Everything About Hair Transplantation
Hair loss affects many people in the Netherlands. Over 40% of women experience hair thinning or baldness at some point. Men also frequently struggle with this issue. A hair transplant offers a permanent solution for bald spots.
Summary
- A hair transplant provides a lasting solution for hair loss by moving hair follicles from the back of the head to bald areas.
- The FUE technique is the most commonly used method and leaves no visible scars, while the older FUT method can leave a scar of 20–30 cm.
- Costs range from €2,000 to €10,000, depending on the number of grafts (1,000 to 4,600) needed.
- Full results become visible after 12–14 months, with initial hair growth starting after 2–4 months.
- Around 40% of Dutch women and 70% of men experience hair loss, but not everyone is a suitable candidate for hair transplantation.
What Is a Hair Transplant?
A hair transplant is a surgical procedure in which hair follicles are moved from a donor area to bald or thinning areas. The doctor harvests healthy follicles—usually from the back of your head—and implants them in areas affected by hair loss.
This technique provides a safe and permanent solution to hair loss. The transplanted hairs are immune to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone that causes hair loss in androgenetic alopecia.
Since the procedure uses your own hair roots, the result looks natural and is long-lasting. The new follicles grow just like your original hair. Depending on your specific case, you can choose between different techniques such as FUE or FUT.
It takes a few months after treatment before the full hair growth is visible.
Pros and Cons
Pros hair transplantations:
- The transplanted hair will continue to grow for a lifetime.
- You can treat it like your own hair—wash it, style it, and comb it freely.
Cons hair transplantations:
- The procedure can be expensive.
- Hair density may never fully match what it used to be. However, optical density can be improved using camouflage products or Micro Hair Pigmentation.
- If the donor area contains enough healthy hair, a second or even third treatment may be performed to achieve greater density.
FUE Hair Transplant
The most modern method (FUE – Follicular Unit Extraction) involves removing hair follicles one by one from the back of the head using a small hollow needle or drill, as shown in the image below.
In the FUE technique, grafts are transplanted from the hair ring (donor area) to another area—or multiple areas—of the scalp. The procedure is performed using a fine hollow needle or micro drill.
The donor area is typically at the back of the head, where the hairs are not affected by genetic hair loss. When these hairs are relocated to bald areas like the crown, hairline, or temples, they retain their original genetic properties. Thanks to this method, hair can start to grow again in previously bald areas.
Today, some clinics can transplant more than 2,000 grafts per day using the FUE method. To transplant enough hair, multiple treatment days may be required.
FUT Hair Transplant
An older technique is the FUT method (Follicular Unit Transplantation). This technique is used less frequently today, as it can leave a noticeable scar on the back of the head.
With this method, a strip of skin containing hair is removed from the donor area, usually the back of the head where hair is genetically resistant to balding. The size of the strip varies, but it typically measures around 1 centimeter in width. For 1,000 grafts, around 5 to 7 cm² is required, as there are between 150 and 200 hairs per cm².
Once the strip is removed, the scalp is stitched. If the hair is long, it will cover the scar, but with buzzed hair, the scar will remain visible. When clinics claim to offer a “scarless hair transplant,” this can be misleading—FUT always leaves a scar, although it may be concealed by surrounding hair. In some cases, if surrounding hair is lost, the scar becomes more visible, making buzzed hairstyles undesirable.
The removed strip is divided into individual grafts using specialized blades. Each graft typically contains 1 to 3 hair follicles.
The hairline is determined in consultation with the patient before treatment. Once the areas for implantation are prepared, local anesthesia is applied, and small incisions are made where the grafts will be placed. Single or double-hair grafts are used for the hairline, while multi-hair grafts are used behind it. Grafts at the front are placed closer together for a more natural look.
10 Factors That Determine Whether You’re a Good Candidate for a Hair Transplant
The likelihood of a successful hair transplant and achieving a pleasing result is key when considering the procedure. It’s important to determine if you’re a suitable candidate before undergoing a transplant.
Here are 10 factors that influence your candidacy:
- Realistic expectations
You should have realistic expectations. At age 50, expecting a teenager’s hairline is neither achievable nor natural-looking. - Stage of hair loss
If your hair loss has just begun, it’s wise to wait and observe how it develops. - Age suitability
It’s generally not recommended for younger people to undergo a transplant. Early procedures can necessitate further sessions as hair loss continues. If you’re under 22, it’s better to wait a few years. The ideal age range is between 25 and 60. - Donor hair quality and quantity
Candidates with a good supply of strong donor hair are more eligible. If donor hair is sparse or weak, it may need treatment before transplanting. - Overall health
A transplant is still a surgical procedure (FUT is more invasive than FUE). Health issues can impair wound healing and affect recovery. - Hair loss progression despite medication
If you can’t control hair loss with medications, a transplant may be a considered option. It’s prudent to exhaust other treatments first. - Men with confirmed androgenetic hair loss
Men who are balding over time and have diagnosed hereditary hair loss are good candidates. - Hair loss due to surgery
Both men and women who’ve lost hair or had a raised hairline due to procedures (such as eyebrow or facelift surgery) may be suitable candidates. - Hair loss from injury
Individuals who’ve lost hair due to trauma, like burns, often benefit from a hair transplant. - Scalp health and elasticity
Good scalp health and skin elasticity aid surgeons, especially with FUT/strip methods.
If you believe you’re a suitable candidate, choosing a reputable clinic is essential for optimal results.
Who is less suitable for a hair transplant?
- Those with low donor hair density—not enough hair to transplant.
- Individuals with light, thin, straight hair are less ideal than those with dark, thick, slightly curly hair, which offers better coverage.
3 Hair Density Options
- Light Density
Suitable for those who are satisfied with reasonable coverage—usually one procedure is enough. - Medium Density
If full coverage is desired, two sessions may be required. New grafts are placed no sooner than 9 months after the first transplant. - High Density
For maximum results, up to three sessions may be performed, depending on available donor hair. Again, repeats occur no sooner than 9 months apart. It’s often recommended to take finasteride after transplantation to maintain results—otherwise hair loss may continue, leaving transplanted areas isolated.
Advantages of a Hair Transplant
- Once healed, you can resume your normal life. Aside from checkups in the year following the procedure, no ongoing care is needed—it’s your own hair, just relocated.
- The transplanted hair grows for life and can be treated like your natural hair (washed, styled, etc.).
Disadvantages of a Hair Transplant
- Hair will never be denser than it originally was since no new follicles are added—rather, they’re redistributed.
- Not everyone qualifies: sufficient donor hair is essential, considering both current and future loss.
- Donor hair must have enough density; widely spaced hair risks graft shortage.
- It’s not cheap—but you do get permanent, natural hair.
Possible Side Effects
- Infection: Any invasive procedure carries this risk, though the scalp is well-vascularized, making infections uncommon.
- Ingrown hairs/pimples: These may appear 3–4 months post-op. Usually self-resolving, but consult your surgeon if needed.
- Swelling: Especially at the front—fluids can accumulate. Gentle massage toward the temples or applying ice packs can help. This typically subsides within a few days.
- Temporary numbness at the donor site on the back of the head can occur. This also usually resolves over time.
The Frêchet-Extender Method
Unlike FUE and FUT, the Frêchet-extender doesn’t transplant hair—it reduces the balding area by stretching surrounding scalp. Named after French surgeon Dr. Frêchet, this method works as follows:
- A device resembling a retaining band is implanted under the scalp around the bald patch.
- Over about 30 days, it gradually contracts, expanding the adjacent hair-bearing skin.
- In a second session, excess skin is removed, letting the stretched, hair-covered skin fill in the bald area.
- This redistributes existing hair without transplanting follicles. Any small scars formed can later be treated with FUE or FUT transplant.
Latest Development: Hair Stem Cell Transplantation
The Hair Stem Cell Transplantation procedure includes several steps:
- The donor area is shaved and anesthetized using an impregnation device—no needles or high-pressure injections.
- The scalp is infused with anesthetic solution, fully numbing the area within 10 minutes.
- Tiny grafts containing hair follicles are extracted using a precision 0.5 to 0.6 mm needle.
- The same device creates minuscule recipient sites.
- Grafts are implanted one by one into these sites.
- Because only a small portion of the follicle is removed, the donor area regenerates.
Other Considerations
- Shock Loss: This phenomenon may occur post-transplant, where hair in the transplant or donor areas sheds due to “shock.” It typically regrows within 3–6 months.
- Budget Clinics Abroad: Many companies in countries like Turkey, Hungary, and Poland offer cheaper hair transplants. Quality varies widely—some patients are satisfied, others dissatisfied. Always research thoroughly, read reviews, and consult multiple sources before choosing.