Hair transplant options explained

Individual follicle extraction removes grafts through small openings and may suit people who prefer to wear shorter hair, though donor marks can still occur. Strip harvesting removes a band of skin and leaves a linear donor scar that may be covered by longer hair. Both methods relocate follicles; neither corrects the underlying tendency of native hair to thin. PRP may be discussed as supportive care, while scalp micropigmentation uses pigment to create the appearance of closely cropped hair without adding follicles. The right choice depends on diagnosis, donor supply, texture, goals, and tolerance for surgery.

Start with a scalp examination so sudden shedding, inflammation, or [Bald Patches](/symptoms/bald-patches/) are not mistaken for stable pattern loss. Ask for a plan showing the proposed hairline, donor use, and likely future changes. Compare healed examples, not only immediate photographs. Discuss [PRP For Hair Loss](/treatments/hair-restoration/prp-hair-treatment/) and [Scalp Micropigmentation](/treatments/hair-restoration/scalp-micropigmentation/) if surgery is unsuitable or you want a visual-density option.

Arrange medical review before elective surgery if loss is rapidly progressing, painful, scaly, inflamed, or appearing in sharply defined new patches. After treatment, contact the clinic for worsening pain, fever, pus, spreading redness, heavy bleeding, or sudden severe swelling. Breathing difficulty or collapse requires emergency care.

Ask what diagnosis supports the recommendation, how many donor follicles can be used safely, what scar pattern each method may leave, and how future thinning changes the plan. Ask whether medical treatment should come before or alongside a procedure.