Where hair is thinning, your own hair follicles from the back of the head can be redistributed. Carefully planned, a hair transplant can visibly change the hairline and density – with hair that usually continues to grow permanently in its new place.
3–10hours, depending on method and number of grafts
1–3weeks until redness and scabs subside
2–6weeks until sport, once your doctor approves
2–3months until new hair starts to grow
10–12months until the result is assessed
Typical figures from the clinics and practices. Your personal plan is discussed at the preliminary consultation.
Hair loss
When the hairline recedes.
The most common form of hair loss is hereditary. In men, it usually shows at the temples, along the hairline at the forehead and at the crown; in women, it tends to appear as thinner hair along the parting. How quickly it progresses varies from person to person.
The hair in the fringe at the back of the head usually reacts very little to the hormones that trigger hereditary hair loss. This is the basis of a hair transplant: it moves hair follicles from this area to where hair is missing. No new hair is created in the process – existing hair is redistributed, and the supply in the donor area is limited.
Not all hair loss is hereditary. Iron deficiency, thyroid disease, stress, medication or alopecia areata, in which the immune system attacks the hair follicles, require different treatment. That is why the first question is why the hair is falling out.
The treatment
What a transplant can achieve.
Your own hair
Your own hair follicles are transplanted. They keep their characteristics and usually continue to grow in their new place just as they did at the back of the head.
Two techniques
Individual extraction (FUE) or a strip of skin (FUT): which is right depends on hair length, the donor area and the number of grafts needed.
Natural line
Direction of growth, angle and density are planned so that the new hairline suits your face and age – in a few years’ time as well.
The procedure takes a day; it is around a year before the result can be assessed.
Consultation
Your hair, family history and donor area are examined and the cause of the hair loss is assessed – with information about possibilities, limitations and risks.
Planning
The hairline, number of grafts and method are determined, with an eye on how the hair loss may progress and on keeping a reserve in the donor area.
Preparation
Stop smoking ten days beforehand and avoid alcohol for two days beforehand; only pause blood-thinning medication after consulting your doctor.
Extraction
Under local anaesthetic, the follicular units are harvested from the back of the head – individually with a fine hollow needle (FUE) or as a narrow strip of skin, after which the wound is finely stitched (FUT).
Implantation
Prepared under the microscope, the grafts are placed in fine channels that follow the natural direction of growth. You go home the same day, but not behind the wheel yourself.
Healing
Swelling, redness and small scabs subside in the first few weeks. Washing follows the instructions you are given; stitches after FUT are removed after two to three weeks.
Growth
The transplanted hairs often fall out at first after a few weeks, while the roots remain. New hair grows from around the third month; the result is checked after ten to twelve months.
Costs
What a hair transplant costs.
Self-pay treatment
The price follows the area.
For hereditary hair loss, a hair transplant is an aesthetic treatment for self-pay patients. The costs depend mainly on the size of the area, the number of grafts and the method; they are determined after consultation and examination.
The prices of the clinics and practices usually include:
Anaesthesia and outpatient stay on the day of treatment
Medication and materials during the procedure
Aftercare and follow-up appointments
You receive a personal quote after the preliminary consultation.
Statutory health insurance
Only in exceptional cases.
For hereditary hair loss, German statutory health insurance does not usually cover the costs. It may be different if hair is missing as a result of an accident or a burn to the scalp; this is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
The group’s clinics and practices bill privately; at several of them, payment in instalments through a financing partner is possible.
Specialists
Your surgeons at a glance.
Hair transplants are performed by specialists in plastic and aesthetic surgery, together with well-established teams of hair technicians. Under each name you can see the locations where they treat patients.
Dr. med. Frank GrunerSpecialist in Plastic and Aesthetic SurgeryDüsseldorf · Waalre
Dr. med. Stephan KlarnerSpecialist in Plastic and Aesthetic SurgeryHamburg
Dr. med. Martin ReifenrathSpecialist in Plastic and Aesthetic SurgeryDortmund · Wertheim
Dr. med. Cornelius SchubertSpecialist in Plastic and Aesthetic SurgeryHamburg
Dr. med. Maria SimidjiiskaSpecialist in Plastic and Aesthetic SurgeryDortmund
Locations
Where treatment takes place.
Each clinic and practice shows on its own website how the treatment works there.
Germany
Dortmund
Westfalenklinik on Rosemeyerstraße, also the headquarters of Hair Doctors: consultation, procedure and aftercare under one roof.
The procedure takes place under local anaesthetic; what you mainly feel are the anaesthetic injections. In the first few days afterwards, a feeling of tightness and mild pain may occur, which can usually be treated well.
How many grafts do I need?
That depends on the area, the desired density and the quality of your hair. For receding temples, 800 to 1,500 grafts are often enough; for the hairline and front of the head, it is frequently 1,500 to 3,000. The plan leaves a reserve in the donor area.
FUE or FUT – which is better?
Neither method is fundamentally superior. FUE leaves tiny, dot-like scars, and the donor area is usually trimmed for it. FUT leaves a fine scar under the hair; the hair can stay long, and more grafts are often possible in one session.
What is FUEplus?
A variant of individual extraction at Hair Doctors: with motorised, particularly fine instruments and without shaving the whole head. According to Hair Doctors, it includes one session of PRP hair therapy.
When will I see the result?
The transplanted hairs often fall out in the first few weeks, while the roots remain. New hair grows from around the third month, and the result is assessed after ten to twelve months. How dense the result will be varies from person to person.
What are the risks?
Common side effects are temporary swelling around the forehead and eyes, redness, scabs, itching and numbness. Less common are inflammation of the hair follicles, infections or secondary bleeding. Hair in the surrounding area may also fall out temporarily, and not every graft takes.
Does the result last a lifetime?
Hair from the fringe at the back of the head usually continues to grow permanently in its new place, but the rest of your hair may continue to fall out. Planning takes this into account – with particular caution in young people – and a second session may make sense later on.
Is a hair transplant also an option for women?
Yes, if the cause has been established and the donor area is sufficient. Because women’s hair often thins over a wide area, planning is more demanding; FUT is frequently chosen because the hair does not have to be trimmed.
Further reading
More on the topic.
In-depth articles from the group's clinics and practices.
Choose a location, pick your preferred date. You confirm with a code sent by text message or e-mail; the appointment is booked directly in the clinic's calendar.
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This was the best decision I have ever taken for myself. The whole experience has changed my life for the better. From the first consultation I felt welcomed and treated very well. I did not feel alone during the journey because the team were just a WhatsApp away and they made regular check-ups on me. Thank you for everyone at the hospital from the staff to the doctors, you are all amazing.
Weight Doctors South Africa
MMaria
Wow, was für ein erster Eindruck! Dr. Frank Gruner, dessen Professionalität von jahrelanger Erfahrung zeugt, war äußerst verständlich und menschlich (was mir sehr wichtig war). Er verstand meine Bedürfnisse, und seine Erklärungen und Anweisungen entsprachen genau meinen Vorstellungen. Die Patientenberaterin Jennifer war mit ihrem Charme ebenfalls eine große Hilfe und erklärte mir alles Notwendige und den weiteren Ablauf. Auch die Mitarbeiter am Empfang waren sehr höflich und freundlich. Ich melde mich nach der Operation mit meinen Eindrücken zurück. Vielen Dank an alle!
Westfalenklinik Fachklinik für Plastische und Ästhetische Chirurgie · Original in German
AAnonym
Ich habe eine Unterlidstraffung machen lassen und bin mit dem Ergebnis sehr zufrieden. Mein Dank geht vor allem an Frau Dr. Simidjiiska für ihre Fürsorge, Kompetenz und Empathie. Aber auch das gesamte Team der Klinik macht einen hervorragenden Job!
Westfalenklinik Fachklinik für Plastische und Ästhetische Chirurgie · Original in German
AAnonym
Ich bin rundum begeistert von meiner Erfahrung in dieser Haartransplantationsklinik. Von der ersten Kontaktaufnahme bis zur Nachsorge war alles hervorragend organisiert und professionell. Das gesamte Team war unglaublich freundlich, hilfsbereit und zuvorkommend. Man hat sich jederzeit gut aufgehoben und ernst genommen gefühlt. Besonders positiv fand ich, dass sich alle Mitarbeiter ausreichend Zeit genommen haben, um meine Fragen zu beantworten und jeden Schritt verständlich zu erklären. Auch der Service war erstklassig. Die Organisation, die Betreuung vor und nach dem Eingriff sowie die Kommunikation waren wirklich hervorragend. Das gesamte Team hat einen sehr kompetenten und gleichzeitig menschlichen Eindruck gemacht. Die Klinik selbst ist modern, sauber und sehr gut ausgestattet. Während der Behandlung wurde äußerst sorgfältig und professionell gearbeitet, und ich hatte zu jedem Zeitpunkt das Gefühl, in guten Händen zu sein. Ein großes Dankeschön an das gesamte Team für die tolle Betreuung und den freundlichen Umgang! Ich kann die Klinik absolut weiterempfehlen und bin mit meiner bisherigen Erfahrung sehr zufrieden. Wer Wert auf Professionalität, Qualität und einen hervorragenden Service legt, ist hier meiner Meinung nach bestens aufgehoben.
Westfalenklinik Fachklinik für Plastische und Ästhetische Chirurgie · Original in German
AWAndre W.
Bisher war es nur ein Beratungsgespräch aber es war sehr gut.
Weight Doctors Group · Original in German
DCDavid C.
Ich fand, dass der Arzt gut und verständlich erklärt hat. Ich habe diese Woche noch einen Termin in einer anderen Klinik, da ich mich gründlich informieren möchte; auch der Preis wird dabei eine Rolle spielen – darüber bin ich ganz offen.
QUOLE Medisch Centrum · Original in German
MMomo
Hervorragende Behandlung. Von der ersten Beratung bis zur Nachsorge hat mir Dr. Koch stets ein sehr gutes Gefühl vermittelt. Ich litt jahrelang unter einer echten Gynäkomastie, nach der OP kann sich das Ergebnis sehen lassen, mein Selbstbewusstsein ist endlich zurückgekehrt. Ich kann die Alster Klinik jedem empfehlen, der schon lange mit dem Gedanken spielt sich operieren zu lassen.
Alster-Klinik Hamburg · Original in German
AAnonym
Dr. Schubert gab mir das Gefühl, in genau der richtigen Praxis zu sein für mein Anliegen. Ich habe mich beim Beratungsgespräch sehr wohl gefühlt und verstanden gefühlt.
Alster-Klinik Hamburg · Original in German
LSLieselotte S.
Über die ehrliche Einschätzung
Alster-Klinik Hamburg · Original in German
HGHannelore G.
Ich habe mich sehr wohl geführt, das Gespräch war sehr gut, die Ärztin hat mir sehr ausführlich alles erklärt und bin mit einem sehr guten Gefühl nach Hause gegangen.
Westfalenklinik Fachklinik für Plastische und Ästhetische Chirurgie · Original in German
CKCarmen K.
Ich bin eine sehr ängstliche Person. Bei Herrn Dr. Neis habe ich mich sofort wohlgefühlt. Behandlungsgespräche, Umgang, Freundlichkeit – es passt alles. Ich kann ihn ohne Bedenken und Einschränkung nur weiter empfehlen. Dankeschön Herr Dr. Neis für die tolle Arbeit.
CGCE Group · Original in German
MLMichaela L.
Dr. Klarner ist sehr nett, hat mich sehr gut beraten und aufgeklärt. Ich hab mich gut aufgehoben gefühlt, vielen Dank!
Dr. med. Frank Gruner
Dr. med. Stephan Klarner
Dr. med. Martin Reifenrath
Dr. med. Cornelius Schubert
Dr. med. Maria Simidjiiska
