially in the early stages of treatment. Additionally, it can take weeks or even months to become more comfortable with the imagery, so it’s a treatment to consider well in advance of your hair transplant.
Many treatments show promising results for treating trypophobia in general, though there’s limited evidence on how these work specifically for hair transplant-induced trypophobia. But if trypophobia is affecting your daily life, or preventing you from doing things you want to do, it’s worth exploring some of these treatments.
At the Wimpole Clinic, we’ve worked with many patients with trypophobia and other fears or concerns. In some cases, they’ve put off surgical hair restoration for years as a result of these phobias, but ultimately wish they’d done it sooner.
Our friendly patient advisors and surgical staff are sensitive to all our patients’ unique needs. We understand how difficult it can be to open up about your worries, especially since many of our staff have undergone hair transplants themselves. Our non-judgemental approach to these concerns is one of the reasons we’ve been named the UK’s best hair transplant clinic four years running.
We’ll answer all your questions and address any concerns you have, and make sure you feel completely comfortable when it comes to getting a hair transplant. Book a consultation at your closest clinic location to get started.
Learn more about how to handle hair transplant trypophobia in these frequently asked questions.
It’s best to mention your trypophobia at your initial consultation. Opening up the conversation early helps you get the answers you need, and will help you understand how the clinic has supported other people through similar experiences.
If you’ve already had your consultation and didn’t mention it, don’t worry. Get in touch with the clinic at any point to mention your concerns. If you feel anxious on the day, let the team know and we’ll figure out the best way to tackle it.
It’s up to your doctor or therapist to give you an official clinical diagnosis of trypophobia. But research suggests trypophobia often manifests as disgust, dislike, or unease rather than fear [3]. These feelings can develop into feelings of anxiety and fear if left unchecked.
It’s best to avoid wearing a hat after your hair transplant for at least 10 days. Wearing a hat can dislodge your grafts, cause excessive sweating, and generally put your hair transplant at risk if you wear one too soon.
If you’re concerned about seeing your scalp before it’s healed, ask your surgical team to bandage your hair transplant before leaving the clinic.
No. Your clinic will use the punch they believe will give you the best results. The good news is that good surgeons generally use the smallest punch they can without damaging the grafts. In the majority of cases, the punch will be less than 1 mm in diameter.
Wimpole Clinic Services:
Hair Transplants, Beard Transplants & Eyebrow Transplants.
Talk to a specialist
After completing full visceral and bone surgical training, Mr. Ulf Kienecker (GMC No. 7046070) gained professional expertise in aesthetic and plastic surgery for six years before transitioning to surgical and non-surgical hair transplant treatments. He specialised exclusively in hair loss and skin rejuvenation. Over the past 19 years, Mr. Kienecker has performed approximately 15,000 individual hair transplant procedures.
He is one of the very few consultant surgeons with a medical license in both Switzerland and the United Kingdom and is highly regarded in professional circles for performing FUT and FUE hair transplants using the most modern incisional slit technique.
Mr. Kienecker has treated high-profile actors and singers, who have consistently given him five-star ratings due to his commitment to patient education and his warm, engaging manner. He is dedicated to understanding each patient’s unique concerns and goals, collaborating with them to develop a personalised treatment plan — whether non-surgical, surgical, or a combination of both — to achieve the desired results.
Mr. Kienecker’s specialties in the field of Hair Restoration include beard hair transplants and hairline densification.
