When an earlier transplant isn't what you hoped for
A hairline that's too low or too straight. Hairs growing the wrong way. Wispy, thin areas where density was promised. Visible scarring in the donor area. You're not the only one, and usually more is possible than you think.
What usually goes wrong
Most repair cases we see aren't down to bad luck. They're down to a procedure that was done too fast, too aggressively or without a design. Often in a clinic treating three to five patients a day, with technicians placing the hairline without considering the face beneath it.
A hairline that's too low or too straight. May look full at thirty, but doesn't suit an adult face and looks like a wig at forty. The most common problem, and the hardest to live with.
Wrong angle and direction. Hairs growing straight up or against the natural swirl. With short hair it's immediately noticeable.
Too little density, or density in the wrong place. Grafts that didn't take, or that are so far apart you can see through them.
An exhausted or scarred donor area. Too many grafts harvested from too small an area, leaving the back thinner than the front. Or visible dots and white marks with short hair.
Grafts in the wrong place. Thick groups of three or four hairs at the front of the hairline, where fine single hairs belong. That gives the 'doll's hair' effect.
How we approach a repair
A repair needs more planning than a first procedure, because the donor area has already been used. Every graft counts double.
Thorough assessment
We photograph and measure the donor area, count what's still usable and look at exactly what's in the recipient area. Bring documents from your earlier procedure if you have them.
Honest estimate
Not everything can be corrected. Sometimes a partial repair is the wisest option, sometimes we're better off with densification plus a supporting treatment. You hear that before we plan.
Redesign
We draw a new hairline that suits your face and your age. Sometimes that means removing and reusing misplaced grafts. Often it means strategic densification and softening the transition.
Procedure and follow-up
The same care as with every transplant: a doctor, one patient per day, twelve months of follow-up. For an extensive repair we plan two sessions.
Also if it happened outside Belgium
A share of the people who come to us for repair had their first procedure abroad. That's no reproach, and certainly no reason to be embarrassed. Anyone who couldn't judge beforehand how the work would be done simply deserves good care now.
What's often missing after a procedure abroad is someone who can see you afterwards. A check-up after a year, an answer to whether it will still improve, a plan for the crown that's now thinning too. We can take that over, even if in the end no second procedure turns out to be needed.
Bring what you have: photos from before the first procedure, the number of grafts you received, any reports. The more we know, the better we can plan. No documents? Then we measure it ourselves.
Questions about repair
How long after an earlier transplant can I have a repair?
At the earliest twelve months after the previous procedure. Only then is the result fully visible and can we properly judge what's really missing. Planning a repair on a six-month result leads to wrong decisions.
Can misplaced grafts be removed?
Yes. Follicles from a hairline that's too low can be re-extracted and replaced higher or elsewhere. It's delicate work and not every graft survives it, but it's often the only way to correct a hairline that's too low without emptying the entire donor area.
What if my donor area is already exhausted?
Then we look at alternatives: beard hair as a supplement, redistribution of what's there, and in some cases scalp micropigmentation to camouflage scars or thin areas. Sometimes the honest answer is that we have to adjust expectations. You'll hear that from us too.
How much does a hair transplant cost in Belgium?
That depends on the number of grafts you need, and we only know that once a doctor has assessed your donor area and your stage. In practice it usually comes to between 1,500 and 4,500 grafts, depending on how much area you want to restore and what your donor area responsibly allows.
What we do promise in advance: after the consultation you get one fixed amount in writing, including VAT, anaesthetic, aftercare kit and twelve months of follow-up. No supplements afterwards, and no decision you have to make on the spot.
Let us have a look. No obligation.
Send photos or come by. We'll tell you what we see, what's possible and what it would cost. You decide at home.
+32 50 68 10 60Mon – Fri during office hours