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Patient Journey

Hair Transplant Operation Day

On operation day the procedure is carried out in a single day under local anaesthetic, usually taking around six to eight hours with breaks. It moves through arrival and checks, hairline design, numbing, graft extraction, channel creation and implantation, then a first dressing before you return to your hotel. Most patients feel little during the procedure and go back the same evening to rest.

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On this page
  1. 01What the day feels like
  2. 02Comfort and safety through the day
  3. 03What to bring and wear
  4. 04Leaving the clinic and the first evening
  5. 05What to expect
  6. 06FAQ

What the day feels like

Operation day is long but calm, and there are regular breaks for meals, drinks and rest. Because it is done under local anaesthetic, you are awake and comfortable throughout — many patients listen to music, watch something or nap. The most sensitive moment is the initial numbing; after that most people feel little.

Comfort and safety through the day

You are monitored throughout and can ask for a break at any point. Sterile technique is maintained across extraction and implantation, and the team keeps you informed at each stage. If you feel any sensation returning, the anaesthetic can be topped up. Some tenderness and swelling afterwards are normal and settle over the following days with the aftercare you are given.

Patient Journey

What to bring and wear

A few practical choices make the long day easier. Wear a loose, front-buttoning top so nothing has to be pulled over your head afterwards, and bring anything that helps you pass the hours comfortably.

A button-up or zip top — never a jumper or t-shirt to pull off over the grafts laterHeadphones, a book or downloads for the quieter stretches of the dayYour ID, paperwork and a list of your regular medicinesA loose hat or hood for shade on the way back to your hotel

Leaving the clinic and the first evening

Once the grafts are placed and the donor area is dressed, you are talked through your aftercare and given your kit before returning to rest the same evening. Expect the recipient area to look pink with tiny crusts forming, and the donor area to feel tender. Sleep with your head slightly elevated that first night, take any prescribed medication, and avoid touching the grafts. A first-wash demonstration and a check usually follow the next day before you travel home.

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Step by step

What to expect

Step 1

Arrival & pre-op checks

You are welcomed, consent and health details are reviewed, and photos are taken. Blood tests may be done in line with clinic protocol.

Step 2

Hairline design

With you awake and involved, a natural, age-appropriate hairline is drawn and agreed, and the areas to be treated are marked before anything begins.

Step 3

Shaving & preparation

The donor area — and often the recipient area — is shaved to the right length and cleaned, and you are made comfortable for the day.

Step 4

Local anaesthetic

The donor and recipient areas are numbed. This is the most sensitive part; once it takes effect, most patients feel little for the rest of the day.

Step 5

Graft extraction

Follicular units are harvested one by one from the safe donor zone with a micro-punch, then sorted and kept in a preservation solution.

Step 6

Channel creation

Tiny incisions are made in the recipient area at the correct angle, depth and direction to control how the new hair will grow.

Step 7

Implantation

Grafts are placed into the sites — single hairs along the hairline and multi-hair grafts behind for density — building the planned result.

Step 8

First dressing & discharge

The donor area is dressed, you are given aftercare instructions and your kit, and you return to your hotel the same evening to rest.

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Where to go next

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FAQ

Common questions

How long does the operation take?
Typically around six to eight hours depending on the number of grafts, carried out in a single day with breaks for rest and meals.
Am I awake the whole time?
Yes. You are awake and comfortable throughout and can talk, rest or take a break whenever you need. Many patients relax, watch something or nap during the day.
What should I eat and drink during the day?
You are not fasting, so meals, snacks and drinks are provided during the breaks. Keeping fed and hydrated helps you stay comfortable through the day. Keep caffeine light and avoid alcohol.
Will my head be bandaged when I leave?
The donor area is usually dressed, while the recipient area is generally left open to the air. You leave with aftercare instructions, your kit and guidance on protecting the grafts on the way back to your hotel.
Will it hurt during the procedure?
It is done under local anaesthetic, so most patients feel little once the area is numb. The initial numbing is the most sensitive moment. Some tenderness afterwards is normal and settles with aftercare.
Can I go back to my hotel the same day?
In most cases yes — you return to rest the same evening. You will receive clear aftercare guidance and, where relevant, a follow-up and first wash before you travel home.
Can I use my phone during the procedure?
Yes. Because you are awake and lying still for long stretches, most people use a phone, listen to music, watch something or nap. The team will let you know if they need you to hold a position.
What does the recipient area look like straight after?
It is typically pink with tiny crusts forming around each graft, and there may be mild forehead swelling over the next couple of days. This is normal early healing and settles over the following one to two weeks.

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