What to Expect: Hair Transplant Surgery and Recovery

Your Consultation

When you come in for your consultation, please be prepared to provide copies of current lab work, including scalp biopsy reports. This will help expedite the process of diagnosing the cause of your thinning hair or hair loss. You can mail these reports to us prior to your consultation or bring them with you.

As you speak with Dr. Niedbalski, he will want to hear about your expectations for your hair. He will review your hair loss and related medical history and perform a thorough examination of your scalp. Hair loss can be hereditary and come from either the mother’s or the father’s side of the family, contrary to popular opinion. Sharing your family’s hair loss history may help to diagnose the cause of your hair loss.

Dr. Niedbalski will use these considerations to help determine if you are a suitable candidate for hair transplant surgery:

• What is your ultimate goal?
• Your age and degree of hair loss
• The quality and quantity of your donor’s hair
• Are you in good general health?
• Do you have any bleeding or healing disorders?

For female patients, Dr. Niedbalski will look at several other important health factors:

• Thyroid, iron, and vitamin D levels
• Blood count
• Nutrition
• Pregnancy

After determining the cause of your hair loss, Dr. Niedbalski will work with you to determine the most effective and feasible method of treating your hair loss. Northwest Hair Restoration offers both non-surgical, minimally invasive, and surgical solutions, such as FUE hair transplants.

Financing & Costs

Financial considerations should not be an obstacle to keeping your hair looking the way you want. Investing in an ongoing relationship with Dr. Robert Niedbalski will help maintain your hair over your lifetime and help keep the cost of hair transplant surgery affordable.

We accept all major credit cards at Northwest Hair Restoration, and the following types of financing are available:

CareCredit

CareCredit offers a full range of payment plans to meet your needs, including:

• 0% interest if the balance is paid within 6 months
• Credit from $1,000 to $25,000

Learn more about CareCredit’s no-interest payment plans.

Apply now or call (800) 365-8295 to speak to a CareCredit representative.

PatientFi

• Instant funding up to $50,000
• Zero-interest upon approval, or long-term monthly plans
• APRs as low as 6.99% may be available
• No hard credit checks, ever
• No hidden fees in the fine print

Learn more about PatientFi and how it can help with your hair restoration.

Surgery Comfort & Care

We understand the anxiety you may have about hair restoration surgery. In some cases, anxiety may cause a patient to postpone or avoid treatment altogether. We do not want the fear of a procedure or anxieties about the hair transplant surgery recovery process to hold you back from having the full head of hair you desire.

We believe that when you are fully informed about what to expect and have a clear picture of the recovery timeline, you are better prepared mentally and physically, which decreases your anxiety.

What are your expectations for comfort? During your consultation and pre-op phone calls, our team will ask clarifying questions to fully understand any concerns you may have about your hair restoration procedure, from adequate back support to a fear of needles. When you communicate openly with us about what causes you anxiety, we can explore possible alternatives that may make you more comfortable during the hair transplant surgery and recovery.

Dr. Robert Niedbalski will discuss pain relief during and after your procedure, as well as other important aspects of your overall comfort, including:

• The comfort of the environment during your procedure.
• The friendliness and professionalism of the surgical team.
• The management of stress or anxiety about the procedure.

The Northwest Hair Restoration surgical team will provide medication and an anesthetic to keep you comfortable throughout your procedure. In addition to not feeling any pain, we want you to feel calm and worry-free.

To that end, our private surgical suite at our Tacoma, Washington, location offers cozy surroundings with beautiful views and a memory foam procedure chair to recline in. With a state-of-the-art facility and a staff that makes you feel like family, we will provide the environment for a relaxing day.

Surgery & Scars

At Northwest Hair Restoration, we want you to know what to expect during recovery following your hair restoration surgery. Here are some points to remember concerning the hair transplant surgery recovery timeline, and scars:

1. Scar-less surgery is a myth.

Any procedure that will transplant hair requires an incision of some kind. When the body’s natural barrier is broken through, there is some form of a “patch” or scar created by the body during healing.

• The FUE method creates a small, circular scar where grafts are excised. The nature of the small punch incision does not require stitches but does require healing time, and there will always be a small scar present even after healing.
• The FUT / strip-harvest method creates a thin, linear scar across the back of the head, which is similar to the crease in your palm.

2. Comfort is a top concern for our patients.

It is a given that nobody wants to feel pain during or after a procedure. Dr. Niedbalski will speak with you beforehand to help with your anxiety. During the procedure, hair transplant anesthesia is used to ensure your comfort, and pain medication will be prescribed afterwards.

3. Recovery after a hair restoration procedure requires some planning.

Depending on your desire for confidentiality, it may be important to plan for some time away from work. You should also reduce your activity levels during healing to minimize swelling.

While there is some discomfort after hair restoration surgery, Dr. Niedbalski can customize a post-treatment plan to reduce your sensation of discomfort or irritation.

At Northwest Hair Restoration, Dr. Niedbalski’s goal is to maximize your results while minimizing any fear or anxiety. If you are afraid of scarring, please discuss this with the doctor. There may be creative solutions that will work for you.

Process

Deciding to protect, renew, or restore your hair is a big decision, and it’s best approached with a clear understanding of exactly what’s involved from start to finish.

Step 1

Start your information gathering process with a call to the practice. Your complimentary consultation and assessment set the groundwork for moving forward. A comprehensive plan will take into consideration what your hair will look like 10-20 years from now.

Step 2

After a commitment is made to either a hair transplant surgery or nonsurgical treatment, it is important to feel prepared and informed about the process and recovery. So, ask any questions you may have about the FUE or FUT hair transplant and the recovery timeline. Our clinical care coordinator will explain what to expect before, during, and after a procedure.

During this conversation, any lingering questions are addressed, and any special requests related to your comfort are noted to ensure expectations are met for a relaxing appointment.

Step 3

Dr. Robert Niedbalski performs all procedures at Northwest Hair Restoration in Tacoma. He is assisted by a team of dedicated, compassionate, and professional surgical technicians who have worked alongside him for many years. This loyal team creates an environment that is comfortable and welcoming for patients.

Step 4

After the hair transplant surgery, you will receive post-op instructions, directions for medications, and suggestions for keeping comfortable during recovery. You will have ongoing follow-up appointments every 4 months. Dr. Niedbalski closely follows your progress for 18 months and then annually. Follow-up communication will include direct access to the doctor.

During annual visits with Dr. Niedbalski, you will learn about new breakthroughs in the fight against hair loss. He will take and review progress photos, update your comprehensive plan, and address any additional steps you may need to take to maintain your hair regrowth results and expectations.

Privacy & Confidentiality

Your decision to receive hair loss treatment will be treated discreetly and be kept private. From initial contact throughout the hair transplant surgery recovery, your information is kept completely confidential unless you provide your express permission to share your story.

Our team will help you plan for time off and when to return to a normal routine. With a plan, you can feel confident in your appearance, with no visible indicators of a procedure detectable to others.

In this video, Dr. Niedbalski shares his philosophy and approach to honoring patient confidentiality and explains how the Northwest Hair Restoration team collaborates to keep your experience discreet and private.

FAQs About Hair Transplant Surgery & Recovery