The donor area will be measured and trimmed to whisker length (we don't plant the hairs at their full length since they will fall out after the procedure). The donor material is removed in the form of a long strip of tissue using a scalpel, just deep enough to remove the skin and hair follicles but not deep enough to damage arteries and nerves.

Your donor area is then closed with sutures and the hair is combed over it so the incision site is hidden. This donor tissue will then be trimmed under a microscope to prepare individual grafts. This is the key part of the procedure.

We have spent years training our staff to be proficient at using the microscope. While the staff is dissecting the grafts, Dr. Cooley will be making small incisions into the area of the scalp where the grafts will be planted.

Typically, a small hypodermic needle or blade is used to make these incisions and because they are so small, there is no scar. The grafts are then meticulously placed in the correct angle and direction, mimicking your original hair. And each one is carefully spaced to allow enough blood to nourish every hair during the brief healing process (called revascularization).

We don't have to glue or stitch the grafts in place because the blood in the incisions provides a natural glue that holds them in place.

Finally, a loose bandana or oversize baseball cap may be placed so you can leave the office without looking like you've just had surgery.

There will usually be some dried crusting and blood that will simply wash out after a few days of healing. Many patients go back at work within a few days. The grafts form little scabs that generally peel off over the course of a week or two.

That's all there is to it.

Normally the transplanted hairs will fall out (since most transplanted follicles go into the telogen or resting phase). These are attached to the scabs which come off about a week or two after the procedure. Then, about 3 months later, they will grow new hairs!   And...it will be your own, natural hair.

Plus a big benefit with this gradual thickening of your own hair is there's no sudden change -- so nobody needs to know.

And as you continue with more sessions your gradually thickening hair will get even thicker and denser. You can schedule more procedures when and as you want without looking "under construction."

Additional procedures can be done after six months when all the transplanted hair from the previous procedure is growing.