A hair transplant is a minor surgical procedure, performed in a clinic setting, to help people restore their lost hair and improve hair density. To be a good candidate for a hair transplant, there are certain requirements that must be met in order to ensure a safe and successful procedure. In this blog, we will go over many of the key considerations your hair transplant specialist will need to confirm before they start planning your procedure.
Dr. Goran Jezic is a top-rated FUE hair transplant specialist in Houston, Texas, who focuses on Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) procedures for treating pattern baldness and other types of hair loss. He leads Houston Hair Transplant Center (HHTC), offering high-quality hair restoration care with one of the nation’s leading hair transplant and non-surgical hair restoration teams.
If you are currently experiencing hair loss and want to restore your hair, improve your hair density and overall appearance, contact us online or call our office at (713) 864-2300 to schedule your personal consultation.
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate for a hair transplant is someone who has experienced hair loss, typically as a result of male or female pattern baldness, genetics, aging, or other factors. Patients must have adequate hair in the donor areas, which are primarily at the back and sides of the head. They should also be in generally good health with no underlying conditions that might impact their ability to undergo a hair transplant safely. Hypertensive patients or those on blood thinners and others with autoimmune conditions or hormonal imbalance may not be ideal candidates. Dr. Jezic will evaluate your medical history, medications, and other factors before making the determination.
Ideal candidates have often tried over-the-counter medications and non-surgical treatments for improving their hair growth, but have been unable to see substantial results.
Patients typically see the best results from their hair transplant if their hair loss has stabilized, as this will allow the specialist to create the most sustainable and natural-looking results. Ideally, patients should be above the age of 21 since the trajectory of hair loss is harder to accurately predict for younger patients.
Here are some important questions you can ask yourself to determine your candidacy:
- Is my hair loss following any sort of pattern? (1)
- Is there greater than 50% hair loss in any part of my scalp?
- Does my scalp look healthy?
- Do I still have hair on the back and sides of my head?
- Does my hair loss seem unpredictable?
- Are my expectations for my hair transplant realistic?
- Do I have any medical, autoimmune, or dermatologic conditions that could interfere with the success of the surgery?
- If you’ve had a recent biopsy, please bring the report to your consultation.
To officially find out if you are eligible for a hair transplant, however, you must attend a consultation with a specialist like Dr. Jezic.
If you are not found to be a good candidate for a hair transplant, Dr. Jezic may recommend a non-surgical hair restoration regimen including oral minoxidil, prescription meds, topical compound, laser hair therapy, topical serum, vitamins and supplements, and/or other modalities.
About FUE Hair Transplants
Dr. Jezic uses the follicular unit extraction (FUE) transplant method that harvests and extracts hair from the donor area without a linear incision or scalpel. In this method, the individual hair follicles are harvested from a donor zone, which is typically the back and sides of the scalp. In cases where there is inadequate donor tissue, our clinical team can harvest and extract follicular units from the chin, beard, chest, abdomen, and other areas of the body. However, the quality and length of this hair is subpar relative to hair at the back and sides of the head. The team uses tiny, hollow punches to extract individual follicular units from the donor zone, then implants these grafts into the balding areas. (2) Dr. Jezic also uses the ATERA and other FUE techniques, including Sapphire FUE, to provide faster procedure times, higher graft survival rates, minimal linear scarring, and rapid recovery periods while minimizing discomfort and trauma to surrounding tissue and hair follicles.
About Pattern Baldness
Male pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia, is driven by the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which binds to androgen receptors in the hair follicles. This causes the hair follicles to shrink and eventually stop producing hair.
The reason hair transplant surgeons use the back of the head and the sides of the head as donor areas is because the follicles in these regions are often resistant to DHT. Thus, when they transplant the hairs to the thinning/balding areas, these follicles will likely continue to produce hair indefinitely, without falling out like the previous hair in that area. (3)
This procedure is ideal if you want to wear your hair short since it avoids creating a linear scar.
Benefits At-A-Glance
FUE is a minor surgical procedure that offers many benefits for patients experiencing hair loss. To review, some of the key advantages include:
- No linear scarring
- Faster recovery than conventional methods
- More natural-looking results
- Minimal discomfort
- Less downtime
- A more youthful look
Personal Consultation
During your personal consultation, Dr. Jezic will begin by evaluating your medical history and examining your type and pattern of hair loss. He also offers a trichological assessment using German TrichoScan technology, which maps your scalp and hair density, and provides an estimate of available donor hair and projects the required graft count. The Trichoscan hair and scalp analysis device incorporates digital imaging useful for accurately measuring hair density, growth patterns, and shedding progression. He will ask you when you first started noticing hair loss, and whether you have undergone any other treatments to address it. In some cases, he may request blood work, medical clearance, or a scalp biopsy. Before moving forward with a procedure plan, it can be beneficial to determine the cause of the patient’s hair loss. This information allows Dr. Jezic to detect and predict hair loss patterns so that he can design the most effective treatment plan and let you know what to expect over time. (4)
The personal consultation is complimentary. If you seem like an ideal candidate for a hair transplant, are ready to transform your scalp and hair health, and want to receive your hair transplant consultation and assessment to restore your hair appearance, contact us online or call our office at (713) 864-2300 to schedule your personal consultation today.
Preparation
To effectively prepare and receive optimal results from your hair transplant procedure, Dr. Jezic may recommend that you:
- Stop taking blood-thinning medications and supplements, as advised by your doctor, one to two weeks before and after your treatments. DO NOT stop any medications without consent from your doctor.
- Refrain from smoking at least a week to ten days in advance of your procedure.
- Stop drinking alcohol 24-72 hours before your treatment for optimal results.
- Get a good night’s sleep the night before your procedure.
- Have a light breakfast on the morning of your procedure.
- Avoid dyeing your hair beforehand.
- Arrive at your procedure free of hair products.
- Have someone drive you home following your procedure.
Results
The results from your hair transplant procedure are generally permanent. Patients often report a more youthful appearance that improves their self-confidence and, in some cases, their quality of life as well.
At the Houston Hair Transplant Center (HHTC), our team specializes in MEGA FUE Hair Transplants up to and over 4,000 grafts, which can give you a great result in just one session. In contrast, most other clinics are limited to 2,000 to 2,500 grafts.
The hair follicles used for the transplant are resistant to pattern baldness in the thinning areas, allowing the hair regrowth to appear natural-looking and cohesive with the rest of the hair texture.
It is important to keep in mind that the results of your hair transplant will develop gradually. Some flaking and scabbing are expected during the healing process—you should refrain from picking at the scalp to allow it to heal properly. Some hairs may fall out, but this is a natural part of the process.
After your new hair starts to grow, you can cut and style your hair as you please.
Cost of Hair Transplant in Houston, Texas
The cost of your hair transplant in Houston, Texas, depends on the severity of your hair thinning and balding and your overall goals for your results. Dr. Jezic will provide you with a detailed cost estimate for your procedure during your personal consultation. Contact us online or call our office at (713) 864-2300 to schedule your consultation today!
FAQ
How will I know if I am a good candidate for a hair transplant?
You will know if you are an ideal candidate for a hair transplant if you have stable male or female pattern hair loss, have adequate donor hair, have realistic expectations for your results, and are in generally good health to undergo this minor surgical procedure.
What are the benefits of a hair transplant?
Dr. Jezic and his team offer FUE hair transplants with no linear scarring, a fast recovery, natural-looking results, minimal discomfort and downtime, a low risk of tissue damage, and more. This transformation can also boost your self-esteem and quality of life, allowing you to feel confident in social settings.
Is a hair transplant permanent?
Yes, a hair transplant is permanent because Dr. Jezic will relocate your hair follicles from the sides or back of your head and transplant them into thinning areas. It is permanent, as the hair follicles are resistant to DHT (the hormone that causes genetic pattern loss) as they continue to grow normally thereafter.
When will I know it is time for me to receive a hair transplant?
You will realize it is time for a hair transplant when your hair loss has stabilized, you are at least 21 but preferably over the age of 25, and over-the-counter hair growth treatments have not been successful in growing hair. However, you can still have a hair transplant and mitigate existing hair loss through oral minoxidil, topical compounds, and other prescription meds that Dr. Jezic can provide guidance for.
How long does a hair transplant procedure take?
A hair transplant procedure can take anywhere from six to eight hours, depending on the severity of your hair loss and your overall goals for your procedure.
References
- True RH. Is Every Patient of Hair Loss a Candidate for Hair Transplant?—Deciding Surgical Candidacy in Pattern Hair Loss. Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery. 2021;54(04):435-440. doi:10.1055/s-0041-1739247
- Garg A, Garg S. Overview of Follicular Extraction. Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery. 2021;54(04):456-462. doi:10.1055/s-0041-1739244
- Hamilton JB. PATTERNED LOSS OF HAIR IN MAN: TYPES AND INCIDENCE. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1951;53(3):708-728. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1951.tb31971.x
- Sharma R, Ranjan A. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) Hair Transplant: Curves Ahead. Journal of Maxillofacial & Oral Surgery. 2019;18(4):509-517. doi:10.1007/s12663-019-01245-6