If you’re experiencing hair loss, you’ve probably explored a range of solutions, from medication to hair systems to hair transplants. Nowadays, there is no shortage of effective options to restore the appearance of your hair. But when it comes to surgical hair restoration, the preparation you do before your transplant is just as important as the aftercare.
At Sons, we partner with leading hair transplant clinics across the UK and Ireland, to support patients before and after surgery with effective, evidence-based treatments. To help you understand how to achieve the best outcome we spoke with Dr Michael Mouzakis, a transplant surgeon at The Private Clinic in Harley Street, London with over 15 years of experience under his belt. Below, he shares his expert tips on how patients should prepare, what they should look for, and what they should avoid, plus why medication is essential to getting the best possible results.
What You’ll Learn
Ø How to choose the best clinic
Ø How to prepare for surgery
Ø What a poor transplant might look like
Ø Key aftercare tips
Ø Why medications complement a transplant
Choose a reputable surgeon and clinic
We’ve put this one first because it’s arguably the most important decision you’ll make, as it shapes the outcome of your entire procedure.
Dr Mouzakis recommends keeping the following points in mind when choosing a clinic:
- Look for the surgeon, not the brand: Ensure a qualified surgeon is actually performing the key steps of the surgery, not just "supervising" technicians.
- The Consultation: If the "consultant" feels more like a salesperson than a doctor, walk away.
- Case Studies: Look for long-term follow-ups (12+ months) and clear, high-resolution photos that show the hairline in detail.
A good design is everything
A good hair transplant should look completely natural – so natural, you shouldn’t be able to tell that you’ve even had one.
That’s why Dr Mouzakis says, “a good design respects facial proportions, mimics the natural irregularities of a native hairline, and, most importantly, accounts for future ageing. We aren’t just designing for today; we are designing for how you will look in 20 years.”
Have realistic expectations
The success of a hair transplant depends heavily on:
- The extent of hair loss
- The quality of your donor area
- The stability of your hair loss
The donor area refers to the part of the scalp (typically the back of the head) where hair follicles are taken for transplantation. These hairs are chosen because they are naturally resistant to androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness), meaning they should not continue to thin over time once transplanted.
For the best outcome, patients should have stable hair loss, meaning their thinning has not rapidly worsened in recent months. If the hair in the transplant area is already highly miniaturised, surgeons often recommend spending 6-12 months on hair loss treatments such as finasteride and minoxidil. This can help reverse some miniaturisation and create a healthier foundation before reassessing surgery.
It’s also essential to understand what is realistically achievable. The severity of your hair loss determines how many grafts are required, and this must be balanced against the density and quality of the donor area. A reputable surgeon will be transparent about what can and cannot be achieved, rather than promising results that aren’t physically possible.
Having a realistic understanding of surgical outcomes and being informed about potential risks such as scarring will help you avoid disappointment. By keeping these factors in mind during your preparation, you’ll be well on your way to setting yourself up for a successful transplant.
What are signs of a poor transplant?
As Dr Mouzakis points out, the most obvious sign of a poor transplant is that it looks like a transplant. Here are some giveaways:
- The "Doll’s Head" look:Each hair follicles can have up to 3 hairs growing out of it - which can be useful for improving density in the crown area. But in the front row of the hair line, this can look unnaturally dense. Using soft, single-hair grafts creates a more natural look, which is why Dr Mouzakis prefers to use implanters that allow the surgeon to control the exact placement of single follicles.
- Incorrect angle: Hair growing straight up or at odd angles rather than following the natural flow of the surrounding hair.
- Over-harvesting:A "moth-eaten" appearance in the donor area at the back of the head.
What to do after your transplant
Aftercare
Once you’ve had the surgery, careful aftercare ensures the grafts heal properly and remain secure. You will receive detailed instructions from your transplant clinic outlining washing and protection protocols to follow for the weeks following the procedure. Usually, this will involve spraying the transplants with saline solution every 30 minutes (while awake) for the first 5 days post-procedure and sleeping with your head elevated.
Dr Mouzakis also highlights:
- Smoking is the enemy of a transplant because it constricts blood flow.
- A diet rich in iron, zinc, and biotin supports follicle health.
- Avoiding strenuous activity for the first two weeks prevents increased blood pressure from "popping" the grafts out.
Why medication is beneficial after a transplant
Lots of people seem to think of hair transplants and hair loss medication as either one or the other, but in fact they often go hand in hand.
Dr Mouzakis has a helpful analogy:
"Think of a transplant as filling a leaking bucket. The surgery adds hair [the hair], but the medication plugs the holes [the ongoing hair loss]. Finasteride and Minoxidil protect the non-transplanted hair from further thinning. Without them, you may end up needing subsequent surgeries just to keep up with the receding "native" hair.”
While transplanted hairs are typically resistant to DHT, your existing native hair is not. Without medication, progressive thinning could leave your transplant isolated, an ‘island’ of strong hair surrounded by recession.
Finasteride and minoxidil have been shown to be effective in 94% of men at halting hair loss. Using them post-transplant helps maintain surrounding hair and protects your long-term results.
All of our blog articles are reviewed by our Medical Director before publication.
