The short answer
A hair transplant suits people with permanent pattern hair loss that has stabilised and enough healthy hair at the back of the scalp to move. It is usually not suitable for patchy hair loss (alopecia areata), active scarring hair loss, or hair loss from an untreated cause such as thyroid disease or low iron. The cause has to be found first.
Book a consultationMedically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Find the cause first
Hair loss has many causes, and a transplant only fixes some of them. Before anyone talks about grafts, a doctor should take a history, examine your scalp and arrange blood tests where needed. Common causes include:
- Pattern hair loss (male or female pattern baldness), which runs in families
- Traction alopecia from tight braids, weaves, wigs glued at the edges, or relaxers
- Low iron, thyroid problems, recent illness, childbirth or severe stress
- Alopecia areata, round bald patches from the immune system
- Scarring conditions of the scalp, which need a dermatologist
Good candidates
- Hair loss that has been stable for some time, not still spreading quickly
- Plenty of healthy hair at the back and sides of the head to take grafts from
- Long-standing traction alopecia at the edges where the follicles have gone, once the tension has stopped
- Realistic expectations: a fuller look, not a teenager's hairline
- Good general health
Who should wait or not have it
Young men in their early twenties often keep losing hair. A transplant placed too early can leave an island of hair with baldness spreading behind it. Women with thinning all over the scalp often do not have a stable donor area and may do better with medical treatment. Anyone with active alopecia areata or a scarring scalp condition should have that treated first. Early traction alopecia often recovers if you stop tight styles, so give it time before thinking of surgery.
Try medical treatment
For pattern hair loss, treatments like minoxidil, and in men sometimes finasteride, can slow loss and thicken thinning hair. Ask a doctor before starting them, because they have side effects and need to be used for months. PRP injections help some people, not all. Even after a transplant, medical treatment is often needed to protect the hair you still have.
What the procedure involves
A transplant is usually done under local anaesthetic, often over a day. In FUT, a strip of scalp is taken from the back and divided into grafts, leaving a line scar. In FUE, single grafts are taken one by one, leaving many tiny dot scars. The grafts are placed into tiny cuts in the thin area. The transplanted hairs usually shed in the first weeks and regrow over months, with the full result often taking a year or more. Ask who will actually perform each step: in some clinics, unqualified technicians do most of the work.
What it costs on Mezo
One fixed price, paid online.
Common questions
Should I go to Turkey for a hair transplant?
Many people do. The same checks apply anywhere: who is the surgeon, are they qualified, who does the work, and who looks after you if there is a problem after you fly home. Low prices often mean a technician-led clinic doing many patients a day.
Will a transplant work on my edges after braids?
If the follicles at the edges are gone after years of tension, a transplant can help, as long as you stop tight styles. If the loss is recent, the hair may regrow by itself once the tension stops.
Is the result permanent?
Transplanted hair from the back of the scalp usually keeps growing. The hair around it can still thin with age, which is why medical treatment is often continued.
How much does a hair transplant cost in Lagos?
It is quoted in writing after an assessment, because it depends on the cause of the hair loss and how many grafts you need. Book a consultation to get a plan.
The procedures
Related health guides
More patient guides
Sources and further reading
The guidelines and patient information this page is checked against. Care in Nigeria follows the same evidence; what differs is the price and where it is done.
- Hair transplant. NHS. Patient information.
- Hair loss. NHS. Patient information.
Links last checked 22 October 2026.
Medical disclaimer: This guide is general information and does not replace advice from your own doctor. Where your centre's instructions differ from this guide, follow theirs.