The Hair Transplant Process: Step-by-Step Guide to the Procedure

Hair loss can make life difficult for many people, but fortunately, there is now an effective, aesthetic, and long-lasting solution: hair transplantation. If you’re curious about how the procedure actually works and want a detailed overview of the steps involved in a hair transplant, you’re in the right place! Discover what to expect from the initial consultation through surgery day to the post-operative period. Hair transplants are available for both men and women at the HIMG Clinic. In this article, we also discuss how the procedure differs when performing a transplant between long hair strands.

Before the Hair Transplant – Consultation and Assessment

Before undergoing a hair transplant, you can request a free online quote based on photographs, in addition to an in-person consultation. Please take high-quality photos of the balding area as described here, then send them to us and indicate which areas you would like to have transplanted. Our doctors, who have performed thousands of hair transplants, will thoroughly assess the images and get back to you as soon as possible. You will receive a response within 72 hours, usually within one business day. We will determine the number of extractable grafts and help you choose the best type of transplant: patients may opt for the FUE method or the HIMG Clinic’s award-winning SHE (Single Hair Extraction) technique, both of which offer scar-free healing and natural results.

The Hair Transplant Process: What You Need to Know About the Surgery

The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, making it completely pain-free. The process consists of two main stages: extracting the hair follicles and implanting them. Depending on the size of the area and the degree of baldness, the surgery may take an entire day, or in more complex cases, even two days.

Steps of hair transplantation in practice

1. Arrival at the Clinic (7:30–8:00 AM)

Patients are welcomed at the HIMG Clinic from 7:30 AM on the day of the procedure.

After discussing and settling the costs of the transplant, we show the patient their room, where they can rest during breaks throughout the day. A pre-surgery medical examination is then conducted.

2. Hair Trimming (8:00–8:20 AM)

If our hair transplant specialist finds everything in order during the check-up, the first step is to begin trimming the hair. Before the transplant, the hair is cut to a length of 1–2 mm.

In the case of hair transplant for women, it’s possible to perform the transplant between long hair strands. This can be done by trimming a window-sized area (8x10 cm) at the back, which remains covered by long hair from all sides. Another method involves trimming the hair from underneath up to the level of the ears—here, the long hair only covers the donor area from the top. No grafts are taken from the lowest 2–3 cm, only from the area with thicker, stronger hairs above.

Extraction of Grafts from the Donor Area (8:30–11:00 AM)

In the morning, we begin carefully extracting follicular units (grafts) from the back of the head (donor area). These hairs are resistant to the DHT hormone, which causes baldness, so they will remain permanently in the transplanted area.

The extraction is done with minimally invasive microsurgical tools and the grafts are stored in a sterile solution until implantation. Local anesthesia ensures a pain-free procedure. The extraction is performed individually using a very fine punch. The punch surrounds the follicular units, and the grafts are then placed into the solution mentioned earlier. In the FUE method, the punch diameter is about 1–1.2 mm, whereas in the SHE hair transplant method, it is only 0.5–0.8 mm, resulting in minimal skin damage and faster, scar-free healing.

During the morning extraction, patients can listen to music. In the afternoon, during implantation, they may also watch movies.

Breaks are scheduled every two hours or as needed, ensuring both the patient and the surgical team remain rested and focused.

4. Implanting the Grafts (11:30 AM–4:00 PM)

The next step of the hair implantation is drawing the hairline on the target area, followed by the implantation of the extracted grafts into this area. Tiny recipient sites are created in the scalp using a needle of the same diameter used during extraction. Each graft is inserted individually.

It’s important that the hairs are implanted at the correct angle and density, especially at the hairline or crown, to achieve a natural-looking, full result.

Between 12:00 and 1:00 PM, patients are given lunch, which is provided on-site.

Depending on the number of grafts, the procedure typically finishes between 1:00–4:00 PM, with the exact time discussed with the patient during the day.

After the Hair Transplant – What to Expect

It’s important to note that the implanted hairs will shed in the days following the transplant. Based on our experience and patient feedback, this usually occurs around 10–14 days post-surgery. This is completely normal: the hairs break off due to the shock of the transplant, but the hair follicles remain intact and will grow new hairs over time. New hair growth doesn’t typically begin within the first 1–3 months; instead, it starts around the 4–6 month mark. The final result is visible around 10–12 months after the procedure. No mandatory follow-up visits are required in the weeks after surgery, but HIMG Clinic staff are happy to assist with any questions or concerns. If all goes well, we usually schedule a follow-up one year after the transplant.

One to three months after hair transplantation, new hair growth does not yet begin, but rather four to six months after transplantation, and final results are expected in ten to twelve months.

There is no need for mandatory check-ups in the weeks following the procedure, but if the patients of the HIMG clinic have any questions about hair transplantation, the staff of the clinic is at their disposal. If there are no questions or problems, we wait for a check-up one year after the hair transplant.

Norbert Kiss (multiple-time European Truck Racing Champion) before and after his hair transplant at the HIMG Clinic.

Trust Us With Your Hair Transplant!

At our clinic, we guarantee the survival of transplanted hair follicles in a discreet and comfortable environment, with the help of renowned professionals. With over 17 years of experience, excellent reviews, affordable prices, and pain-free procedures, we’re here to help. For more information and articles on hair transplantation, visit our hair transplant blog, where you’ll find up-to-date insights and tips.

If you’re looking for a high-quality hair transplant, choose HIMG Clinic—where every patient receives the utmost attention and care! Top-quality hair transplant – this year too – only at HIMG Clinic!