The Ins and Outs Of Having A Hair Transplant

Each person’s donor area is unique in the amount of harvestable hair is available for a hair transplant. The FUT hair transplant method will reap the highest yield of available hairs. Your hair transplant specialist will be able to make a reasonably accurate estimate of your available grafts upon physical examination or through high quality photos.

You should not expect to see growth before the 3 to 4 month period post surgery.  This timeframe is just for the initial growth.  It will likely take a full 8 to 10 months before your hair is fully grown. If after 12 months a significant portion of the transplanted hair has not grown, then you should consult your hair transplant surgeon as it is likely you will not see hair growth with your current hair restoration procedure.

The difference between the FUE and FUT methods is in how the hair is extracted or harvested. With the FUT method (sometimes referred to as the Strip method) involves removing permanent hair-bearing skin form the back and/or sides of the scalp (donor area). The scalp is then carefully sewed back up leaving as small a scar as possible. Over the 3 to 6 weeks following a hair transplant hair will naturally regrow in the donor area covering the scar. A FUE Hair Transplant involves the extracting of hairs individually through a minimally invasive extraction technique. While there is no major scarring with the FUE method compared to the residual scar from the FUT method the number of harvestable grafts using the FUE is about 20 to 25% of what is achievable using the FUT method.

Both FUT and FUE Hair Transplants are performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthetic so you will be able to return to your hotel room/home after the surgery. You will be placed under observation for a period of 30 to 60 minutes immediately post-surgery to ensure you have recovered enough from the anesthesia to return home safely. Each clinic will have different protocols for returning a patient safely back to there hotel room. At our clinic, Bodyline Men, when having surgery you are provided a hotel suite (not a hospital room) which sits a few floors above the hospital. After surgery you simply hop in a lift and you will be at your suite. A member of our team will also be present to walk you to your suite and make sure you are not suffering from any ill effects.

In the days following surgery you should experience sensitivity around the transplanted and donor areas, but only minimal pain. If you are a Bodyline Men patient, each day you will be escorted from your suite (or hotel if you prefer to stay elsewhere) to the hospital to have your scalp carefully disinfected. On the 4th day post surgery you are free to go home.

PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) is a new treatment that helps to aid in the recovery of cell growth and reduces inflammation after injury, or, in the case of a hair transplant, encourages new hair to grow thicker and stronger.  PRP injections are not necessary but in many cases they often encourage noticeably faster and thicker hair growth.  As they have no side effects (therefore no downside) it is something we at Bodyline Men offer to our patients in all packages. Usually it would cost about $400 upwards per treatment (we charge $400 in Australia) as it is quite an involved process.  Many of the more desperate cases do it on a monthly basis for 12 months after surgery.

The PRP for Hair Transplant process involves the taking of blood from the patient, placing it in a spinner (this separates platelets from other blood components) and injecting the concentration of platelets into the area to be treated.  You will likely find our Surgeon will recommend a PRP treatment before surgery to encourage the appropriate areas of your scalp to accept the implanted hair.

Smoking contains nicotine which will decrease the blood supply that will interfere with the healing process, so it is advisable to to refrain from smoking as early as possible before your surgery. If you are a high-volume smoker and/or have been smoking for many years it is wise to discuss this with your surgeon during the consultation process and let them decide if your smoking will have a negative impact on the surgeries chances of success.

You should also abstain from alcohol as early as possible before surgery and not drink during your initial recovery period. Alcohol thins the blood which can cause excessive bleeding in some patients which can both harm the success of the surgery and also your recovery period.

You should try and abstain from Aspiring, Ibuprofen and Paracetamol for at least 48 hours before surgery. These medicines will thin the blood and could harm the successful outcome of your surgery. Regarding any medicines you may be taking please discuss this with your surgeon at least a few weeks prior to surgery.

Every Hair Transplant Clinic will have their own unique pricing. In the case of Bodyline Men please see our rates below for both the FUT and FUE methods.

Remember, hair transplant is a cosmetic procedure so you can choose the number of grafts you like to suit your budget.

FUT/STRIP PRICE:
Number of Grafts

• Minimum set up (1-699 grafts)
  70,000 THB
• 700 – 3000 grafts
  84 THB / graft
• 3,001 – 4000 grafts
  74 THB / graft
• 4,001+ grafts
  69 THB / graft

FUE Price:
Number of Grafts

• Minimum set-up
  70,000 THB
• 1000+ grafts
  115 THB / graft

Since exchange rates vary daily, you may wish to check the current rate at: https://daytodaydata.net

The above cost includes:

• Doctor’ fee
• All medications
• All follow- ups in the immediate post-operative period including hair wash, wound care, change of Dressing or removal of stitches if needed.
• 1st night accommodation at Hotel Suite (55sqm) above the Hospital.

The following are not included:

• Blood test for HIV Antigen + Antibody and Hepatitis C antibody (2500 THB)
• Hotel stay after the 1st night post surgery (the 1st night is included in your surgery costs each additional night is charged at 3000 THB).