What Is a Hair Graft? How Is the Number of Grafts Decided?

In hair transplantation, a "graft" is the unit of hair root that is taken from the donor area and placed in the recipient area. One of the most common questions when planning a hair transplant is how many grafts are needed. This article explains what a graft is, how the number of grafts is decided and the other factors that affect the result.

What Is a Hair Graft?

Hair does not naturally grow from the skin one by one but in small groups; these groups are called follicular units. In a hair transplant, each of these units is taken together with a small piece of surrounding tissue and is called a graft. A graft usually contains between one and four hairs. For this reason, the number of grafts is not the same as the number of hairs.

What Determines the Number of Grafts?

• The size of the thinning area and the stage of hair loss
• The density of hair in the donor area and the number of roots that can be taken
• The thickness, colour and curliness of the hair (thick or curly hair can look denser with the same number of grafts)
• The target density and the hairline plan
• How likely the hair loss is to progress, and keeping a donor reserve for procedures that may be needed in the future

One Session or More?

The number of grafts that can be taken in one session is decided according to the capacity of the donor area and the doctor's assessment. In large thinning areas, the desired density may not be reached in a single session and a second procedure may be needed. Planning also takes into account that new thinning areas may appear over the years if hair loss continues.

The Number of Grafts Is Not the Only Measure

More grafts do not always mean a better result. Taking more roots than the donor area can provide may cause permanent thinning there. The result depends on careful removal and preservation of the grafts, placing them in line with the natural direction of hair growth, the right hairline plan and following the care instructions during recovery.

Graft Survival

Whether the transplanted grafts take depends on factors such as how long the grafts stay outside the body and how they are kept during that time, the surgical technique, the person's general health, smoking and aftercare. It is expected that some or most of the transplanted hairs fall out in the first weeks; new hair usually starts to grow within a few months. For aftercare you can read our article Hair Transplant Aftercare: The First Days, Washing and Recovery, and for the method our FUE hair transplant page.

Author: Op. Dr. Yücel Sarıaltın