Blog

The Day of the FUE Hair Transplant Operation

Posted by

10/21/2025

On 02/21/2025

The Day of the FUE Hair Transplant Operation: What You Will Experience Step-by-Step

The Day of the FUE Hair Transplant Operation – An FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) hair transplant is the beginning of a permanent aesthetic investment that will change your life. The day of the operation is the most important and exciting step of this journey. However, for many patients, this day can also be filled with unknowns and anxiety. Questions like “Will I feel pain?”, “How long will the operation take?”, and “What awaits me?” occupy their minds. As the Görkem Kazan Hair Transplant clinic, we aim to ensure you have a relaxed, comfortable, and informed experience by transparently explaining the FUE hair transplant operation day step-by-step, from your arrival at the clinic in the morning to your departure in the evening.

The FUE operation day is a long but, contrary to popular belief, a very comfortable process. Thanks to modern anesthesia techniques, you will not feel any pain or discomfort during most of the operation. The success of this day is a combination of your comfort and our team’s meticulous work. Here are the steps that await you on that day:

Step 1: Arrival at the Clinic and Final Preparations (Morning)

The operation day usually begins with your arrival at our clinic in the early morning.

Welcome and Final Consultation: When you arrive at our clinic, you will be greeted by your consultant. You will have a final meeting with your surgeon who will perform the operation. In this meeting, the frontal hairline design determined in the previous hair analysis consultation will be reviewed, drawn on your face, and your approval will be obtained. This is the best time to ask any last-minute questions you may have.
Medical Preparation: After the necessary consent forms are signed, standard blood tests will be taken. Then, you will change into the sterile surgical gowns specially prepared for you for the operation.
Hair Trimming: One of the most important steps of the FUE technique is trimming the hair to a short length (usually grade 1) so that the grafts (hair follicles) can be harvested with a micro-motor. This procedure is done under hygienic conditions in the operating room.

Step 2: Application of Local Anesthesia – The Only Uncomfortable Stage

This is perhaps the most feared, but shortest, stage of the operation. Local anesthesia ensures that both the donor area (back of the head) and the recipient area (transplant area) are completely numb. The anesthesia is administered with very fine needles, and the discomfort felt during this time is usually a slight burning or stinging sensation that lasts only a few minutes. After these few minutes of discomfort, the rest of the operation, which lasts approximately 6-8 hours, will be completely painless.

Step 3: Graft Harvesting (Extraction Phase)

This is the first surgical phase of the operation and it lasts about 2-3 hours.

Position: During this phase, you will lie comfortably face down on a specially designed operating chair.
Process: The surgeon uses a special device called a micro-motor, with punches of 0.6-0.9 mm in diameter at its tip, to harvest the healthy hair follicles one by one from your nape area without damaging the tissue. You will not feel pain during this process; you may only feel a slight vibration or pressure. You can listen to music or even nap during this time.
Graft Preservation: Each harvested graft is counted by the assistants, grouped according to its quality, and stored in a special solution in a cold environment to preserve its viability until the time of implantation.

Step 4: Break and Lunch

After the graft harvesting process is completed, a short break is taken from the operation. During this break, you can eat the lunch prepared for you, attend to your needs, and rest. This break allows you to start the second and longer implantation phase of the operation with renewed energy.

Step 5: Channel Opening and Implantation Phase

This is the most artistic and longest phase of the operation. It can take approximately 3-5 hours.

Position and Anesthesia: During this phase, you will rest comfortably on your back or in a seated position. Local anesthesia is also applied to the recipient area where the transplant will be done.
Channel Opening: The surgeon opens the micro-channels in the recipient area where the harvested grafts will be placed. In advanced techniques like Sapphire FUE used at this stage, sharper and smoother sapphire blades are used instead of metal. This allows for denser, smaller, and more natural channels to be opened. The channel opening process is the most important step that determines the naturalness of the result. The surgeon adjusts the angle, direction, and depth of each channel to mimic the natural hair growth pattern.
Graft Placement: The previously harvested and carefully preserved grafts are placed one by one and gently into these opened channels with the help of medical forceps.

You can watch a movie, listen to music, or chat during this process. Our team will be constantly by your side to ensure your comfort.

Step 6: Completion of the Operation and First Instructions

The operation is completed after all grafts have been implanted.

Dressing and Check-up: The recipient area is cleaned and left open. The donor area is covered with an antibacterial dressing. Your surgeon performs the final checks.
Discharge and Instructions: You will be given detailed instructions on how to sleep on the first night after the operation, how to use your medications, and what to pay attention to. Your post-operative care kit will be given to you.

The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) has set strict rules regarding patient safety and operational standards. Our clinic operates in full compliance with these international standards.

Contrary to your concerns, the FUE operation day can be one of the most comfortable and rewarding days of your life. As the Görkem Kazan Hair Transplant team, we are with you at every step to ensure you go through this process in the most comfortable way and achieve the best result. For more information about the FUE hair transplantation process, you can contact us.