Frequently Asked Questions
Where is hair transplant surgery performed?
In our office suite under local anesthesia. No IV is necessary.
Is it very painful?
No. Invariably the comment we hear is "If I had known it was this easy, I would have had it done years ago."
How will I look immediately afterward?
Probably better than expected. You will not need any dressing or bandages. The hair can
be washed immediately. Pinpoint crusts which are barely noticeable cover the grafts for 7-10 days, and then disappear.
When can I return to my normal activities?
Patients can return to work the next day. Strenuous activity can be resumed in 3 days.
How long does it take for the hair to grow?
After a short resting phase of three to four months, the hair begins to grow at a rate of half inch per month, and continues to grow forever.
Do you use follicular unit micrografting?
Absolutely. This is the gold standard of Hair Transplantation worldwide. By using only
micrografts the patient never looks pluggy and the results are completely natural and
undetectable.
How many grafts are transplanted?
This is variable but usually 1000 - 2000 grafts per session.
How many sessions will be necessary?
Generally 1 - 2 sessions are recommended to do an entire frontal area or the bald spot on
top of the head. This can be done in 4 - 8 months or over a longer period of time
depending on the patient's preference.
What is the cost of hair transplant surgery?
Presently our fee is $4400 for 1000 grafts per session. Any additional grafts done in that session are then $1/graft. So if we did 1500 grafts in a session the fee would be $4900.
How do I pay for the procedure?
As with all cosmetic procedures, full payment is expected at the time of surgery. We
accept personal checks as well as various major credit cards.
Am I able to drive home after surgery?
Yes. Most of our patients do not require any pre-op medications, so they may drive home.
If a patient requests an oral medication to help relax, we recommend that someone drive the patient home.
I live out of town. Does this present a problem?
No. A great number of our patients live outside the metropolitan area and they can return
home the day of surgery. Post-operative care is minimal and any sutures used are absorbable and do not need to be removed.
How is a hair transplant different from the "hair systems" that I see advertised on TV?
A hair transplant is your own living growing hair. Any hair system is a toupee regardless
of how "natural" it is advertised to be. The cost of maintaining a hair system for just ten
years would be greater than the total cost of multiple hair transplant sessions which would last forever.
What about Rogaine and Propecia?
Dr. Buchwach will be happy to discuss these medical treatments with you. He can
prescribe Propecia if you are a good candidate for it. Both medications can be used in
conjunction with hair restoration surgery.
Do you ever do transplants on women?
Yes. Women have significant hair loss and transplants are very successful in selected
cases. Women now comprise 20% of Dr. Buchwach's practice.
Can unnatural results be improved?
Absolutely. Part of Dr. Buchwach’s practice involves those who are unhappy with the
results of prior hair restoration procedures. These patients have been treated with larger
and/or inappropriately placed grafts which can result in an unnatural, corn row, or "doll's
hair" appearance. Many patients had surgery prior to the advanced procedures now
available. Undesirable results can be dramatically improved using follicular unit
micrografting.