However, in the average patient, it is usually safe to do at least 800-1200 grafts in the crown with the goal of turning a shiny bald spot into an area that just looks like it is thinning. But more than this number should not be done until we are sure a patient has enough grafts for the front.
Because hair restoration goals are different for each patient, the number of grafts needed will vary from person to person. In general, however, it's usually anywhere from 600 grafts (for minimal hair loss) to 3,000 or more grafts (for more extensive hair loss).
How many grafts are needed for a half head? This front half of the head is roughly 100cm2 in size. On average you will need between 1000-3000 hair grafts for a half head of hair. This depends on a number of factors that your surgeon will discuss with you.
The average Caucasian male will have a scalp donor supply of about 8,000 grafts. However, many people will also deviate from the norm. Ome will have as few as 4000 grafts or as many as 10,000 grafts.
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.
There are typically 1600 – 4400 hairs in 2000 grafts. If you are at the early stages of hair loss, 2000 grafts might be enough for your hair transplant procedure.
In general, if you're wondering, how many grafts do I need for FUE, the average hair transplant consists of 4000 grafts. This is usually suitable to cover the front, middle and crown (or vertex) with a decent density of hair.
Although every patient is different, the following generalities can be made about “what can be done” in the AVERAGE totally bald patient. The average patient has ~ 6000 grafts available in his/her donor area for transplantation.
The duration of the procedure depends on the number of grafts made and the general condition of hair. Approximately, in the case of transplantation of 1,000 grafts, the procedure takes around 8 hours.
1000 grafts can restore hair up to stage 3 on the Norwood scale. However, there are varying degrees of hair loss even within each stage. Depending on how much your hairline has receded, you may need a 1500 graft hair transplant even if you're also classed as having Norwood stage 3 hair loss.
An 8000-graft hair transplant is a very difficult and long procedure to perform. Hair transplant surgery using this many hair grafts is extremely rare.
1500 grafts is lower than the average number of hair grafts needed, at least for an initial procedure [1]. However, other patients with less advanced hair loss can also get hair transplants with fewer grafts. Take a look at other popular graft quantities: 500 graft hair transplant.
The donor area is limited as only 1500-4000 grafts can be harvested safely in single transplant session. Any grafts outside the safe donor zone will yield hairs that are likely to thin and be lost eventually.
The number of hair grafts required for a successful hair transplant will vary from patient to patient. As a guide, your surgeon may recommend anywhere from 600 grafts for minimal hair loss to 3000 or more if your hair loss is more extensive.
The last and most severe stage of male pattern baldness is stage 7. Only sparse and weak hair around the sides is left while the top is completely bald. Stage 7 solution: Minimum of 7000 grafts are needed for full coverage however getting more than 6000 grafts is not suitable for all patients.
Studies reported that survival rates of grafts are about 90% to well over 100%. However, a few doctors reach 100% graft survival when performed in ideal circumstances.
FUE hair transplants have one of the highest success rates at around 95% - 100%. This number works on the basis that a FUE hair transplant is considered successful when anything upwards of 60-70% of grafts survive.
Because the hair follicles are fully extracted, the individual hairs won't technically grow back.
This stage is considered the onset of balding. At stage 3, hair transplant surgery is advised. A hair surgery for stage 3 will require about 500 to 2,500 grafts, while stage 3 vertex will require 3,000 hair grafts.
How many hairs is 3000 grafts? An healthy hair graft can contain 1-5 hair follicles, and the average hair/graft ratio is between 1.8 – 2.2. Meaning that 3000 grafts would contain a total of 5,400 to 6,600 hairs.
To carry out a hair transplant safely and effectively the maximum number of grafts that can be taken in one sitting is approximately 3000 grafts (6000 hairs). This is to cancel out the chance of overharvesting (taking too many grafts and leaving scars / bald spots at the back of the head).
Even if harvesting up to 50% of the donor area is possible, that leaves a limit of 4,000–5,000 grafts available for a full hair transplant. As mentioned above, body hair can help 'extend' the donor area but is generally not used as a primary source.
The standard recommended treatment of such cases tends to call for around 2,500 grafts to 3,000 grafts. Consider this, if it takes 5,000 grafts to cover the entire scalp, we shouldn't need more than 2,500 or 3,000 to treat thinning of the frontal scalp. Anything more would be simply unnecessary.