FAQ
Q. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
A. Every patient requires a customized treatment plan to suit their individual hair needs. In order to get an accurate quote, please give our office a call to schedule a consultation. We also offer financing options, which you can access here.
Q. DOES IT REALLY WORK?
A. The success rate of hair transplant surgery relies upon the experience of the surgeon and their team. Our team has over 30 years of combined experience and uses a very artistic surgical technique, yielding natural-looking results, which separates The Saratoga Hair Center from other hair transplant facilities.
Q. IS IT PAINFUL?
A. Due to the local anesthetic, there is minimal pain and minor discomfort for the first few days.
Q. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FUE AND FUT?
A. FUT is a Follicular Unit Transplant where the strip is harvested from the back of your head. FUE is a Follicular Unit Extraction, where each graft is harvested one graft at a time and does not leave a linear scar.
Q. WHEN WILL THIS NUMBNESS GO AWAY?
A. The Marcaine should wear off within 8 hours, but it is typical to feel slight numbness in the scalp for a few months.
Q. IS IT GOING TO HURT WHEN THE MEDS WEAR OFF?
A. Generally, no, but there may be some discomfort in the donor area tonight. If you feel pain or a headache coming on, you can take the prescribed pain medication, or you may take an OTC like Extra Strength Tylenol, Advil, Aleve, etc.
Q. HOW SOON SHOULD I WASH MY HAIR, AND HOW DO I DO THAT?
A. Please wait for at least 24 hours following your transplant and follow the directions provided to you in your take-home bag. Use gentle water pressure and “pat” the shampoo on your head; do not scrub.
Q. WHEN WILL IT START GROWING?
A. Generally, it will begin to grow in 6 months. Until then, it will be in a rest phase. As it starts to grow, you will probably experience a little itching as the hair begins to break through the scalp.
Q. IS THIS GOING TO BE NOTICEABLE TO PEOPLE?
A. It always depends on the patient. With all FU’s, the scabs are usually off in 5-6 days. The larger scabs may take up to two weeks to fall off. If you use the Saline spray we provide you with (a few spritzes every hour throughout the day on your grafts for the first week or two), it can speed the healing process for you.
Q. CAN I WEAR A HAT?
A. Absolutely! You just want to make sure it isn’t too tight or form-fitting in the donor or hairline area.
Q. AM I GOING TO SWELL?
A. During surgery, we use a Kenalog mixture, and we also give you Prednisone pre-operatively to prevent swelling. For three days post surgery, you will take 2 Prednisone tablets with your breakfast. This usually works to prevent swelling. Some of our patients who have a lot of hairline/temple work have found that taking a bag of frozen vegetables (preferably peas), wrapped in a hand towel and placing it on the forehead for 10-minute intervals on the first night, can relieve and prevent swelling.
Q. WHEN CAN I START EXERCISING AGAIN?
A. Walking is fine, but we recommend waiting at least 5 days for any heavy lifting or excessive sweating. 7 days would be ideal.
Q. WHEN DO THE SUTURES COME OUT, AND DO I HAVE TO COME IN FOR THAT?
A. Generally, the sutures can be removed in 2 weeks. You can come back into our office, or we can provide you with a suture removal kit with instructions, and you can have a friend or family member remove them for you. You can also go to a walk-in clinic or your primary care physician (they do generally charge a fee).
Q. DO I NEED TO COME BACK FOR A FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENT? IF SO, WHEN?
A. We do recommend returning for a follow-up appointment 10 months to a year from now to meet with Dr. Slaughter, so he can take some photos and re-evaluate your progress.
Q. WHEN CAN I GO BACK TO WORK?
A. That is up to you, depending on your job. If there is heavy lifting involved, we recommend that you wait at least a week. If you can cover your head with a hat or scarf/bandana, you can go back to work the following day, depending on how you feel. Most patients give themselves a few days to a week of rest; that way, if you have swelling, it will be gone by then. Also note, swelling is most pronounced on day 3 after surgery.
Q. CAN I GET A NOTE FOR WORK?
A. Yes, of course! Be sure to let us know what you would like the doctor to say.
Q. WHAT IF I HAVE AN EMERGENCY?
A. If an emergency occurs, please call our emergency contact number on the blue post-op sheets.
Q. HOW SOON CAN I PUT PRODUCT IN MY HAIR?
A. We recommend waiting a few days until the scabs form. We advise you never apply the product on open wounds.
Q. DO I NEED TO KEEP MY HEAD ELEVATED TO SLEEP?
A. It is perfectly fine to sleep on an extra pillow for your first night of recovery. Graft size is much smaller in modern procedures, and therefore, there is little chance of loosening the grafts.
Q. DO I NEED TO USE A SPECIAL SHAMPOO?
A. Any shampoo is fine, but we suggest holding off on medicated shampoos for at least a few days.
Q. HOW SOON CAN I USE MY BLOW DRYER?
A. As long as you keep it on a cool setting, it should be fine. Be careful when using a comb or brush, do not let them touch your scalp because they may dislodge a graft or snag a suture.
Q. WILL MY EYEBROWS GROW LIKE REGULAR EYEBROW HAIR?
A. After your transplant, your eyebrows will grow at the speed of your normal hair, as this is where the graft came from. After an eyebrow transplant, you will have to regularly trim the new hairs, as they grow.
Q. WHEN CAN I COLOR MY HAIR AGAIN?
A. You may color your hair up to two days before your surgery and can color it again 2 weeks following your surgery, after the sutures have been removed.
