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Before a hair transplant: diagnosis, Norwood, preparation
Before a hair transplant in Tunisia: causes, diagnosis, Norwood scale and preparation

Before a hair transplant in Tunisia: causes, diagnosis, Norwood scale and preparation

In short: A hair transplant only works well when the cause of the hair loss is known, the loss has slowed down and the donor area at the back of the head can cover what you want to restore. Most men have androgenetic (male pattern) hair loss, classified on the Norwood scale, but anaemia, thyroid problems, rapid weight loss, stress and some scalp diseases can mimic or worsen it, and these need a doctor, not a surgeon. The months before the operation are for diagnosis, blood tests, a medical treatment that stabilises the loss and practical preparation such as stopping smoking. A transplant in Tunisia is considerably less expensive than in Switzerland; the exact price is given in a free, personalised quote. This guide covers everything that happens before the transplant: causes, diagnosis, candidacy and the weeks of preparation.

Updated November 2026. This article is general information and does not replace a medical opinion. Do not start or stop a medicine without speaking to a doctor.

Contents

What changed in 2025 and 2026 before a transplant?

The technique of transplantation has not changed much recently. What has changed is the medical context around it: the safety information on finasteride, the way doctors prescribe minoxidil, and the number of people whose hair thins after rapid weight loss. All of these affect the months before an operation.

What did European regulators decide about finasteride?

On 8 May 2025, the safety committee of the European Medicines Agency (PRAC) concluded that suicidal ideation is a possible side effect of finasteride tablets, mostly reported with the 1 mg dose used for hair loss, and found no such link for finasteride applied to the scalp as a spray. The European Commission adopted the decision on 22 August 2025, and packs of 1 mg finasteride in the EU now include a patient card. Switzerland is not bound by EU decisions and Swissmedic manages Swiss product information independently, but the message applies everywhere: finasteride remains effective, it should be taken knowingly, and any change in mood should lead you to stop it and seek advice.

And in the United States?

On 22 April 2025, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned health professionals and consumers about compounded topical finasteride products, often sold through telehealth platforms. It noted that no topical finasteride product is approved in the United States, that it had received reports of side effects including anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and sexual problems, and that topical products can be transferred to other people, which matters because finasteride must not be handled by women who are or may become pregnant. The lesson for patients in Switzerland: a cream or spray bought online is still a medicine, and it belongs in your medical file.

Is oral minoxidil now a standard option?

It has become a common one. In January 2025, JAMA Dermatology published an international expert consensus on starting low-dose oral minoxidil for hair loss, covering doses, who should avoid it and what to monitor. The 2025 Practice Census of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS), published on 13 May 2025, found that finasteride 1 mg (prescribed by 72.3% of responding surgeons), oral minoxidil (64.7%) and minoxidil solution (55.3%) are the medical treatments most often combined with transplantation. In practice, a transplant is now rarely done without a medical treatment around it.

Why are more people noticing shedding in 2026?

Partly because of weight-loss medicines. Wegovy has been reimbursed in Switzerland since March 2024 and Mounjaro since January 2026, under strict conditions. Rapid weight loss, whatever its cause, can trigger telogen effluvium, a diffuse and usually temporary shedding that starts two to four months later. Anyone who starts losing hair after losing weight quickly should first see a doctor and have blood tests: a transplant planned during that shedding would be based on a false picture.

What about « black market » clinics?

The ISHRS census reports that 59% of responding surgeons know of black market clinics in their city, and that repairs after such operations account on average for 10% of their cases. The society uses the term for clinics where unlicensed technicians perform most of the surgery without a doctor. Before a transplant, the key question is therefore not only « which technique? » but « who does each step? ».

Date Source What it means before a transplant
Jan. 2025 JAMA Dermatology, Delphi consensus Expert guidance for starting low-dose oral minoxidil
22 April 2025 US FDA Warning on compounded topical finasteride; declare all hair products
8 May / 22 Aug. 2025 EMA PRAC / European Commission Suicidal ideation confirmed as a possible side effect of finasteride tablets; patient card in EU packs
13 May 2025 ISHRS Practice Census Medical treatment is usually combined with surgery; black market repairs on the rise
1 Jan. 2026 Swiss reimbursement list Mounjaro joins Wegovy; rapid weight loss can cause temporary shedding

Why is my hair falling out?

The cause decides everything. A transplant moves healthy follicles from one area to another; it does not treat a disease of the scalp or a deficiency. Before any surgical plan, you need to know which of the following situations applies to you, and often more than one does.

What is androgenetic alopecia?

It is the most common cause of hair loss in men and a frequent one in women. In genetically predisposed people, follicles in certain areas are sensitive to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone derived from testosterone. Under its influence, they become progressively smaller with each growth cycle: the hair grows thinner, shorter and lighter until the follicle produces only fine down. In men, this follows a typical pattern: the temples recede, the crown thins, and both areas eventually meet. The hair at the back and sides of the head is much less sensitive to DHT, which is why it can be transplanted and keeps growing in its new place.

Is it inherited from my mother’s side?

From both sides. The popular idea that baldness comes only from the maternal grandfather is too simple. Several genes are involved, inherited from both parents. Family history is useful for predicting how far your hair loss may progress, which is why doctors ask about your father, your mother’s brothers and your grandfathers.

What is telogen effluvium?

It is a sudden, diffuse shedding of hair, often noticed in the shower or on the pillow. A shock to the body pushes many follicles into the resting phase at the same time, and the hairs fall out two to four months later. Common triggers are a high fever (including after COVID-19), surgery, childbirth, a crash diet or rapid weight loss, severe stress, iron deficiency, thyroid problems and some medicines. It usually recovers on its own within six to twelve months once the cause is corrected. A transplant is not the treatment, and operating during an effluvium can lead to poor planning.

Which other conditions can look like baldness?

  • Alopecia areata: round, smooth patches of hair loss caused by the immune system. It requires a dermatologist and is usually not suitable for a transplant while active.
  • Scarring alopecias: conditions such as lichen planopilaris or frontal fibrosing alopecia, in which inflammation destroys follicles permanently. They can mimic a receding hairline. Transplanting into an active scarring alopecia risks losing the grafts.
  • Traction alopecia: loss caused by tight hairstyles, braids or helmets worn for years, typically along the hairline.
  • Scalp infections and inflammation: fungal infections, severe seborrhoeic dermatitis or psoriasis must be treated first.
  • Trichotillomania: compulsive hair pulling, which needs psychological support rather than surgery.

Can supplements, steroids or medicines cause hair loss?

Yes. Anabolic steroids and testosterone products can accelerate male pattern hair loss in predisposed men. Some medicines can cause shedding, including certain blood thinners, retinoids, some antidepressants and treatments for epilepsy. Very high doses of vitamin A can also cause hair loss. Bring a complete list of what you take, including supplements and products bought online.

Cause Typical sign Is a transplant the answer?
Male pattern hair loss Receding temples, thinning crown Often, once stabilised and if the donor area allows
Telogen effluvium Sudden diffuse shedding, 2 to 4 months after a trigger No; correct the cause and wait
Alopecia areata Round smooth patches Generally no while active
Scarring alopecia Shiny skin, redness or scaling around hairs Only after long inactivity, on specialist advice
Traction alopecia Thinning along the hairline after years of tension Possible once the tension has stopped
Deficiency or thyroid problem Diffuse thinning, fatigue No; treat first, then reassess

How is hair loss diagnosed?

The diagnosis combines a conversation, an examination of the scalp, sometimes a magnified examination and blood tests. In Switzerland, the right person is usually a dermatologist, often after a referral from your GP. Investigating a medical cause of hair loss is part of normal medical care; the transplant itself is cosmetic and paid privately.

What questions will the doctor ask?

When did the loss start, how fast is it progressing, has it accelerated recently, and in which areas? Have you had an illness, an operation, a big weight change or a stressful period in the past six months? Which medicines, supplements or hair products do you use? What is your family history? Have you already tried a treatment, and with what result? Prepare these answers in writing before the consultation; they are also what a transplant team will ask for.

What does the examination involve?

The doctor looks at the distribution of the loss, the state of the scalp skin and the hairs themselves. A gentle pull test checks how many hairs come out, which helps to identify an active shedding phase. The doctor also looks at the donor area at the back and sides of the head.

What is trichoscopy?

Trichoscopy is the examination of the scalp and hair with a dermatoscope, a magnifying device often connected to a camera. It shows whether hairs of different thicknesses are mixed together (a sign of miniaturisation in pattern hair loss), whether there are broken hairs, yellow or black dots typical of alopecia areata, or redness and scaling around follicles suggesting a scarring alopecia. It also allows the follicular unit density of the donor area to be estimated. It is painless and takes a few minutes.

Which blood tests are useful?

Medespoir asks for a blood test including at least iron stores (ferritin) and thyroid function before a transplant, as explained in its hair transplant guide (in French). Depending on your history, the doctor may add a full blood count, vitamin D, zinc, vitamin B12, or hormonal tests in women with irregular periods, acne or excess body hair. The goal is to find a correctable cause before surgery, because a transplant done on an uncorrected deficiency can disappoint even if the operation itself is perfect.

When is a biopsy needed?

When the doctor suspects a scarring alopecia or an unusual pattern. A small sample of scalp, taken under local anaesthetic, is examined under the microscope. It is not routine, but if it is suggested, do it before planning a transplant.

The Norwood scale and what each stage means

The Hamilton-Norwood scale describes male pattern hair loss in seven stages, with « A » variants for men whose loss moves from front to back without a separate crown patch. It is a common language between you, your doctor and the transplant team, and a useful way to anticipate the number of grafts needed.

Stage What it looks like What a transplant can typically offer
Norwood 1 No real recession; adult hairline No transplant; observation and, if needed, medical treatment
Norwood 2 Slight recession at the temples Usually no transplant; medical treatment and monitoring
Norwood 3 Clear recession at the temples (deep « M ») Hairline and temple restoration, especially if stable
Norwood 3 vertex Temple recession plus thinning crown Front first; crown often left to medical treatment
Norwood 4 Deeper recession, larger crown, a band of hair still separating them Front and mid-scalp; crown depending on donor reserves
Norwood 5 The band thins; front and crown nearly meet Priority to the front; sometimes two sessions
Norwood 6 Front and crown joined; hair only on the sides and back Frame the face; full coverage rarely possible
Norwood 7 Only a horseshoe band at the sides and back Limited coverage; realistic goals essential

Why is the Norwood stage not enough to plan a transplant?

Because two men at the same stage can have very different situations. What also counts is your age, the speed of the loss, the density and quality of your donor hair, the thickness and colour of your hair compared with your skin, and your expectations. A man of 24 at Norwood 3 who is losing hair quickly is in a more delicate position than a man of 45 at Norwood 4 whose loss has been stable for ten years.

What is diffuse unpatterned alopecia?

It is a form of pattern hair loss in which the back and sides also thin, so the donor area itself is affected. Trichoscopy of the donor area reveals it. Men with this pattern are usually poor candidates for a transplant, because the transplanted hair may thin too. It is one of the main reasons a serious team will examine the donor area closely before accepting you.

What about women?

Female pattern hair loss is usually described on the Ludwig or Sinclair scales: the hairline is preserved, the parting widens and the top of the head becomes diffusely thinner. Women more often have mixed causes such as iron deficiency, thyroid problems, hormonal changes or effluvium after childbirth. A full medical work-up is essential before any transplant. Our guide on female hair loss, beard and eyebrow transplants in Tunisia covers this in detail.

The donor area: your real budget of hair

Every transplant draws on a limited supply. The follicles at the back and sides of the head are not infinite, and those removed do not grow back. Understanding your donor capacity is the most important part of preparing a transplant, especially if you are young.

What is the « safe donor area »?

It is the zone at the back and sides of the scalp where hair is least likely to be lost over a lifetime. Grafts taken outside this zone may come from follicles that are themselves destined to thin, and the result can fade. A careful team harvests within this zone and spreads extraction evenly so that the back of the head does not look patchy when the hair is short.

How is the donor area assessed?

By looking at the density (number of follicular units per square centimetre), the number of hairs per unit, the thickness of the hair, the size of the area and the elasticity of the scalp. Thick hair, units with several hairs and a contrast between hair colour and skin colour that is not too strong all help a transplant look fuller. Fine, light-coloured hair on pale skin can give a natural result but needs more grafts to look dense.

Can beard or body hair be used?

Sometimes, as a complement when scalp donor hair is insufficient. Beard hair under the chin is the most useful. Body hair has a different growth cycle and texture and is less predictable. These sources are discussed case by case, not as a routine.

Why do young men need to think about the future?

Because hair loss continues after the transplant. Transplanted hair from the safe donor area usually stays, but the native hair around it can keep thinning. If a young man uses a large part of his donor supply to build a low, dense hairline at 23, he may not have enough left at 40 to cover the crown, and the result can look strange: a dense front with a bald area behind it. A good plan keeps a reserve and designs a hairline that will still look appropriate as you age. Medespoir’s French page on the number of grafts explains how the count is estimated.

Am I a good candidate?

Who is usually a good candidate?

A man or woman with pattern hair loss that has been diagnosed, whose loss is stable or stabilised by treatment, who has a sufficient donor area for the surface to cover, who is in good general health and who has realistic expectations about density and the need for ongoing treatment. In men, the most favourable situations are often stable Norwood 3 to 5 patterns with good donor hair.

Is there a minimum age?

There is no fixed legal age for a cosmetic transplant in adults, but surgeons are cautious with men in their early twenties. At that age the final pattern is often not yet visible, the loss may be fast, and the temptation to rebuild a teenage hairline is strong. Many surgeons prefer to start with medical treatment, observe for at least a year and operate later, with a conservative design. If you are young and in a hurry, that caution is in your interest.

When does a serious team say no or not yet?

Medespoir’s hair transplant guide lists situations in which a transplant is not advisable or must be postponed: hair loss that is still progressing in a young patient, a donor area insufficient for the surface concerned, an untreated inflammatory scalp condition, an active scarring alopecia, a clotting disorder that is not under control, an uncorrected thyroid problem or deficiency, and expectations that cannot be met. Being told « not yet » is not a failure; it protects your donor area and your result.

Which health conditions must be declared?

All of them, and particularly high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, clotting problems, liver or kidney disease, allergies (especially to local anaesthetics), skin diseases, HIV or hepatitis, a history of keloid scars, and psychological conditions such as anxiety, depression or body dysmorphic disorder. List every medicine, including blood thinners, aspirin, supplements and products for hair or muscle growth.

Do I need to stop finasteride or minoxidil before surgery?

Do not decide alone. Many surgeons let patients continue finasteride. Minoxidil solution is often paused for a few days around the operation because it can irritate the scalp and slightly increase bleeding, and oral minoxidil may be adjusted. Follow the written instructions you receive from the team and your prescribing doctor.

Favourable Needs caution Usually not advisable (for now)
Diagnosed pattern hair loss, stable for a year or more Age under about 25, fast progression Active alopecia areata or scarring alopecia
Good donor density, thick hair Fine hair, strong contrast with the skin Insufficient donor area for the surface
Realistic goals, open to medical treatment Desire for a very low, dense hairline Uncorrected deficiency or thyroid disorder
Good general health Controlled chronic illness Uncontrolled clotting disorder or untreated scalp disease

Not sure where you stand? Send your photos and medical history and request a free quote. The team assesses your stage and donor area and replies within 48 hours.

Setting realistic expectations before you book

Most disappointment after a transplant comes from expectations that were never discussed beforehand. These are the questions worth settling during the assessment, not after the operation.

Will the transplanted area look as dense as my original hair?

Usually not quite, and it does not need to. A head of hair looks full long before it reaches its original density, because the eye judges coverage, not individual hairs. A transplant aims for density that looks natural from normal conversation distance. The thicker and wavier your hair, and the closer its colour to your skin, the fuller a given number of grafts will appear. Very fine, straight, dark hair on pale skin shows the scalp more easily.

Can I get back the hairline I had at eighteen?

Rarely, and you probably should not want to. A mature male hairline sits slightly higher, with gentle recession at the temples. A very low, straight hairline looks artificial at 45 and uses a large share of your donor supply. A good surgeon designs a hairline that will still suit you in twenty years, when the hair behind it may have thinned further.

Will one session be enough?

For a limited area such as the temples, often yes. For extensive loss, a second session is common, either to add density or to treat the crown. Preparing a transplant includes asking how the first session fits into a long-term plan, and how much donor reserve will remain afterwards.

Can the crown be treated at the same time as the front?

Sometimes, but the front usually has priority because it frames the face. The crown is a large surface that consumes many grafts and, in men, often keeps thinning. Medical treatment can work well at the crown, which is why many teams treat it medically first and transplant it later if needed.

Will I have scars?

Every technique leaves marks in the donor area. FUE leaves many tiny dot-shaped scars that are invisible with hair a few millimetres long but can show with a very close shave. The older strip technique leaves a thin linear scar at the back of the head. If you like to wear your hair extremely short, say so before the operation.

What will I look like in the first weeks?

Expect redness and small scabs on the recipient area for about one to two weeks, and a shaved donor area. Transplanted hairs often fall out in the first weeks before regrowing several months later; this is normal and planned. Growth becomes visible after a few months and the result is judged after about a year. Planning this phase, including your time off and how you will explain it at work, is part of the preparation.

Medical treatment before surgery

Medical treatment does two jobs: it slows or stops further loss of your native hair, and it can thicken hair that is miniaturising but not yet lost. Starting it months before a transplant also shows how much of the problem it solves on its own.

What does finasteride do?

Finasteride reduces the conversion of testosterone into DHT. In many men, it stops progression and partly thickens hair, especially at the crown. It is taken daily, its effects are judged after six to twelve months, and they fade if it is stopped. Possible side effects include sexual problems and, as confirmed by the EMA in 2025, mood changes. It must not be used by women who could become pregnant. It also affects the PSA blood test used to screen for prostate disease, so tell your doctor you take it.

What does minoxidil do?

Minoxidil prolongs the growth phase of the hair and increases hair thickness. The solution or foam is applied to the scalp; low-dose tablets are prescribed by a doctor, who checks blood pressure, heart rate and possible side effects such as fluid retention or unwanted body hair. Shedding in the first weeks is common and usually means the cycle is restarting. Like finasteride, the effect lasts only as long as the treatment.

And PRP, mesotherapy or lasers?

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, mesotherapy and low-level light therapy are used as complements. The evidence is more modest than for finasteride and minoxidil, and results vary between people. They are not a substitute for the two main medicines in men, but some patients use them alongside. Medespoir presents PRP for hair on its French site.

How long should I treat before deciding on a transplant?

Often six to twelve months, to see whether the loss stabilises and how much the hair thickens. Some men discover that medical treatment gives them enough, others that it secures the native hair so that the transplant can focus on the hairline. If you are older and your loss has been stable for years, the waiting period can be shorter: the surgeon will tell you.

Preparation timeline: from six months to the day before

The following timeline is a general guide. Your team’s written instructions take priority.

Six to twelve months before

  • See your GP or a dermatologist in Switzerland for a diagnosis.
  • Have the blood tests requested and correct any deficiency.
  • Start a medical treatment if appropriate and take photos every three months in the same light.
  • Collect information, compare teams and ask who performs each step.

Three months before

  • Send your photos and history for a remote assessment and quote.
  • Plan your time off: most people prefer at least a week before returning to the office, sometimes more if they want the redness and scabs to have gone.
  • If you smoke, start reducing now.

Four weeks before

  • Stop smoking completely, including e-cigarettes with nicotine, snus and pouches. Nicotine reduces blood flow in the scalp, which matters for graft survival.
  • Review your medicines and supplements with the team. Products that can increase bleeding, such as high-dose fish oil, vitamin E or ginkgo, are often paused; aspirin or blood thinners are only changed on medical advice.
  • Avoid sunburn on the scalp.

One to two weeks before

  • Do not colour, bleach or perm your hair in the days before, as Medespoir’s guide notes.
  • Ask whether you should keep your hair a certain length. Many techniques require shaving the donor area; some require shaving the recipient area too.
  • Limit alcohol; avoid it completely in the days before.
  • Prepare a loose shirt that buttons at the front, a soft travel pillow and a hat that does not touch the grafts.

The day before

  • Wash your hair as instructed, without styling products.
  • Sleep well and eat normally unless told otherwise.
  • Have your list of medicines and your blood test results ready.

Which photos should I send for the remote assessment?

Medespoir’s guide asks for photos of the front, the top, both profiles and the back of the head, taken in daylight with dry, unstyled hair, and an extra photo with wet hair, which shows the real density far better than a hairstyle. Add your history, family history, treatments already tried, a blood test including iron and thyroid function, and what you hope to achieve, in your own words.

What should I ask before booking?

  • Who is the surgeon, and which steps does the surgeon personally perform (design of the hairline, opening the recipient sites, extraction)?
  • How many grafts are planned, for which areas, and how much donor reserve will remain?
  • Which technique is proposed (FUE, DHI or another) and why for me?
  • What medical treatment is recommended afterwards?
  • How is follow-up organised once I am back in Switzerland?

For details of the techniques themselves, see our guide on hair transplants for men in Tunisia: FUE, DHI and grafts.

Four typical situations

These composite examples are not real patients. They show how preparation changes the plan.

Jonas, 24, Zurich: receding temples, worried

Jonas is at Norwood 3 and his father is completely bald. His loss has accelerated in the past year. The recommendation: start a medical treatment, document the evolution for twelve months, and plan a conservative hairline afterwards if he still wants it. Jonas is disappointed at first but understands that operating now would use grafts he may need later.

Sarah, 38, Geneva: diffuse thinning after weight loss

Sarah lost 18 kilos in six months with a weight-loss medicine and has been shedding heavily for two months. Blood tests reveal low ferritin. The diagnosis is telogen effluvium with iron deficiency. No transplant: iron is corrected and the hair is reassessed after several months. Most of it grows back.

Michael, 47, Basel: stable Norwood 5

Michael has not seen much change in ten years. His donor area is dense and his hair is thick and dark. The team proposes a transplant focused on the front and mid-scalp, with a natural hairline adapted to his age, and leaves the crown for a possible later session. He continues his medical treatment to protect the hair that remains.

Omar, 31, Lausanne: patches and scalp redness

Omar thinks he is going bald at the front, but trichoscopy shows redness and scaling around the follicles. A biopsy confirms a scarring alopecia. The priority is treatment by a dermatologist. A transplant may be discussed only after a long period without activity, and with lower expectations.

Preparing a transplant in Tunisia from Switzerland

Why do Swiss residents consider Tunisia for a hair transplant?

Because the flight is short (around two hours from Geneva and Basel-Mulhouse; from Zurich, with or without a stopover depending on the season), the stay is short and organised, and the cost is considerably less than in Switzerland. The exact price is given in a free, personalised quote issued in your name within 48 hours. Medespoir presents hair transplants in Tunisia on its French site, and our 2026 guide to hair, beard and eyebrow transplants in Tunisia covers the general questions.

How long is the stay?

Short. Medespoir’s stay page indicates that the duration for a hair transplant is specified in the quote. In general, it includes arrival and consultation, the operation day, the first wash and check, and the return flight.

What does the package include?

The Tunisian package includes the pre-operative consultation, tests, the procedure, the whole team, hospital or clinic care, daily care, the final check and discharge authorisation, the operative report, full-board hotel accommodation for you and one companion, all transfers and remote follow-up after your return. You pay separately for the flight, personal expenses, any extension, care received in Switzerland, travel insurance and bank charges. See the prices page (in French).

What about language?

In Tunisia, consultations and medical documents are in French. If you are not comfortable in French, say so in your request, consider travelling with a French-speaking companion, and have your documents translated for your doctor in Switzerland if needed.

Which tests should I do in Switzerland, and who pays?

The diagnostic consultation with a dermatologist and blood tests to investigate a medical cause of hair loss are generally part of normal medical care in Switzerland, subject to your deductible (franchise) and co-payment. The transplant itself is cosmetic and is not paid by basic insurance, in Switzerland or abroad.

Can I compare Tunisia and Turkey?

Yes. In Turkey, Medespoir confirms hair transplants at its Istanbul clinics. Both destinations remain considerably less expensive than Switzerland, and your quote can compare the two. The preparation described in this guide is the same wherever you have the operation.

How do I check the team?

Ask for the name of the doctor responsible for your operation and check their registration with the Tunisian Medical Council, whose register is online. Tunisian Law No. 2024-32 of 19 June 2024 requires that patients be informed clearly about the proposed treatment and its risks and give free and informed consent. Ask who performs each step on the day.

Ready to start? Request your free quote with your photos and blood test results. A complete file allows a precise graft estimate.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

What Norwood stage is best for a transplant?

There is no single best stage, but stable Norwood 3 to 5 patterns with a good donor area often give the most satisfying results.

Can a transplant stop my hair loss?

No. It moves follicles; it does not stop the loss of your native hair. Medical treatment is what slows further loss.

How long should I take finasteride or minoxidil before deciding?

Often six to twelve months, to judge stability and the effect of treatment. Your doctor or surgeon may adapt this.

Do I need a blood test before a transplant?

Yes. Medespoir asks for at least iron stores and thyroid function, and the doctor may add other tests.

Is 22 too young for a hair transplant?

Not legally, but surgeons are cautious because the final pattern is unknown. Medical treatment and observation usually come first.

Can I have a transplant during heavy shedding?

It is usually postponed. Sudden shedding may be a telogen effluvium, which must be investigated and often recovers on its own.

Should I stop smoking before the operation?

Yes, ideally several weeks before and after. Nicotine reduces blood flow to the scalp and can affect graft survival.

Can I dye my hair before the transplant?

Avoid colouring in the days before the operation, as Medespoir’s guide notes, and ask the team about timing afterwards.

Does Swiss basic insurance pay for the diagnosis?

Investigating a medical cause of hair loss is usually covered under the normal rules, with your deductible. The transplant itself is not covered.

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