How Many Grafts Do I Need for Hair Transplantation?

• By Harleys Clinic
• Mar, 24 2023

Hair transplantation is the most effective, long-term hair restoration option. It is for anyone suffering from severe baldness or hair thinning. It is a surgical procedure wherein healthy hair grafts are taken from donor sites of the scalp, usually the sides or back of the head. They are implanted one by one into the holes created at the areas of hair loss or hair thinning.

Most people affected by hair loss and researching hair transplants might be convinced to take the help of skilled hands of hair surgeons to restore their lost hair. Sooner or later, they may come across the term “hair grafts” and might think about how many hair transplants they will require for their hair transplantation.

According to Dr. Sumit Agrawal, hair transplant surgeon at Harleys Hair Transplant Clinic, the best hair transplant clinic in Mumbai, ‘A preliminary estimate of the hair transplant graft count is important before the surgery to know what to expect. The outcome of the hair transplantation and the total cost of the surgery depends upon the number of hair grafts used. If the count is too low, people could end up with a less desirable appearance and if too many, people could have to empty much of their pockets’.

So what’s the exact number of grafts needed for effective hair transplantation? Let’s find out. But, before that let’s learn about hair transplant grafts and factors that determine the number of hair grafts.

What is a Hair Graft?

In the context of hair transplantation, hair graft is a technical term simply referring to a single follicular unit. In one square centimetre of the scalp, normally there are up to 100 hair grafts. Each hair graft comprises several hair follicles. Every hair graft is unique, there is no definite number of hair in a hair graft. The number of hair can range from 1 to 6 per graft. The success of hair transplant surgery depends upon the number and health of the hair grafts in the donor area.

Factors that Determine How Many Grafts You Will Require for a Hair Transplant in Mumbai

• The area and degree of hair thinning or baldness- To properly disguise the baldness or hair thinning, it’s important to learn the extent of thinning and baldness as well as the size of the sites where the hair loss has already taken place. If there is extensive hair thinning or baldness or large areas of hair loss, the donor hair would be required in more numbers.
• Quality of the donor's hair- This can affect what amount or kind of hair grafts may be necessary for an individual as well as which hair transplant technique (FUT/FUE) would work the best for an aesthetic appearance. The donor hair grafts are genetically coded to be shed-resistant so that they can ensure their survival for a lifetime. The maximum number of hair-quality hair grafts that would healthily leave the head is roughly 6,000 by Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) or Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) technique.
• Skin and hair colour- The contrast in the colour of the skin and hair affects the appearance of the coverage and ultimately decides the hair transplant graft count. For instance, very dark hair and light-complexioned skin would need more hair transplant grafts to achieve a credibly-looking coverage.
• Hair thickness- Patients having thick hair naturally have few hair follicles per square area of their scalp. Thus, their hair restoration is possible with relatively few hair grafts as compared to patients with thin hair.
• Hair curliness- Curly hair can help create more coverage in the areas of hair loss and makes the underlying skin less noticeable. Therefore, patients with curly hair would need a low number of hair transplant grafts to achieve the appearance of a head full of hair. However, patients with straighter hair can maximise their look of coverage by receiving more hair transplant grafts at much sharper angles. In such cases, the transplanted hair grows more parallel to the skin and the results blend well with the rest of the hair.

How many hair transplant grafts are actually needed by an individual?

The number of these hair grafts that the patients will need depends upon their situation. Generally, up to 6,000 hair grafts can be transplanted in multiple sessions. In multiple sessions, it is technically possible to transplant as many hair grafts as needed by the patient. But, in a single session, transplanting 3,000 above hair grafts is not recommended. The number of hair transplant grafts is limited in one session because the surgeon must maintain the viability of the hair grafts, keep the patient safe, and ensure effective results. In general, the survivability of the hair graft in multiple sessions is around 90-95%. That’s the reason why multiple-session hair transplantation generally leads to superior results.

Usually, an average individual has approximately 4,000-6,000 hair grafts available in the donor area for successful transplantation. For a full-head hair transplant, the person on average would need 6,000-7,000 hair grafts while to cover a half head of hair 2,000-3,000 grafts may be enough. In the case of transplanting the frontal hairline, the number of hair grafts depends upon the depth of hairline. Normally, it’s between 20-30 cm2 which means on average it will require 1000-1500 grafts. The crown part would need anywhere between 1500-2000 grafts for achieving an optimal aesthetic look.

How to Estimate Your Hair Transplant Graft Count?

To get a more accurate count of hair transplant grafts unique to your case, consulting a hair transplant surgeon is a must. If you are experiencing pattern baldness and need a rough estimate, the quick and easy way is to take the help of the Norwood Scale. The Norwood Scale is a standard diagram illustrating the various stages of male pattern baldness. You check out which level, from 2 to 7 on the Norwood Scale, best matches your current stage of hair loss. That will give you roughly an idea of how many grafts you will need for your hair transplantation. However, the exact number may be more or less than the estimated, depending upon various individual factors. One also needs to know that the major factor that decides the cost of hair transplant in Mumbai is the number of grafts transplanted to cover the balding area.

One can consult Dr. Sumit Agrawal at Harleys Hair Transplant Clinic in Mumbai to discuss their hair loss concerns, grafts need for hair transplant and their treatment plan suited based on their unique needs. Schedule an appointment now to learn more about the hair loss management treatment options, from lifestyle to medications and injections that stimulate hair growth to hair transplants.