Hair Transplant
What Is It?
A hair transplant moves a person’s own follicles into the areas where hair has thinned. No external hair is added; follicles from the nape and above the ears are harvested one by one and placed into the thinning area. Grafts are placed as small units, at the natural angle of exit.
The biological fact behind the method is this: follicles in the nape area are largely resistant to the hormonal effect that drives pattern hair loss, and they keep that property where they are transplanted. Transplanted hair therefore usually stays in place — but this does not mean the person’s existing hair will stop thinning.
How Is It Done?
The cause of the hair loss is investigated first. Male and female pattern loss, telogen effluvium, iron or thyroid related shedding and scarring alopecias require different paths, and not all of them are suited to transplantation. Hair calibre, donor density and the number of grafts available are measured.
The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia. Grafts are harvested one by one from the donor area and placed into channels opened at the natural angle of exit. The hairline is drawn according to age, forehead structure and facial proportions — the aim is not to go as far forward as possible, but to build a line that will still look natural years later. Depending on graft numbers the procedure takes 6-8 hours. In suitable cases the protocol may be planned together with mesotherapy and exosome applications.
Who Is It For?
Suitable for people with an adequate donor area, an established pattern of loss and realistic expectations. In male pattern loss the pattern is usually allowed to declare itself; transplantation performed too early can look unnatural as the loss continues around it.
Where loss is active and progressing rapidly, medical treatment is advised first. It is not performed in people with a weak donor area, scarring (cicatricial) alopecia, uncontrolled systemic disease or bleeding disorders. In women hair loss is usually diffuse, so detailed assessment and, where indicated, blood tests are requested.
Process & Recovery
Assessment
The cause of loss, donor density and graft requirement are determined; blood tests are requested if needed. The hairline is drawn together and baseline photographs are taken.
Procedure day
After local anaesthesia the grafts are harvested and placed. It takes 6-8 hours depending on graft numbers, with rest breaks in between.
First week
Crusting appears in the recipient area and the donor area is tender; forehead swelling may occur in the first days. The washing instructions are followed exactly, along with the rules given for sleeping position and contact with the area.
Weeks 2-8
The shafts of the transplanted hairs largely shed — this is called shock loss and is an expected stage. The follicles remain in place; appearance temporarily regresses during this period.
Months 3-12
New growth begins and the hairs thicken gradually. A visible result forms around the sixth month, with final density usually expected at 12 months. Reviews follow this timeline.
Results & Duration
The result of a hair transplant appears not in a single day but over a biological process spread across a year. Shock loss and the slow growth that follows are normal parts of that timeline and require patience in the early months.
Because the transplanted follicles come from a resistant area, they usually stay in place. The person’s own existing hair, however, may continue to thin; for some people this brings a second session or medical support onto the agenda later. How much density a given number of grafts can achieve is limited by donor capacity, and this is discussed in numbers at consultation.
What Is Not Promised
A hair transplant is not a treatment that stops hair loss; it does not intervene in the shedding of existing hair. It does not restore the density of youth — the number of grafts available from the donor area is limited, and density falls as the area to be covered grows.
No specific graft number, growth rate or fixed result date is guaranteed. Cases that cannot be completed in one session are stated at the outset; if expectations do not match donor capacity, the procedure is not recommended.
Key Benefits
- Long-term
- Natural hairline
- Denser hair
“A good hair transplant is one nobody notices. A natural hairline and the right density matter more than the technique itself.”
— Dr. Sinan Akyürek
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the transplanted hair fall out again?
Transplanted follicles are taken from the resistant nape area and keep that property, so they usually stay in place. Your own existing hair may continue to thin, which is a separate process.
Is shock loss normal?
Yes. Between weeks 2 and 8 the shafts of the transplanted hairs largely shed while the follicles remain. It is an expected and temporary stage.
When will I see the result?
New growth starts from the third month and becomes visible around the sixth. Final density is usually expected at 12 months.
Is the procedure painful?
It is performed under local anaesthesia. There is brief discomfort while the anaesthetic is given; pain is not expected during the procedure. Donor area tenderness for a few days afterwards is normal.
How long does it take, and can I go home the same day?
It takes 6-8 hours depending on graft numbers and you go home the same day. You return the next day for the first wash and dressing check.
How many grafts will I need?
It depends on the size of the area and the capacity of the donor area. The number is measured at examination; no figure is quoted from memory.
Can it be supported with exosome or mesotherapy?
In suitable cases mesotherapy and exosome applications may be added to the protocol. These additions are assessed individually.
Is hair transplantation performed in women?
Yes, but hair loss in women is usually diffuse and the donor area may also be affected. Assessment of the underlying cause, with blood tests where indicated, comes first.