Male Hair Transplant: Assessment, Limits and Risks

Male hair transplantation moves follicles from a donor area to selected areas of thinning or loss. It does not create new follicles, stop every cause of hair loss or guarantee density.

Diagnosis and assessment

A clinician should establish the pattern and cause of hair loss, assess scalp and donor density, review health, medicines, family history, smoking, previous treatment and expectations. Sudden, patchy, inflamed or scarring hair loss may require medical assessment rather than transplantation.

Techniques and limitations

Follicular unit extraction and strip-based harvesting are different donor methods; implantation planning also varies. Suitability depends on donor supply and likely future loss. More than one procedure may be proposed, and transplanted or existing hair can change over time.

Risks and recovery

Risks include bleeding, infection, scars, numbness, swelling, temporary shedding, poor growth, unnatural direction or hairline, donor thinning, dissatisfaction and further treatment. Results and recovery vary; aftercare cannot ensure an “optimal” outcome.

Read the NHS hair transplant guide, then review Revitalize’s DHI hair transplant information, named doctors and assessment route.