Micro Graft
What Is It?
Micro graft is a cell-containing hair treatment prepared from very small pieces of tissue that we take from your own scalp. In Turkey it is also known as a “hair injection”. We take the pieces from the area that resists hair loss, the one we call the donor area in hair transplants. Within the same session we process them, separate the part that contains cells and growth factors, and inject it into the thinning area.
A hair transplant is considered the gold standard for advanced hair loss, but the surgery and the recovery put many people off. PRP and mesotherapy, for their part, need long series of sessions. Micro graft sits between them. Its basic difference from a hair transplant is that no follicles are moved here. Our aim is to support follicles that are still there but have weakened, and to improve the environment of the scalp. Where it differs from PRP and mesotherapy is that the content carries cells from your own tissue and that the plan is usually built around a single session.
How Is It Done?
First we establish the type of hair loss. Is it genetic (androgenetic), temporary shedding, or is there a systemic cause? Where needed we request tests such as iron, thyroid and vitamin D. We record the condition of the scalp and the spread of the thinning in photographs.
Under local anaesthesia we take pieces of tissue a few millimetres in size from the scalp. We usually choose the occipital area at the back of the head, which resists shedding better. We process the pieces in the same session to separate the cell content, and deliver what we have prepared into the thinning area with fine needles. The whole procedure takes 45 minutes on average, and the plan is usually a single session.
Who Is It For?
It suits patients whose hair is thinning, whose crown is starting to open or whose parting is widening. It means the most in the early and middle stages, when the follicle has weakened but has not disappeared completely. We also often talk with patients whose shedding has only just begun, or who are hesitant about a hair transplant.
In completely bald areas where no follicles remain, new hair cannot be expected; that is where a hair transplant comes in. Pregnancy and breastfeeding, active infection or eczema on the scalp, bleeding disorders and blood-thinner use, uncontrolled chronic illness and a tendency to keloid scarring all change the plan. We go through these one by one at examination.
Process & Recovery
Assessment and tests
We establish the type of hair loss, examine the scalp and request blood tests if needed. We record the spread of the thinning in photographs.
Tissue sampling
Under local anaesthesia we take pieces a few millimetres in size from the scalp, usually from the resistant occipital area. These sites heal on their own.
Preparation and treatment
We process the pieces in the same session, separate the part that contains cells and deliver it into the thinning area with fine needles. The whole procedure takes 45 minutes on average.
First 48 hours
Tenderness, mild swelling and crusting are possible on the scalp. Wash your hair the next day. Wait a few days before pools and sauna, and avoid intense exercise.
Month 3-6 assessment
The hair cycle runs over months, so we assess progress in this period by comparing photographs. This is where we discuss whether a repeat is needed.
Results & Duration
In the first months the change we expect is slower shedding and stronger existing strands. If there is shedding, the first thing we see is that it decreases. Because of the hair cycle, a newly growing strand takes time to reach visible thickness, so we assess from the third month onwards.
The effect is generally reported to last 2-3 years. The duration varies with the type of hair loss, when you start and your individual response. In androgenetic hair loss the process carries on even with treatment, so what we aim for is to slow it down.
What Is Not Promised
Micro graft does not count as a hair transplant. We do not move follicles, and your own cells can only work with what is already there. No new hair grows where no follicles remain. It does not fill in an area that has gone bald, and it does not design a hairline.
It does not stop genetic hair loss or change the genetic make-up of the strand. We make no promise of a particular increase in density, a set duration or that it will be done in a single session. The response depends on your tissue and the stage of the hair loss. If there is an underlying cause such as iron, thyroid or vitamin D, the response stays limited until it is dealt with.
Key Benefits
- Hair density
- Less shedding
- Natural hair
“We divide hair loss into stages. In the early stages I expect a good result from this treatment, while at the most advanced stage I prefer a hair transplant. That is why it works better for the patient who comes early.”
— Dr. Sinan Akyürek
Frequently Asked Questions
Is micro graft a hair transplant?
No. In a hair transplant, follicles are moved. In micro graft we deliver a cell-containing mixture prepared from your own tissue into the thinning area, and no follicles are moved.
How does it differ from PRP and hair mesotherapy?
The content is prepared from your own scalp tissue and carries cells, and the plan is usually a single session. PRP works from blood, mesotherapy from a ready-made mixture, and both are planned as a series.
How long does it take?
On average 45 minutes, including taking the tissue, preparation and injection. You go back to your daily life the same day.
How many sessions are needed?
We usually plan a single session. We discuss whether a repeat is needed at the assessment after the third month.
When will I see the result?
In the first months the change that stands out is less shedding. We compare photographs from the third month onwards.
How long does it last?
The reported range is 2-3 years. The duration varies with the type of hair loss and your individual response.
Does it work on a bald area?
We do not expect new hair to grow in areas where no follicles remain. In that picture we consider a hair transplant.
Is it painful?
We take the tissue under local anaesthesia. Afterwards there may be tenderness and mild crusting on the scalp for a few days.