# Hair Transplant (FUE) > Citation bundle for Hair Transplant (FUE) on The Treatment Registry. > URL: https://thetreatmentregistry.com/procedures/hair-transplant > Bundle URL: https://thetreatmentregistry.com/api/citations/procedures/hair-transplant - Category: hair-transplant - Average recovery: 10 days - Typical sessions: 1 - Price range (USD international): $1,500–$8,000 ## Description Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) involves harvesting individual hair follicles from a donor area (typically the back of the head) and transplanting them to areas of thinning or baldness. Results take 9-12 months to fully develop. The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia. ## Overview Follicular Unit Extraction is a minimally invasive hair restoration technique performed under local anaesthesia on an outpatient basis. Individual follicular units — naturally occurring groups of one to four hairs — are extracted from the donor area using a specialised punch instrument of 0.6 to 1.0 mm diameter. The extracted grafts are stored in a chilled preservation solution to maintain viability. Recipient sites are then created in the thinning or bald area at angles and densities designed to replicate the natural growth pattern, and each graft is placed individually. Candidacy is determined primarily by donor density and the extent of hair loss. Patients with insufficient donor density — whether due to advanced loss, fine hair calibre, or previous over-harvesting — may not achieve adequate coverage. The Norwood scale for male pattern baldness and the Ludwig scale for female pattern loss are standard tools for grading severity and planning graft estimates. Underlying conditions causing diffuse hair loss (alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, hormonal disorders) must be excluded or stabilised before surgery is appropriate, as active hair loss will continue regardless of transplanted grafts. In the days following surgery, small scabs form around each graft and shed over approximately ten days. A phenomenon termed shock loss — temporary shedding of both transplanted and surrounding native hairs triggered by surgical trauma — is common and resolves over several months. Transplanted hairs typically shed within two to four weeks and begin regrowing at three to four months. Final density and naturalness of result are not assessable until nine to twelve months post-procedure, and a second session may be required for desired coverage. ## Peer-reviewed outcome rates - **Complication rate:** 3.00% (range 1.00–5.00%) — from 1 cited source - **Revision rate:** 10.00% (range 5.00–20.00%) — from 1 cited source ## Common risks - Infection - Scarring in donor area - Unnatural-looking results if poorly planned - Shock loss (temporary shedding of transplanted hair) - Numbness in donor or recipient area ## FAQs ### How long until I see results from a hair transplant? Transplanted hairs typically shed within two to four weeks of the procedure before regrowing — a normal phase that can be alarming but does not indicate failure. Meaningful new growth is usually visible from three to four months, with the full, final result assessable at nine to twelve months. ### Will people be able to tell I had a hair transplant? When performed by an experienced surgeon with careful hairline design and natural graft angulation, FUE results are generally undetectable. The small circular extraction sites in the donor area heal as tiny white dots that are invisible when hair is kept at a normal length. ### Can I shave my head after an FUE transplant? Yes — one of the advantages of FUE over older strip techniques is that the donor area can be shaved without revealing a linear scar. The small dot scars from individual punch extractions are not visible at normal shaved lengths for most patients. ### How many grafts will I need? The number of grafts required depends on the extent of hair loss and the density goal. A receding hairline may require 1,000 to 2,000 grafts, whilst advanced crown and frontal thinning can require 3,000 to 5,000 grafts or more. An in-person or photo-based assessment is needed for an accurate estimate. ### Is a hair transplant permanent? The transplanted follicles are taken from the donor area at the back of the scalp, which is genetically resistant to the hormone DHT responsible for male pattern baldness. These follicles retain their resistance after transplantation, meaning the transplanted hair is permanent. Native hair in other areas may continue to thin over time. ### Am I a suitable candidate for a hair transplant? Good candidates have stable hair loss, sufficient donor density at the back and sides of the scalp, and realistic expectations. Patients with diffuse thinning across the entire scalp, active autoimmune conditions causing hair loss, or insufficient donor supply may not achieve satisfactory results. ### Is the procedure painful? The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia, and the injections used to numb the scalp are the most uncomfortable part for most patients. The extraction and implantation stages themselves are not painful, though the scalp may feel tender for several days afterwards. ### Can women have hair transplants? Yes, women can undergo hair transplant surgery, though the pattern of female hair loss differs from male pattern baldness and requires careful assessment. Women with localised thinning or a receding frontal hairline are generally better candidates than those with diffuse thinning across the whole scalp. ## Alternative treatments - **FUE (follicular unit extraction)** — Strip-free harvesting; preferred for short hairstyles and patients with tight scalps. - **DHI (direct hair implantation)** — Choi-pen implantation; useful for hairline densification. - **FUT (follicular unit transplantation)** — Strip-harvest; higher graft yield per session but leaves a linear scar. - **PRP injections** — Non-surgical maintenance; works best in early diffuse thinning, not in established baldness. - **Finasteride or minoxidil** — Medical therapy proven to slow androgenetic alopecia progression; lifelong adherence required. ## Sources - [ISHRS — Standards of Practice for Hair Restoration Surgery](https://ishrs.org/about/standards/) — International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (accessed 2026-05-09) - [WHO Surgical Safety Checklist](https://www.who.int/teams/integrated-health-services/patient-safety/research/safe-surgery) — World Health Organization (accessed 2026-05-09)