Most patients are surprised by how little a hair transplant hurts. Local anaesthesia is applied before extraction and implantation begin — so you feel nothing during the procedure itself. You may notice mild pressure or a tugging sensation during extraction, but not pain. After surgery, the scalp feels tender for 2–3 days. This is easily managed with standard pain relief. The procedure takes several hours, but most patients find it very well tolerated throughout.

Yes. Transplanted follicles come from the donor zone at the back and sides of the scalp — where follicles are genetically resistant to DHT, the hormone responsible for hair loss. Once transplanted, these follicles keep their genetic coding and produce permanent hair in their new location. However, your existing non-transplanted hair can still continue to thin over time. This is why a maintenance protocol — such as exosome therapy or PRP — is often recommended alongside the transplant to preserve surrounding follicles.

Graft count depends on three things: the area to be covered, the density you want to achieve, and your donor supply. As a general guide — hairline restoration needs 1,000–2,000 grafts; adding crown coverage needs 2,000–3,500 grafts; advanced thinning across both zones may need 4,000–6,000 grafts. A trichoscopy assessment at Maynee maps your donor density and recipient zones precisely — so you get an exact graft count, not an estimate, before you commit to anything.

Both techniques extract individual follicles from the donor zone and implant them into the recipient area. The difference is in the blade used to create channels in the recipient area. Standard FUE uses steel micro-blades. Sapphire FUE uses blades made from synthetic sapphire crystal, which are harder, smoother, and sharper. As a result, Sapphire FUE creates finer channels, causes less tissue trauma, and heals faster. It also allows higher graft density — so coverage is fuller from the same donor supply. Most patients at Maynee choose Sapphire FUE for these reasons.

Growth follows a predictable timeline. First, transplanted hairs shed within 2–6 weeks after surgery — this is called shock loss and is completely normal. The follicles themselves remain intact beneath the scalp. New growth begins at 3–4 months. By months 6–8, density improves noticeably. Full, final results are visible at 12 months. Trichoscopy reviews at Maynee track your progress at each stage, so you can see follicle-level changes even before the hair is visually obvious.

Recovery is faster than most people expect. You can return to desk work in 3–5 days. Small scabs over the grafts fall off naturally within 7–10 days. Mild swelling around the forehead area is common in the first few days but settles quickly. You should avoid strenuous exercise for 2 weeks, direct sun on the scalp for 2 weeks, and swimming or steam rooms for 4 weeks. Hair can be washed gently from day 3 following the prescribed protocol. Sapphire FUE generally recovers faster than older FUT strip surgery.

Yes — entirely normal. Around 2–6 weeks after surgery, transplanted hairs shed in a phase called shock loss. The hair falls out, but the follicle root remains safely beneath the scalp. The follicle then enters a resting phase before beginning new growth at around 3–4 months. Shock loss happens to almost every patient and does not affect the final result. So do not be alarmed when it occurs — it is simply the follicle resetting before it grows permanently.

Cost depends on your exact graft count, the technique used (FUE vs Sapphire FUE vs DHI), and whether post-operative treatments like exosome therapy are added. In Chennai, hair transplant costs typically range based on graft count — and no honest clinic can quote a final price before assessing your scalp. At Maynee, a full, itemised cost breakdown is given after your trichoscopy assessment, based on your confirmed graft count and plan. There are no hidden charges and no pressure to commit on the day.

Yes. Women can have a hair transplant when they have a stable donor zone and a defined thinning pattern — such as female pattern baldness, frontal fibrosing alopecia, or traction alopecia. DHI is often the preferred technique for women as it does not require a full head shave, so recovery is more discreet. However, diffuse hair loss — where thinning is unpredictable across the entire scalp — may reduce donor suitability. A trichoscopy at Maynee confirms whether transplant is the right option, or whether non-surgical treatments like exosome therapy are more appropriate first.

The best candidates have sufficient donor density at the back and sides of the scalp, a stable or manageable hair loss pattern, and realistic expectations about coverage and density. Age, overall scalp health, and the stage of loss all play a role. A trichoscopy assessment at Maynee is the only accurate way to answer this — it maps your donor density, evaluates recipient zones, and tells you exactly what is achievable from your specific case. It takes the guesswork out completely.