What to Expect When You Get a Hair Transplant  

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What to Expect When You Get a Hair Transplant  

If you have recently booked a hair transplant in Edmonton or another area of Canada, you might be wondering what to expect. The hair transplant process involves a pre-surgery consultation where you will be informed of the upcoming procedure, the procedure itself, and post-surgery care and support.   

Learning more about the hair transplant process will ease your worries and ensure a smooth and seamless journey. Regardless of your reasoning for getting a hair transplant, you will be filled with confidence from the very first consultation to the end of your procedure and years into the future with your new glowing hair.   

Below, we have covered some of the key things to expect when you get a hair transplant.   

Initial Consultation 

The hair transplant journey usually begins with an initial consultation, which your chosen hair transplant surgeon will invite you to after you have contacted them. During this consultation, you will sit down with the surgeon and answer a number of questions.   

These questions are designed to allow the surgeon to determine your needs and goals relating to the hair transplant. The surgeon will also ask about your medical history and the reason for your hair loss.   

At your initial consultation, the surgeon will assess your scalp and hair density and identify a donor site to determine whether you are suitable for a transplant. They will run through their fees and accepted payment methods to ensure you are well-informed of the associated costs of your hair transplant.  

Towards the end of your consultation, your hair transplant surgeon will ask you whether you have any questions or concerns. This is your opportunity to gather as much information as possible about the procedure to ease your worries. Finally, you will sign a consent form that indicates the steps of the procedure and potential side effects.   

Preparation for the Procedure 

Before your hair transplant, you will need to follow the preparatory instructions your surgeon gave you at your initial consultation. These instructions may include stopping certain medications for a few days before the procedure, avoiding alcohol, and avoiding smoking.   

The surgeon might ask you to cut your hair short before the procedure to make it easier for them to complete your transplant successfully.  

The Hair Transplant Procedure 

Every surgeon will work slightly differently when undergoing a hair transplant, and the exact process will depend on your current hair, your needs, and your hair transplant goals. It also depends on the type of hair transplant technique that you’ve chosen, such as Follicular Unit Transplantation or Follicular Unit Extraction.   

The procedure may last a few hours to all day, and your surgeon may stop for short breaks during the course of the surgery. During these breaks, you can have something to eat and drink, stretch your legs, and have a breather before continuing with the transplant.   

The hair transplant surgeon will inject a local anaesthetic into your scalp to numb the area and reduce your pain perception during the procedure. The anaesthetic will make you feel more comfortable and content to make the surgery as smooth as possible.  

Harvesting and Transplantation 

If you are undergoing Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), the surgeon will harvest a strip of skin that contains healthy hair follicles from the donor site. Usually, your donor site will be at the side or back of your scalp, where the hair tends to be of the highest quality and strength.   

If you’ve gone for Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), the surgeon will extract individual hair follicles from the donor site and transplant them to the recipient area in a specific and pre-determined pattern. Once complete, the donor site will contain thousands of healthy hair follicles to ensure a natural and full appearance once the hair grows in the recipient area.   

Post-Surgery Recovery 

After your surgeon has completed the hair transplant, they will provide you with some detailed post-operative instructions. These instructions will include how to care for your scalp and newly transplanted hair, and what to expect in the days following the surgery.   

Generally, you will be able to resume your normal day-to-day activities just a few days to a week after the procedure. However, your surgeon may recommend that you avoid vigorous exercise for a month or so to avoid aggravating the surgery site.