Hair Transplant Unit

The FUE technique involves extracting follicular units individually from the donor area and subsequently implanting them into the recipient area. This procedure requires shaving the hair and allows a very high number of follicular units to be transplanted in a single surgery. It is most commonly used in men who usually wear their hair short or shaved. No linear scar is produced in the donor area with this technique.

This technique follows the same principles as standard FUE, but without shaving the entire scalp. Only small areas of the donor zone are shaved and later concealed by the patient’s own hair. It is ideal for a faster return to social and professional activities. Currently, our hair transplant specialists perform a large number of procedures using this technique in order to minimise the aesthetic impact during the early post-operative period.

Approximately ten days before the procedure, patients should avoid taking anti-inflammatory medications and aspirin. In addition, during the 24 hours prior to surgery, alcohol, coffee and tobacco should be avoided.

If the patient is undergoing treatment with vasodilators for alopecia, this should be discontinued one week before the hair transplant. However, antiandrogen therapy does not need to be stopped.

Patients must attend the operating theatre after fasting for at least six hours and with clean hair, having washed it either the night before or the morning of the hair transplant. Regarding accompaniment, it is not necessary to attend the clinic with a companion; however, it is recommended to leave the clinic accompanied, as driving home is not advised due to the administration of medication that may reduce alertness and slow reflexes.

At the Grupo Pedro Jaén Hair Disorders and Hair Transplant Unit, surgery is performed in the operating theatre under light sedation and local anaesthesia. Throughout the procedure, the patient is continuously monitored by an anaesthetist, a factor that significantly increases procedural safety and patient comfort during what is a relatively lengthy intervention. This approach represents a distinguishing feature of our unit and is an important reason why many patients choose to undergo surgery at our centre.

Regarding the surgical procedure itself, three main stages can be identified.

1. Extraction of follicles from the donor area

The required hair is extracted from the occipital region, either using the strip method (FUSS/FUT technique) or the FUE technique.

2. Individual separation and preparation of follicles

With the FUSS technique, follicles are meticulously separated under microscopes. In the FUE technique, follicles are already extracted individually and only require preparation prior to implantation.

3. Implantation of follicles into the alopecic area

Hair follicles extracted from the occipital region are implanted one by one into the area affected by hair loss, through micro-incisions measuring less than one millimetre. The implantation design is tailored to each patient to achieve a completely natural appearance.

Hair transplantation is a minimally invasive surgical procedure. Therefore, hospital admission is not required and patients may return home on the same day. In the days following surgery, patients are prescribed anti-inflammatory and antibiotic medication and advised to maintain relative rest. Most patients can resume social and professional activities approximately one week after the procedure.

Following hair transplantation, patients must observe simple care measures for the transplanted follicles. This includes avoiding excessive friction in the transplanted area and washing the hair carefully, taking care not to remove the scabs that form around the transplanted follicles.

The Grupo Pedro Jaén Hair Disorders and Hair Transplant Unit places particular emphasis on close follow-up during the first days after surgery. Specialists instruct patients on wound care, appropriate hair washing techniques and other relevant aspects. The aim is to minimise post-operative discomfort and optimise transplant outcomes by promoting successful follicular implantation.

Patients who have undergone hair transplantation using the strip technique (FUSS/FUT) must return to the clinic after 12–14 days, as indicated by the specialist, for suture removal. The strip scar is concealed by the surrounding hair and is generally unnoticeable from the day after surgery. After a few weeks, it becomes virtually imperceptible, even with short hair.

How long does a hair transplant procedure take?

Hair transplantation is a labour-intensive procedure involving a multidisciplinary team of approximately nine to ten professionals, including surgeons, nursing staff, an anaesthetist and specialised technicians.

The individual separation and preparation of follicles for implantation requires coordinated teamwork over several hours, typically between five and eight hours, depending on the number of follicular units transplanted.

Is hospital admission required?

Despite its duration, hair transplantation is performed as an outpatient procedure. Hospital admission is not required, and patients can return home once the surgery has been completed.

Why is an anaesthetist involved during surgery?

Hair transplantation is not a particularly painful procedure. However, it is a lengthy operation, and both follicular extraction and implantation can be uncomfortable due to the large number of micro-incisions required. At the Grupo Pedro Jaén Hair Disorders and Hair Transplant Unit, surgery is performed under local anaesthesia combined with light sedation, administered under the supervision of an anaesthetist. This approach significantly improves patient comfort throughout the procedure.

Can both men and women undergo hair transplantation?

Hair transplantation can be performed in both men and women. Rather than gender, the key factors are donor area hair quality, type of alopecia and the extent of the recipient area. Dermatologists specialising in hair disorders are best placed to assess whether a patient is a suitable candidate for hair transplantation.

Can more than one hair transplant be performed?

In most cases, a single hair transplant achieves excellent results. However, some patients with advanced alopecia may require more than one procedure. It should be noted that the donor area does not generate new follicles once they have been extracted, meaning that hair transplantation cannot be performed an unlimited number of times.

For this reason, careful candidate selection and appropriate timing are essential to ensure a high likelihood of success.

Is there a better time of year to undergo surgery?

From a strictly medical perspective, hair transplantation can be performed at any time of year. The timing is usually determined by the patient’s availability to dedicate approximately one week to post-operative care.

How long will I need to take off work after a hair transplant?

Physically, patients usually feel well by the second or third day after surgery. However, from a cosmetic perspective, we recommend delaying return to work for approximately seven to eight days, as mild forehead swelling and scab formation in the micrograft areas are common during the first days after surgery.

When will the final result be visible?

Improvement usually begins to become noticeable after six months. From that point onwards, progress continues gradually until 12–14 months, when the final result can generally be assessed. In women, definitive results may take up to 18 months.

Is it necessary to continue medical treatment for alopecia after a hair transplant?

Yes. Hair transplantation is not a substitute for pharmacological treatment of alopecia. While transplanted hair will not be lost, the remaining hair must be maintained with the medical treatment recommended by the specialist.

The content of this page has been prepared by the Communication Department and the Medical Team of Grupo Pedro Jaén, in line with our editorial commitment to ensuring the accuracy and up-to-date nature of the information provided.

References on hair transplantation:

1. Manual de Tricología #TricoHRC. Directores: Sergio Vañó y Pedro Jaén. Comité editorial: Dr. David Saceda y Dr. Óscar Muñoz. ISBN: 978-84-09-05743-6.

2. Innovations hair restoration surgeons have made to adapt to the challenges of follicular unit excision. Gupta AK, Bruce A, Trivellini R, Dua K, Mohebi P, True RH, Harris JA. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2020 Aug;19(8):1883-1891.

3. Robotic Hair Transplantation. Avram MR, Watkins S. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2020 May;28(2):189-196. doi: 10.1016/j.fsc.2020.01.011.

4. Follicular Unit Excision: Current Practice and Future Developments. Epstein GK, Epstein J, Nikolic J. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2020 May;28(2):169-176. doi: 10.1016/j.fsc.2020.01.006.

5. Hair Transplant: Added Value When Performed by a Dermatologist. Vañó Galván S. Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2017 Jul-Aug;108(6):495-497. doi: 10.1016/j.ad.2017.06.001.

6. Hair transplant in frontal fibrosing alopecia: A multicenter review of 51 patients. Vañó-Galván S, Villodres E, Pigem R, Navarro-Belmonte MR, Asín-Llorca M, Meyer-González T, Rodrigues-Barata R, Moreno-Arrones ÓM, Saceda-Corralo D, Bouhanna P, Camps A. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 Sep;81(3):865-866. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.05.031.