If you’ve been looking for a solution to hair loss, you’re not alone. Around a third of Caucasian males experience male pattern baldness under the age of 30. That number increases to 80% of men over the age of 70.

According to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, hair transplant procedures are up by 60% since 2014. If you’re considering joining the ranks of men who have had hair transplant surgery – including the likes of Matthew McConaughey, Sylvester Stallone, and David Beckham – here’s everything you need to know.

Different Types of Hair Transplants

Regina hair transplants work by transferring hair from other areas of the body, called donor sites, to the area with hair loss or baldness.

Eligible patients undergo one of two methods for the transplant procedure: follicular unit transplantation (FUT) or follicular unit extraction (FUE).

Both FUE and FUT procedures take several hours to complete and are performed under general anesthetic.

Follicular Unit Transplantation

The follicular unit transplantation procedure is done by removing pieces of tissue from the donor site and dividing the strips of tissue up into individual follicular units.

Small incisions are made all over the scalp, and the follicular units are then grafted on. This procedure may cause scarring.


Close up top view of a man's head with hair transplant surgery with a receding hair line. - 1-5 months after Bald head of hair loss treatment.

Follicular Unit Extraction

Follicular unit extraction is a more modern method of transplanting hair than the FUT method. It is preferred by people who do not want excess scarring at the donor site. The FUE procedure involves extracting individual hair follicles from the donor site – usually the back of the neck – and inserting them into the scalp with a specialist micro surgical needle.

Whichever procedure you choose, note that it is normal for the transplanted hair to fall out over a period of two or three weeks. However, you should notice good hair growth after a few months. The majority of patients will experience 60% of new hair growth within six to nine months after the surgery.

Causes of Male Pattern Hair Loss

Male pattern hair loss is caused by the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) – a modified form of testosterone. DHT affects hair follicles on the scalp, leading to hairs becoming progressively thinner, shorter, and lighter in color. Eventually, the hairs shrink away and stop growing. This type of male pattern baldness is mainly hereditary, but not all men experience it.

Other causes of hair loss include taking certain drugs, depression, stress, and high blood pressure. Medical conditions such as alopecia universalis and alopecia areata also cause hair loss. Unfortunately, hair transplants will not work for alopecia areata and alopecia universalis and do not prevent further hair loss. If you continue to lose hair, you may need follow-up treatments.

Are Hair Transplants Worth It?

If your hair loss is affecting your confidence and self-esteem or negatively impacting your life, hair transplants can be a good option.

However, it’s important to note that not everyone is eligible for the procedure, and hair transplants generally aren’t effective for alopecia. If you continue to lose hair, you may need more than one treatment for lasting results.

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