Each individual is assessed by Dr. Raja to determine whether transplantation will be the best option.  Usually this is dependent on several factors such as density of the donor area and the extent of hair loss.  We pay great attention to detail and ensure that the utmost care is taken in graft handling – this means that we check each individual graft under magnification to achieve an excellent result post transplantation.  Dr. Raja will only proceed with a procedure if he feels that it would meet your expectations for a good result.

During the consultation Dr. Raja will have an in-depth discussion with you about your reasons for wanting to pursue a hair transplant.  Hair transplant surgery should always be used as a last resort option where non-surgical treatments would be unlikely to provide the desired outcome.  The consultation process is crucial in determining suitability and gauging expectations.  Dr. Raja will examine your scalp and then careful map out the areas that would need treatment.  He would then provide a structured treatment plan which may include a recommended combination of surgical/non-surgical treatment in order to provide the best result from an FUT.

You will always be given a two-week cooling-off period between consultation and surgery to allow enough time for careful consideration of the procedure.

Your treatment coordinator will contact you prior to surgery to ensure that any questions are answered.

The entire procedure is an awake surgery performed under local anaesthetic – other than the initial discomfort from the anaesthetic injections patients should not feel any pain or discomfort during the procedure – we often find that they may even fall asleep!

Dr. Raja offers regular breaks in-between his surgeries and patients are able to sit comfortably and watch television during the final stage of the procedure.

The harvesting process typically takes up to 1 hour depending on the graft requirement.  Dr. Raja will start by using a local anaesthetic in the donor area.  He will then make two incisions and gently remove the strip.  The wound will then be closed using a neat trycophytic closure technique which allows for hair to grow into the scar (aiming to reduce scar prominence).  

The FUT strip is then carefully dissected under magnification by Dr. Raja’s team in preparation for implantation.

During this time the incisions will be made using a depth-gauged needle which Dr. Raja hand-manipulates to suit the length of the grafts – this ensures that all the incisions are a uniform depth and allows for a more consistent result.

The FUT grafts are then carefully placed into the incisions by Dr. Raja and his team.

The placement is then thoroughly inspected by Dr. Raja under high magnification to ensure that the grafts have been placed successfully.  This would complete the procedure.  The aftercare instructions are delivered over an offering of tea, this discussion ensures that you are well prepared to care for the grafts during the two week post-op period and beyond.

Aftercare is tailored to individual needs however it is crucial that we carry out the aftercare routine thoroughly – your care assistant will be available to hand throughout your journey and will be able to guide you if there are any queries.  The immediate post-operative recovery period lasts two weeks.  During this two week period you would be following the aftercare guidelines, ensuring that the grafted area is cleaned carefully and all provisions are made to allow for a smooth healing process.  You may have a mild headache on the evening of the surgery – this is usually well controlled with the pain relief provided.  The following day you should wake up and not have any significant pain or discomfort.  It is normal to experience some itching in the donor area but this usually settles down within a few days.  It is normal to have mild swelling on the forehead which will usually settle down within a few days. 

Dr. Raja will monitor the progress of your procedure by reviewing at 3 months (optional), 6 months (highly recommended) and 12 months (essential).  During these reviews any concerns can be alleviated and it is important to check that the growth is satisfactory at each stage – the 3rd and 6th month reviews can be done via video link to allow flexibility.

FUT allows for more flexibility with not having to shave the donor area.  One of the main advantages with FUT is that we can easily remove the strip without having to shave the donor area.  This allows for the donor area to be concealed well with existing hair.

The suitability for each type of procedure can be assessed and discussed during consultation.

The donor scar will take time to heal completely but the stitches should have dissolved within 10-14 days.  The recipient area will form small scabs which are often concealed by recipient or surrounding hair.  Once the scabs have shed the recipient area looks relatively normal.  Following the aftercare with due-diligence will ensure a speedy recovery. 

Hair loss is a progressive condition.  We focus on long-term results and this may warrant the use of medication alongside FUT surgery in certain cases.  Being vigilant and staying on top of progressive hair loss provides the best results for an FUT Surgery overall.  We anticipate at least 90% graft viability with an FUT surgery, however, as hair loss progresses to different areas it is likely you may warrant further surgery to keep up with the loss.  This of course depends on the health of the donor area – a higher volume of grafts will cause more scarring which can limit the potential for future harvesting.  Careful planning can provide you with excellent results which last.

The recipient area will shed donor hair within 2-4 weeks. New growth is usually seen between 2-6 months and this is expected to increase in density up until the final result (usually 12-18 months)