Hair Transplant FAQs
Straight answers about FUE, FUT and eyebrow transplants from Dr. Babak Nouhi. Choose a topic below, and if your question isn't here, bring it to your free consultation.
Your in-person surgical consultation is with Dr. Nouhi at our West Vancouver practice. He reviews your hair-loss history, examines your scalp and donor hair, and discusses the coverage and appearance you would like to achieve. You’ll explore suitable treatment options, their limitations, recovery and expected costs. If surgery is appropriate, he develops an individual plan with an estimated graft count. If your hair loss requires further medical investigation, he explains the next steps before recommending surgery.
The right treatment starts with understanding the cause. Pattern hair loss, temporary shedding and inflammatory scalp conditions can require different approaches, and transplantation is not suitable for every diagnosis. Dr. Nouhi assesses your history and scalp to determine whether surgery, medical treatment or further investigation is appropriate. This assessment also helps guide the timing of treatment and planning for future hair loss.
The choice depends on your donor hair, scalp characteristics, hairstyle preferences and long-term goals. FUE removes individual follicular units and leaves small scars throughout the harvested area. FUT removes a strip of donor tissue and leaves a linear scar, which longer hair can often conceal. Both may be suitable for a range of coverage goals. Dr. Nouhi performs both techniques and explains the benefits and trade-offs of each before recommending an approach for you.
Dr. Nouhi personally plans your procedure, designs your hairline and performs the donor harvesting and recipient-site creation. Trained team members assist with graft preparation and placement under his direction and supervision. Your consultation includes an explanation of who performs each part of your procedure. Dr. Nouhi remains responsible for your medical care, surgical planning and postoperative assessment.
FUE and FUT scalp transplantation cost $5 per graft, and eyebrow transplantation costs $8 per graft. For example, a 1,500-graft scalp procedure costs $7,500, while a 300-graft eyebrow procedure costs $2,400. Your recommended graft count depends on your donor supply and treatment plan. Before proceeding, you receive a written estimate explaining the planned graft count, what is included and how any change in the graft count would affect your cost. Cosmetic hair and eyebrow transplantation are not covered by MSP.
Growth develops gradually. Transplanted hairs commonly shed during the first few weeks, with new growth often beginning around three to four months. Changes may become more noticeable over the following months, and scalp results are generally assessed around twelve to eighteen months. Timing, graft growth and achievable density vary between patients. Dr. Nouhi reviews your progress at follow-up appointments and discusses any concerns, including whether additional treatment may be appropriate.
Postoperative follow-up is provided locally at our West Vancouver practice. Dr. Nouhi assesses your healing and hair growth, reviews your aftercare and addresses any concerns. Your follow-up schedule is tailored to your procedure and recovery, and you receive instructions on how to contact the clinic between appointments.
FUE can provide long-lasting hair restoration. Donor follicles are selected from areas that are generally more resistant to pattern hair loss and usually retain that characteristic after transplantation. However, growth and longevity vary, and your existing, non-transplanted hair may continue to thin. Dr. Nouhi considers these changes when planning your hairline and discussing whether ongoing medical treatment could help maintain your overall appearance.
FUE may be suitable if you have adequate donor hair, an appropriate diagnosis, and realistic expectations about coverage and density. It can be considered for hairline restoration, other areas of thinning, and patients who prefer shorter hairstyles, although small donor scars may still be visible. Dr. Nouhi assesses your pattern of loss, donor quality, and likely future needs before recommending an approach.
FUE leaves small scars at the extraction sites and permanently reduces hair density in the harvested areas. Careful planning is needed to limit visible thinning and preserve options for future procedures. Donor trimming is commonly required, and larger procedures can take considerable time. As with any hair transplant, possible risks include infection, altered sensation, poor graft growth, and an outcome that does not meet your expectations.
FUE is performed under local anesthesia to keep the treatment areas numb. You may feel brief stinging during the injections and some pressure or movement during the procedure. Comfort is monitored throughout, and additional anesthetic can be given when needed. Tenderness or discomfort can occur afterward; you receive an individualized pain-management and aftercare plan.
At our practice, FUE costs $5 per graft. A 1,500-graft procedure is $7,500, and a 2,500-graft procedure is $12,500. Dr. Nouhi recommends a graft count after assessing your donor supply and the area you would like treated. You receive a written quote outlining your planned treatment before proceeding. Cosmetic FUE transplantation is not covered by MSP.
Yes. FUE leaves small scars where individual follicular units are removed, rather than the linear scar associated with FUT. These can be less noticeable when covered by surrounding hair, but their visibility depends on healing, skin and hair characteristics, extraction density, and hairstyle. Very short or shaved styles may reveal the scars or changes in donor density.
Many patients plan approximately three to seven days away from work, although the right timing depends on your recovery and the demands of your job. Redness, swelling, or crusting may remain visible after you feel ready to return. Physical work, protective headwear, and exposure to dust or heat may require additional precautions. Dr. Nouhi provides guidance specific to your procedure and working conditions.
No. FUT remains an established option for appropriately selected patients. It allows follicular units to be prepared under magnification from a strip of donor tissue and may be useful when planning substantial coverage. Its main trade-off is a linear donor scar. Dr. Nouhi considers FUT alongside FUE based on your anatomy, donor supply, hairstyle preferences, and long-term treatment goals.
FUT may be suitable if you have adequate donor density and scalp laxity, want to address a larger area of hair loss, and are comfortable with a linear donor scar. It may also fit a longer-term plan involving more than one procedure. Dr. Nouhi considers your diagnosis, age, progression of hair loss, medical history, and hairstyle preferences before recommending surgery.
FUT leaves a linear scar in the donor area. Its width and visibility vary with scalp laxity, surgical planning, individual healing, and hair characteristics. Longer surrounding hair can help conceal it, but no particular hair length guarantees coverage. A trichophytic closure may help camouflage the scar in suitable cases. Dr. Nouhi discusses the possibility of a wider or more visible scar before you decide.
The number depends on your donor density, scalp laxity, the dimensions of tissue that can be safely removed, and the follicular units within that tissue. FUT can provide a substantial number of grafts in suitable patients, but there is no single figure that applies to everyone. Dr. Nouhi provides an estimate after assessment, with the final count determined during graft preparation.
FUT costs $5 per graft at our practice, the same rate as FUE. A 3,000-graft procedure costs $15,000. Your treatment plan and estimated cost depend on the coverage you would like to achieve and the donor tissue available. You receive a written quote before proceeding, including clarification of what is included. Cosmetic FUT transplantation is not covered by MSP.
A full head shave is generally unnecessary for FUT. A narrow section of donor hair is trimmed where the strip will be removed, and longer surrounding hair can often cover that area. Whether any recipient-area trimming is recommended depends on your procedure. Dr. Nouhi explains the preparation required and how it may affect your appearance during recovery.
Many patients plan approximately five to ten days away from work, depending on their procedure, healing, and job requirements. Donor tenderness, tightness, swelling, and recipient-area crusting can occur. If non-dissolving sutures or staples are used, removal is commonly arranged around ten to fourteen days. Exercise and activities that place tension on the scalp need a more gradual return, guided by your postoperative assessment.
An eyebrow transplant is intended to provide long-lasting growth using your own hair follicles. Once established, these hairs can continue growing for many years, but graft survival, density, and longevity vary. Underlying conditions can also affect the outcome, and additional grafting may sometimes be considered. Unlike pigment-based treatments, transplantation adds growing hair that requires ongoing grooming.
Yes. Hairs taken from the scalp generally retain a longer growth cycle than natural eyebrow hairs, so regular trimming is usually needed. The frequency varies with your hair growth and preferred brow length; some patients need to trim more often than others. Brushing or styling may also help manage direction and texture. This ongoing maintenance is discussed before treatment.
An eyebrow transplant typically takes approximately two to four hours at our practice, although larger or more complex cases can take longer. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, with patients generally returning home the same day. Time is allocated to brow design, donor harvesting, graft preparation, and careful placement. Your consultation provides an estimate based on your individual plan.
Eyebrow transplantation costs $8 per graft at our practice. For example, a treatment using 300 grafts costs $2,400, while 700 grafts costs $5,600. The recommended number depends on your existing brows, the areas being treated, and the agreed design. You receive a written quote before proceeding. Cosmetic eyebrow transplantation is not covered by MSP.
Transplanted hairs commonly shed during the first few weeks. New growth often begins around three to four months and develops gradually afterward. Results are generally assessed around twelve months, although some patients take longer. Density, direction, and texture vary, and ongoing trimming or grooming is usually needed. Follow-up visits allow Dr. Nouhi to assess your progress.
Possibly. Suitability depends on the cause of the scar, the condition and blood supply of the tissue, and whether any underlying disease is active. Growth in scar tissue can be less predictable, so a test area or staged treatment may be considered. Autoimmune or scarring hair-loss conditions require particular care: even when apparently stable, recurrence can affect transplanted follicles. Dr. Nouhi assesses these factors before recommending a plan.
