Hair Treatments · Procedure

Alopecia Treatments: The Procedure, Step by Step

Alopecia areata, cicatricial alopecia and traction alopecia have different mechanisms — and one of them, scarring alopecia, permanently rules out transplantation. This page covers the alopecia treatments appointment itself — what is prepared beforehand, what happens in the chair, and what the first hours afterwards feel like. Plan for consultation plus a treatment course and 2-3 days for assessment.

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Quick answer

An in-clinic device session lasts 20-30 minutes; home protocols are daily and measured in minutes, with adherence mattering far more than session length. No anaesthetic and no incisions — these are topical, oral, device-based or programme-based protocols delivered in short sessions or at home. Alopecia areata, cicatricial alopecia and traction alopecia have different mechanisms — and one of them, scarring alopecia, permanently rules out transplantation.

Before your procedure

What's confirmed before you're in the chair.

  • Blood work covering ferritin, vitamin D, thyroid function and, for women, androgen profile — reversible causes are missed surprisingly often
  • A baseline trichoscopy and standardised photographs at fixed distances and lighting
  • A documented diagnosis: androgenetic, telogen effluvium and alopecia areata respond to entirely different protocols
  • An honest discussion about how long you intend to stay on treatment, since stopping reverses gains
  • A written, fixed price covering consultation plus a treatment course — confirmed before you fly, not on arrival
Step by step

What happens during alopecia treatments.

  • Stop 01

    Records check on arrival

    Your scan or photographs are reviewed in person against the remote plan. Alopecia areata, cicatricial alopecia and traction alopecia have different mechanisms — and one of them, scarring alopecia, permanently rules out transplantation.

  • Stop 02

    Diagnosis and baseline

    Pattern, pull test, trichoscopy and blood results define which protocol applies. Treating the wrong diagnosis is the commonest reason nothing happens.

  • Stop 03

    Protocol delivery

    Device sessions, topical application or prescribed medication start on a fixed schedule with written instructions on dose and timing.

  • Stop 04

    Interval review

    Repeat trichoscopy at three and six months compares the same sites under the same conditions, and the protocol is adjusted from that data.

  • Stop 05

    What is specific to this option

    Alopecia areata, cicatricial alopecia and traction alopecia have different mechanisms — and one of them, scarring alopecia, permanently rules out transplantation.

  • Stop 06

    Debrief and follow-up

    You leave with written aftercare and the follow-up schedule fixed — for this option that means 2-3 days for assessment, with consultation plus a treatment course in total.

Anaesthesia & duration

No anaesthetic and no incisions — these are topical, oral, device-based or programme-based protocols delivered in short sessions or at home.

An in-clinic device session lasts 20-30 minutes; home protocols are daily and measured in minutes, with adherence mattering far more than session length.

Who performs it

A dermatologist or trichologist directs the plan. What matters is who reviews your trichoscopy at each interval and adjusts the protocol, not who operates the device.

Right after the procedure

Nothing visible. Some patients notice mild scalp warmth or, with topical minoxidil, a transient increase in shedding during the first weeks.

Learn more

Cost and alternatives for Alopecia Treatments.

Compare vs alternatives → See full cost breakdown →
FAQ

Procedure questions, answered

Can alopecia areata be transplanted?

Not while active. The autoimmune process attacks transplanted follicles too. Stability over a sustained period is the precondition.

What tests are needed?

Trichoscopy, bloodwork and sometimes a scalp biopsy. Any clinic that skips diagnosis and quotes grafts should be avoided.

What exactly is my diagnosis?

Ask for it by name. Androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium and alopecia areata have different trajectories and different treatments.

What happens if I stop?

Gains from medical therapy reverse within six to twelve months of stopping. Decide up front whether that is a commitment you want to make.

How will progress be measured?

Standardised photographs and repeat trichoscopy at fixed intervals. Without them, judging results after six months is guesswork.

How many visits does alopecia treatments need in total?

Consultation plus a treatment course — and 2-3 days for assessment. Any quote that compresses that materially is worth a second read, because laboratory and healing time set the schedule, not the clinic diary.

How does this compare with the closest alternative?

Pattern loss routes — transplantation and medication — only apply once autoimmune and scarring causes are excluded.

Recognise the signs

Signs it might be time to look into this.

01

Hair fell out in defined round patches

Patchy loss is characteristic of alopecia areata, not pattern loss.

02

Loss came on suddenly

Rapid onset points away from androgenic causes.

03

Tight hairstyles preceded the thinning

Traction alopecia is treatable if caught before scarring.

Specific to this option

Alopecia Treatments: The Procedure, Step by Step: at a glance.

Alopecia areata, cicatricial alopecia and traction alopecia have different mechanisms — and one of them, scarring alopecia, permanently rules out transplantation.

SessionsConsultation plus a treatment course
Time in Turkey2-3 days for assessment
RecoveryDepends on protocol
Expected lifespanVariable; autoimmune conditions relapse

Closest alternative

Pattern loss routes — transplantation and medication — only apply once autoimmune and scarring causes are excluded.

Related options

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See how recovery from alopecia treatments works

Timeline, aftercare and what to watch for, day by day.

View recovery guide
In-depth guide

Alopecia Treatments: the procedure in detail

Alopecia areata, cicatricial alopecia and traction alopecia have different mechanisms — and one of them, scarring alopecia, permanently rules out transplantation. An in-clinic device session lasts 20-30 minutes; home protocols are daily and measured in minutes, with adherence mattering far more than session length.

What alopecia treatments involves on the day

Alopecia areata, cicatricial alopecia and traction alopecia have different mechanisms — and one of them, scarring alopecia, permanently rules out transplantation. No anaesthetic and no incisions — these are topical, oral, device-based or programme-based protocols delivered in short sessions or at home. An in-clinic device session lasts 20-30 minutes; home protocols are daily and measured in minutes, with adherence mattering far more than session length.

Who does the work

A dermatologist or trichologist directs the plan. What matters is who reviews your trichoscopy at each interval and adjusts the protocol, not who operates the device. Nothing visible. Some patients notice mild scalp warmth or, with topical minoxidil, a transient increase in shedding during the first weeks.

What to confirm before you book

  • Blood work covering ferritin, vitamin D, thyroid function and, for women, androgen profile — reversible causes are missed surprisingly often
  • A baseline trichoscopy and standardised photographs at fixed distances and lighting
  • A documented diagnosis: androgenetic, telogen effluvium and alopecia areata respond to entirely different protocols
  • An honest discussion about how long you intend to stay on treatment, since stopping reverses gains

Schedule

Consultation plus a treatment course and 2-3 days for assessment are what the plan is built around. Pattern loss routes — transplantation and medication — only apply once autoimmune and scarring causes are excluded.

This page is general educational information, not medical advice, and does not replace guidance from your treating clinician. Always follow the specific instructions given by your treating clinic, and contact them directly with any concerns about your individual case.
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