The stages of an operation

During a hair transplant, hair is relocated from one area rich in hair to an area where an increase in hair growth is desired. The transplanted hair follicles take root within 24 hours and immediately begin producing natural, growing hair.

The hair transplant is always performed under local anesthesia and the method used by almost every clinic is called FUE. You can read more about this below.

Patient genomgår hårtransplantation med FUE metoden

What is FUE?

  • Your own hair follicles are relocated and take root in the area where that they are transplanted to.
  • A modern technique providing a natural looking result.
  • Permanent solution for female and male hair loss.

How is a hair transplant carried out?

Travel and preparation
Patient is given operation shirt before hair transplant begins

We will schedule an appointment at one of our clinics in Sweden for your hair transplant. We will also book you a room for 2 nights at a hotel nearby. When it’s time for you to have your hair transplant, you will visit the clinic. Once there, you will change into a surgical gown and together we will go through what will happen during the operation.

Drawing the transplant area
Hair technician marks with medical pen where patients new hair line will be

The transplanted area is drawn out. You will see where your new hairline will be. Should you wish to make any smaller adjustments to the shape or the placement, we will calmly discuss those decisions.

Shaving of the donor area
A shaved square on the back of the head where grafts are to be harvested on female patient

The next step is to prepare the donor area. This is where your hair follicles will be extracted. The area is marked out and shaven. Many choose to shave the whole head, depending on how large the donor area is and the length of the hair, but we prefer that you visit the clinic unshaven on the day of your hair transplant so that we may see how your hair grows naturally.

Local anesthetic
Anaesthetic liquid to be used on the transplantation areas

You will lay face down to receive a local anesthetic for the donor area. This step may pinch a little, but afterward you will not have any feeling in that area.

The hair follicles are extracted
Micro drill loosens hair follicles before extraction

In order to extract the groups of hair follicles, we drill around each one with a microdrill. Each graft is then extracted from the donor area with tweezers.

Canals in the transplant area
Hair technician creates channels in scalp where hair follicles are to be placed

When all the grafts have been extracted from the donor area, you will turn over and receive a local anesthetic for the transplant area. Thereafter, small canals are constructed in the transplant area in a slightly irregular pattern so that the hair will mimic your natural hair as much as possible.

Bandaging
Nurse takes of bandage around donor area

Vaseline is applied to the donor area in order to create an additional protective layer against dirt. The wounds are larger in the donor area than in the newly transplanted area, where only small incisions have been made. A bandage is applied over the donor area and shall stay in place for 24 hours. The newly transplanted area will not be bandaged as it is highly sensitive and must be allowed to heal undisturbed.

Review of aftercare and medication
Maggie goes through aftercare and medication with patient after operation

Once your hair transplant is completed, we will go through aftercare and medication with you. You will learn how to wash your hair, when to start wearing a hat again, and what to consider in terms of exercise and alcohol. We will also verify what time you will visit us on the following day to remove the bandage. You will also receive a PRP treatment in order to help with the healing process for your newly transplanted hair.

The difference between FUE and FUT

FUE – heals naturally and does not leave scars

With FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction), a microdrill is used to loosen the hair follicles in the donor area. The hair follicles are then extracted by small tweezers. When everything has healed, no marks or scars will remain, neither in the area where the hair follicles were extracted nor in the area where the hair follicles were transplanted. At Nordic Hair Clinic, we use manual FUE, administered and performed by our hair technicians.

Illustration på hårtekniker som plockar ut hårsäckar ur patientens bakhuvud

FUT – leaves a scar in the donor area

When performing a hair transplant using the FUT method, or the strip method, a strip of skin is removed from the back of the neck. Then a scalpel is used to extract the hair follicles from the strip. FUT leaves a large scar in the back of the neck once it’s all healed. For this reason, Nordic Hair Clinic does not use the FUT method.

arr-Tvärs över huvudet som uppkommit efter en hårtransplantation med den föråldrade tekniken FUT