Hair Transplant

FUE is the most widely used hair transplant method today. Hair follicles are extracted one by one from the donor area (usually the nape and sides) using a specialised tool called a micropunch, then transplanted to areas experiencing thinning or hair loss. FUE's greatest advantage is that it leaves no linear scar, allowing even short hairstyles to conceal the procedure.

Recovery is quite fast; most patients return to daily life within 3–5 days. With an experienced team and correct patient selection, graft survival rates can exceed 90%.

DHI is a variant of FUE; the key difference is that grafts are placed directly into the scalp using a special device called a Choi implanter pen, without creating channels first. In this method the follicles spend less time outside the body, so graft survival rates may be slightly higher.

DHI is particularly preferred for adding extra density between existing hair (interleaving). Because the procedure can be performed without opening channels in areas that still have some hair, the risk of damaging existing hair is reduced. However, DHI sessions can take longer and the cost is generally higher.

Sapphire FUE can be considered an evolution of standard FUE. The only difference is that channels are opened with a sapphire-tipped blade instead of a steel scalpel. Because sapphire tips have an extremely smooth surface, tissue trauma and micro-scarring are reduced compared to standard FUE.

Advantages: Less scabbing, faster healing, more precise angle and density control. Disadvantages: Sapphire tips wear down across multiple sessions and need replacing, which can increase total costs. In inexperienced hands the advantage of sapphire disappears — so the surgeon's experience is just as decisive as the choice of technique.

Hair transplantation is suitable for: androgenetic hair loss (male-pattern or female-pattern), scarred areas of the scalp, and permanent hair loss caused by trauma or burns.

Suitability criteria: • Sufficient and healthy donor area (density of nape and side hair) • Stable pattern of hair loss • No medical condition that would contraindicate surgery • Realistic expectations

If hair loss is active and progressing rapidly, it is recommended to stabilise the loss before transplantation using medical treatment (finasteride, minoxidil, etc.).

Men experiencing hair loss in their 20s and 30s should carefully evaluate the decision to have a hair transplant. In this age group the hair loss process may not yet have stabilised, which risks producing an inadequate result in the long term.

Risks of early transplantation include: transplanted grafts forming "islands" as remaining hair continues to fall, donor reserves becoming insufficient in later years, and an unnatural hairline design. For this reason, young patients should first have their hair loss brought under control medically; transplant planning should only begin once sufficient data is available and the condition is stable.

If hair loss is continuing unchecked, a transplant may provide short-term visual improvement but could be insufficient in the long term. The recommended approach for such patients is:

1. Stop the Hair Loss First: Finasteride (approved for men), dutasteride or minoxidil slow or halt hair loss. PRP treatments support existing hair. 2. Document Stability: Regular hair analysis should confirm that loss has been stable for at least 12 months. 3. Protect the Donor Reserve: Extraction in a single session weakens the donor area. Graft count and zone selection should be made with potential second and third sessions in mind. 4. A Realistic Design: Hairline and density should be planned according to facial proportions and likely future loss zones.

At Checklife, a hair loss map is drawn up for every patient, donor density is evaluated microscopically, and a personalised roadmap is prepared based on the course of the patient's hair loss.