Manu Gujrati MD Advanced Surgical and Aesthetic Care
55 Francisco, Ste. 705, San Francisco, California, 94133
Manu Gujrati, MD
VERIFIED
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
55 Questions Answered
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
MEET MANU GUJRATI, MD
🩺21 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Dr. Manu Gujrati is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon and hair restoration specialist in San Francisco, California, with more than a decade in practice. Affectionately known by his patients as Dr. G, he works alongside Dr. Parsa Mohebi at Parsa M
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QUESTIONS ANSWERED
I hope that you were able to meet with an experienced surgeon to have these questions all answered. All of your questions are important ones to discuss for any hair transplant patient.
1. Yes, donor hair can be taken from many sites of the body: scalp, beard, chest, back, even leg and groin. Some areas are worth avoiding so have a detailed discussion with your surgeon.
2. Yes, if the procedure is performed properly and there are no major changes to a person's health over time, the hairs will grow WHERE IT IS TRANSPLANTED TO. BUT:
NO, the donor hair will NOT grow back in the donor area from which it was removed.
3. Any donor area, if very closely examined by a trained professional, will have small, circular scars which have no hair and sometimes noticeably less color. So in the worst case, it would look white (or colorless) next to your normal colored skin.
4. In most patients, prevention medications (like Rogaine/minoxidil, Propecia/finasteride or other brands) should be used to help decrease the speed and amount of future hair loss. That is just a basic principle for hair loss patients: Keep as much of your "native" hair as possible so you have to have less surgery over your lifetime.
5. Density can vary based on each patient's needs, goals, and available donor area. If the transplanted are can get to 30-50% of "normal" density, it generally makes for a very nice result.
Hope all of this helps!
Manu Gujrati, MD
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
We regularly encourage patients to wear a hat at the appropriate time after surgery. For patients having grafts to the hairline, top or crown of the scalp, a hat can be worn immediately after surgery.
For those also having grafts placed in the temporal points (those are the side borders of the forehead), we generally say to wait 5-6 days before wearing a hat so that the brim does not rub, dislodge or damage any of the temporal points' grafts.
Additionally, the scalp needs to be protect from sun & UV exposure for up to 6 months after your procedure, so wearing a cap of some kind will be a normal part of the longterm recovery and care of the scalp.
Hope that helps!
Manu Gujrati, MD
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
With FUE, healing is very rapid. The grafts are attached after 2 days, but still fragile. By 5 days, the grafts are quite stable and can be washed normally; the donor area (extraction sites) are typically almost fully healed; and swelling has resolved from the forehead and eyebrows (if you were given medication to help with that). With washing, most of the scabs or crusts around the grafts will be gone after 7-8 days.
So, if you work from home, you generally do not need more than 2-3 days off.
If you can wear a hat while working (and you have not had any grafts in the temporal points which are the side borders of the forehead), you be back at work within 4-5 days.
If you regularly see people face-to-face for work and are OK showing a short haircut but don't want people to see any scabs or crusting, you may need to wait a full 7-10 days.
Hope that helps!
Manu Gujrati, MD
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
Generally speaking, a hair transplant procedure is not meant to "change" existing hair growth patterns. The goal to match those patterns to keep everything looking natural.
However, for advanced hair loss where an area of troublesome pattern (like an annoying cowlick) has completely lost the pre-existing hair, we can often design the new pattern of hair growth to be more manageable and simple. These are great question to discuss with your surgeon at the time of your in-person exam and consultation, which is the most important first step to take.
Hope that helps!
Manu Gujrati, MD
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
Almost every patient will develop some swelling because it is a normal part of the healing process. It will almost always occur with procedures where the hairline, temples or frontal areas are transplanted. But if your procedure is only on the crown, you are not likely to get any visible swelling in the face. In any case, swelling will start in the forehead, and slowly move down the face with gravity. The eyebrow area will swell and then the lower eyelids can also follow. The use of prescription steroid tablets can really help the swelling to be as little as possible and to disappear within 4-5 days. Certain other medical conditions can lead to longer swelling and/or bruising, so always discuss with your surgeon. Hope this helps!
Manu Gujrati, MD
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
This is a case-by-case kind of thing. The "scars" from FUE are all very small (when fully healed they can be as small as 1/2 a millimeter or 1/25th of an inch!). But these small spots can be a lighter skin color than your normal surrounding skin, where hairs were not taken. The darker your natural complexion, the more contrast could be visible between the FUE sites on the scalp and the untouched skin. So, in some people with a very fair complexion, it may not be noticeable at all even with the head fully shaved after FUE. In other people, just a little bit of short "buzz-cut" growth of hair can help to make the FUE sites not very visible at all. Hope this helps!
Manu Gujrati, MD
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
You did the right thing, and every patient should receive detailed instructions from their surgeon on how to perform the correct washing. I recommend to all my patients to do their first cleaning about 18 hours after completing the procedure. We suggest using a special sponge we provide to lather up a very mild shampoo and just squeeze that lather on top of the grafts. Let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse gently with water from a cup. We recommend doing this process twice a day for the first 5 days. Starting on the 6th day after your procedure, you can get in the shower and use your fingers to start scrubbing the scalp normally once a day with shampoo. Hope this helps!
Manu Gujrati, MD
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
If you are investing in a hair transplant procedure, it makes a lot of sense to also prevent more future hair loss so that the results of the transplant procedure look the best they can for the longest time possible. Medications like finasteride (Propecia) and minoxidil (Rogaine) are not so much to support your transplanted hairs (they are going to stick around regardless) as much as helping you keep as much of your "native" hairs as possible. The more native hairs you hang onto after your procedure(s), the better and fuller your look will stay.
If you have had sexual side effects with Finasteride in the past, I suggest the following:
1. Do a short trial of finasteride again. In a large portion of patients, they don't get the side effect again. Or try a lower dose or taking it less frequently (every other day instead of daily). This is by far the most proven and effective treatment against the underlying hormone issues that cause Male Pattern Balding.
2. Use minoxidil as suggested twice a day. While it doesn't treat the underlying hormone issues like finasteride does, it still helps keep hairs growing, and that's part of the end goal.
3. Low Level Light Therapy (LLLT), often referred to as Laser Caps (or combs), can be another add-on treatment. More evidence keeps coming out showing that it can be effective when used regularly.
4. Unless you are severely depleted in vitamins, most supplements are not going to give amazing results so use them knowing that. But for the most part they aren't going to harm you, so if you want to do that along with other proven treatments it's fine.
5. Always have your regular physician screen you for other medical issues that could contribute to hair loss and/or sexual dysfunction issues.
The goal is to be vigilant but be safe.
Hope that helps!
Manu Gujrati, MD
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
The fact that your temple peaks have been stable for the past 10 years is a good sign, and if you're using prevention medications (Propecia and Rogaine), your future loss could be really slow. Besides your grandfather, I'd want to know about other family (father, uncles, brothers, etc.) to see if anyone had significant hair loss at an earlier age than your grandfather. That person would be the worst case scenario you would want to keep in mind in planning the first procedure.
Your hairline cold benefit from 1300-1500 grafts very nicely while maintaining a mature adult male look. The sides of your forehead (the temporal peaks) appear to have started receding a bit also, and I discuss this with patients as well. In your case, these areas might need 600-800 grafts. If the hairline is made strong, but the side borders of the forehead remain very wide, the overall results can still look very unbalanced. This can be done all in one session or planned as part of a 2nd procedure depending on what you would like.
Hope that helps!
Manu Gujrati, MD
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
Why has my transplanted hair started growing instead of shedding? Is that normal?
Asked By:AnonymousANSWERS (1)In almost 95% or more of patients undergoing a hair transplant, the new hairs are expected to shed by 2-3 weeks after the surgery. All trained and experienced hair surgery teams will make sure that you know to expect that. This is actually a sign that the hair follicle has now reattached to the tissue under the skin, and is now going into its resting phase. At that time, it sheds the hair strand (shaft) which it has, and this follicle sits like a seed underneath the skin surface typically for 3 months. You can't see that it is there, but if your transplant was performed correctly, you can be certain it is. Then these transplanted follicles start "waking up" starting at 3 months after surgery and sprout new hairs. From that point, they usually start growing 1/2-inch each month. By around 8 months, all the transplanted hairs have finished their resting phase, and you will be able to see their growth. Hope this helps!
Manu Gujrati, MD
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
Manu Gujrati, MD reviews
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GlennT
All in all I am very satisfied with the quick results
I actually had a beard transplant done by Dr. G, I see most people go to him for traditional hair transplants. I wanted to have a more full beard and we utilized some of the hair from the back of my head to interweave within my beard line. All in all I am very satisfied with the quick results a few months after the procedure and I would recommend Dr. Gujrati for those interested in this procedure
RandyWorth
He has a warm friendly personality
I'm wishing I got a hair transplant surgery much sooner than I did. The difference in my confidence only a few months in is noticeable to those around me, and I certainly feel it too. He has a warm friendly personality and the idea of getting this procedure done no longer felt too intimidating. Would definitely recommend to those in the bay to check out Dr. G if you are considering a hair transplant, specifically FUE since that's what I received.
DougV
Great experience —I will try and update 8-12 months down the line
I am two months post-op with my hair transplant done by Dr. Gujrati. The surgery process was a smooth experience and comforting along the way even though I was very nervous prior to getting it done. I spent serious time researching the pros and cons of getting a hair transplant prior to committing and Dr. G during the consultation was just what I needed to get excited about what could be. Following the procedure (FUE Hair Transplant), the grafts feel about 2-3 weeks and I'm already getting some of those grafts to grow back and my new hair is coming in. I will try and update 8-12 months down the line when the procedure will have met its peak. Very excited for the future and if you are considering getting a transplant, highly consider Dr. G.
CarlosEvans
Hair transplant, 3,000 grafts - I am very excited about the next few months
When I underwent my hair transplant surgery with Dr. G in August, I was very nervous of whether or not I was going to get results I was happy with. A hair transplant is a very expensive procedure so you'd hope it'd be worth it. For me, it totally is so far! I am very excited about the next few months and would already be a satisfied individual if there was no more hair growth! Thank you Dr. G
Intelligent93196
Dr. G is Awesome at Hair Transplant
I had a great experience with Dr. G. I met with for a consultation in July of 2020. He was comforting, and generous with his time to educate me on what the procedure was like and what to expect going in. During the surgery, he was very cool to chat with and confident and precise in what he does. 4 months later, I couldn't be happier with the results I'm getting so far. My hair seems like it has completely grow back, yet, Dr. G says it will continue to get even better which is crazy! Highly recommend
sueans
Great doctor! Nice person!!
I've seen Dr G for surgery, laser treatments and general consulting for skin care and hair thinning. Each time, I was 100% pleased with the results. He listens carefully, doesn't rush and clearly cares! I would recommend him to everyone.
sabharwal
I had a wonderful experience
My experience with Dr Gujrati was wonderful . I felt very comfortable talking with him . He is very knowledgeable and explains things in a very simplistic way . He is very detailed and professional in all his dealings .
danielnewell
Dr. G is wonderful!
I love Dr. G. He has performed so many procedures for me and has done a great job. He has wonderful customer service and conveys true care for his clients. I always feel so welcome and safe working with him.
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