How ready are you for a hair transplant?
20 questions per level. An explanation after every answer.
Practice round. Revisit the topics you missed.
A hair transplant adds new follicles to the total number I already have.
How your score is counted
Swipe the card, or choose an answer below.
Your topics to revisit
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This is an education quiz. A high score does not confirm that surgery is suitable for you.
0 of 100 answered across all levels
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Swipe left for False and right for True. You can also use the three answer buttons. With a keyboard, use the left and right arrow keys while a question is active.
This checks your knowledge, not your medical suitability. A consultation is still needed to assess your hair loss, health and options.
Explore every answer
All 100 statements are grouped by level. Read at your own pace and discuss your own treatment with your clinician.
Level 1: Essentials (20 answers)
1. A hair transplant adds new follicles to the total number I already have.
False. Surgery redistributes hair from a donor area to an area with thinning. It does not create a new supply of follicles.
ISHRS: Glossary ↗2. Two people receiving the same number of grafts may receive different numbers of hairs.
True. A graft is a small piece of tissue containing hair follicles. It can contain one hair or several, so a graft count is not the same as a hair count.
ISHRS: Glossary ↗3. Two clinics suggest different graft counts. The larger number alone tells me which plan is better.
False. Your donor supply is limited. Removing too much can leave lasting thinning. A suitable plan balances coverage with the hair that can safely be taken.
ISHRS: Surgical treatments ↗4. Before recommending surgery, a clinician needs to assess my hair loss and donor area.
True. Different causes of hair loss need different approaches. A clinician examines the scalp and the available donor hair before recommending treatment.
American Academy of Dermatology ↗5. After a transplant, the hair around the transplanted area is protected from further thinning.
False. Hair that was not transplanted can continue to thin. Your clinician may discuss treatment for ongoing hair loss and its effect on the result over time.
American Academy of Dermatology ↗6. If I wear my hair very short after FUE, small scars may be visible.
True. FUE (follicular unit excision) removes individual grafts through small incisions. It avoids the linear scar of strip surgery, but it is not a procedure without scars.
ISHRS: Surgical treatments ↗7. I take a prescribed medicine. I should pause it before surgery without checking with my clinicians.
False. Share your medication list with the surgical team. Changes need an agreed plan with the appropriate clinician; do not stop prescribed treatment on your own.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Preparation ↗8. Even supplements and occasional smoking belong in the health history I share with my surgeon.
True. Your health history, medicines, supplements and smoking can affect preparation and care. Discuss them openly during the consultation.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Consultation ↗9. My scalp feels comfortable. I still need to follow the exercise limits in my aftercare plan.
True. Feeling comfortable does not mean the scalp has healed. Follow your surgeon’s instructions for activity, washing and protecting the treated area.
NHS: Hair transplant ↗10. Transplanted hairs have started shedding. That alone tells me the grafts have been lost.
False. Transplanted hair commonly sheds before new growth develops. Shedding alone does not establish failure. Contact the clinic about unexpected symptoms.
NHS: Hair transplant ↗11. I can judge my final result from photographs taken in the first few weeks.
False. Hair growth is gradual. Early photographs do not show the final outcome, and the timing varies between patients.
American Academy of Dermatology ↗12. Before surgery, I should have a clear way to contact the clinic about a recovery problem.
True. Know the clinic’s follow-up arrangements. Contact the clinic promptly about severe pain or unexpected symptoms rather than relying on a quiz or online discussion.
NHS: Hair transplant ↗13. The recipient area is the part of my scalp receiving the grafts.
True. Donor hair is taken from one area and placed in the recipient area.
ISHRS: Glossary ↗14. Every hair transplant requires me to be fully asleep under general anaesthesia.
False. Many patients remain awake with the scalp numbed. Sedation arrangements vary.
American Academy of Dermatology ↗15. Some women can be suitable candidates for hair transplant surgery.
True. Women need an individual diagnosis and assessment of their donor hair.
ISHRS: Hair transplants for women ↗16. The hair seen immediately after surgery shows the finished result.
False. Transplanted shafts can shed before growth develops over the following months.
American Academy of Dermatology ↗17. A consultation may lead to treatment without surgery.
True. Treatment depends on the diagnosis. Medication, observation or another approach may be more appropriate.
American Academy of Dermatology: Diagnosis and treatment ↗18. A clinic can guarantee that every transplanted graft will grow.
False. Poor growth and graft loss are possible risks, even with appropriate treatment.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Risks ↗19. I should understand the risks and likely benefits before agreeing to surgery.
True. A decision should follow a discussion of the procedure, alternatives and realistic outcomes.
Royal College of Surgeons: Consultation ↗20. A thick-looking donor area gives me an unlimited supply of grafts.
False. The available donor area and its future stability limit the hair that can be used.
ISHRS: Donor assessment ↗Level 2: Planning (20 answers)
1. Thicker hair can provide a different impression of coverage from finer hair.
True. Graft numbers alone do not describe coverage. Hair thickness and curl also matter.
ISHRS: FUE ↗2. Two people with the same visible bald patch should receive an identical plan.
False. Donor quality, hair characteristics and future hair loss can differ despite similar-looking bald areas.
ISHRS: Donor harvesting ↗3. Keeping some donor hair in reserve can matter for future treatment.
True. Progressive hair loss may create areas that need attention later.
ISHRS: Donor harvesting ↗4. My family’s pattern of hair loss can help inform planning.
True. It can suggest possible future loss, although it cannot predict your exact outcome.
ISHRS: Donor assessment ↗5. Every hair at the back of the head is equally reliable for transplantation.
False. Hair outside a stable donor area can thin later. Location alone does not establish stability.
ISHRS: Donor assessment ↗6. A celebrity’s hairline is a suitable template for every patient.
False. Facial features, donor supply and future loss influence a suitable design.
ISHRS: Hairline planning ↗7. A very low hairline can leave less donor hair available for later needs.
True. Lowering the hairline increases the area needing coverage and commits more donor hair.
ISHRS: Hairline planning ↗8. Restoring the crown must always take priority over the front.
False. The proposed treatment areas should reflect your goals and the available donor supply.
ISHRS: FUE ↗9. Hair loss treatment may still be discussed even if surgery is planned.
True. Treatment may help manage continuing loss of hair that has not been transplanted.
American Academy of Dermatology ↗10. Finasteride is suitable for everyone considering a transplant.
False. Finasteride has prescribing restrictions and potential side effects. Suitability needs a clinical discussion.
ISHRS: Finasteride ↗11. A single photograph can establish the exact graft count I need.
False. Scalp examination and donor assessment provide information that a single image cannot establish.
American Academy of Dermatology: Diagnosis and treatment ↗12. My preferred hairstyle belongs in the consultation.
True. Donor scarring and the way hair covers it can influence suitable hairstyle choices.
ISHRS: Strip FUT ↗13. Some patients need more than one procedure to reach an agreed goal.
True. The available donor hair and the extent of hair loss can limit one session.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Consultation ↗14. A transplant can reliably recreate the original density across any bald area.
False. A limited donor supply must cover the recipient area. Original density may be unrealistic.
ISHRS: Surgical treatments ↗15. A hair loss classification alone determines my surgical suitability.
False. Diagnosis, scalp health, donor hair and general health still require assessment.
American Academy of Dermatology: Diagnosis and treatment ↗16. Early, rapidly changing hair loss may be a reason to delay surgery.
True. Younger patients may be advised to treat hair loss first while its pattern becomes clearer.
American Academy of Dermatology ↗17. I can ask the surgeon to explain limitations as well as likely improvements.
True. Clear expectations include realistic benefits, risks and the possibility of further treatment.
Royal College of Surgeons: Professional standards ↗18. Considering a transplant means medication and other options no longer matter.
False. Surgery is one treatment option. Other approaches may be appropriate before or alongside it.
American Academy of Dermatology: Diagnosis and treatment ↗19. A second procedure automatically restores donor capacity used by the first.
False. Hair already removed reduces the remaining donor supply available for further transplantation.
ISHRS: Donor harvesting ↗20. The treatment areas and expected limitations should be clear before surgery.
True. The consultation should give you enough information to make an informed decision.
Royal College of Surgeons: Consultation ↗Level 3: Procedure and preparation (20 answers)
1. Strip FUT removes donor tissue that is then separated into grafts.
True. The strip is divided into follicular units and the donor wound is closed.
ISHRS: Strip FUT ↗2. FUE describes a method of creating new follicles in the recipient area.
False. It removes existing follicular units through small incisions for transplantation.
ISHRS: FUE ↗3. An implanter pen removes the need to make any opening in the skin.
False. Sharp implanters can create a recipient incision while placing a graft. They do not make surgery incision-free.
ISHRS: Shaven and unshaven methods ↗4. An unshaven procedure can involve different approaches to the donor and recipient areas.
True. Hair may be fully shaved, partly shaved or left long in different areas.
ISHRS: Shaven and unshaven methods ↗5. Every FUE donor incision has to be closed with stitches.
False. The small round donor incisions are generally left to heal without stitches.
ISHRS: Surgical treatments ↗6. Strip FUT can leave a linear donor scar.
True. Its appearance varies and can influence the hair length needed to cover it.
ISHRS: Strip FUT ↗7. Using local anaesthesia removes all risk of an anaesthetic reaction.
False. Allergic reactions and other complications remain possible. Share previous reactions with the team.
NHS: Hair transplant ↗8. A previous reaction to a medicine belongs in my surgical history.
True. The surgeon needs details of allergies and past treatment problems when planning your procedure.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Consultation ↗9. My surgeon needs to know about medical conditions even if they seem unrelated to my hair.
True. Medical conditions and previous operations form part of a proper consultation.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Consultation ↗10. Stopping a blood thinner is a decision I should make myself before surgery.
False. The surgical team and prescribing clinician should agree any change. Do not stop treatment on your own.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Preparation ↗11. Herbal products cannot affect surgical preparation because they are natural.
False. Some products may increase bleeding or interact with treatment. Give the team a complete list.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Preparation ↗12. Smoking cessation should be part of my preparation and recovery plan.
True. At Diamond, stop smoking at least 7 days before and 7 days after surgery, or longer if instructed.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Preparation ↗13. Sedation can mean I need someone else to take me home.
True. Your team should explain the restrictions after sedation and the support needed after discharge.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Preparation ↗14. I should tell the surgical team if I feel pain during the procedure.
True. Local anaesthesia is used to numb the area. Report discomfort so the team can assess it.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Preparation ↗15. A technique’s brand name tells me exactly which clinician will perform each surgical step.
False. Confirm the operating clinician and the roles of each team member before agreeing to treatment.
Royal College of Surgeons: Consultation ↗16. The shortest advertised operating time proves the best surgical quality.
False. Safe treatment depends on appropriate planning and clinical care, not a time claim.
Royal College of Surgeons: Professional standards ↗17. I should understand the proposed treatment areas before the operation starts.
True. The donor and recipient areas should be planned with the patient before surgery.
ISHRS: FUE ↗18. I can ask for more explanation before signing a consent form.
True. You should have time and enough information to make your own decision.
Royal College of Surgeons: Professional standards ↗19. A limited-time offer is a clinical reason to bring my surgery forward.
False. Cosmetic surgery decisions need time for consideration and a proper consultation.
Royal College of Surgeons: Consultation ↗20. Good general health makes hair transplant surgery completely risk-free.
False. Bleeding, infection, scarring and poor growth can still occur.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Risks ↗Level 4: Recovery (20 answers)
1. My surgeon’s washing instructions should guide my first washes.
True. Follow the technique and timing provided by the team that treated you.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Recovery ↗2. Scrubbing firmly is a good way to remove early crusts quickly.
False. Avoid rubbing or disturbing the treated area. Follow the clinic’s cleaning plan.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Recovery ↗3. Bleeding that does not settle needs prompt advice from the clinic.
True. Contact the surgical team promptly rather than waiting for a routine review.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Risks ↗4. Severe or worsening pain can safely wait until my next scheduled check.
False. Contact the clinic promptly about severe pain or other unexpected symptoms.
NHS: Hair transplant ↗5. Spreading redness with discharge or fever needs medical assessment.
True. Contact your clinic promptly. Do not rely on a quiz to assess a surgical wound.
Cleveland Clinic: Hair transplant ↗6. If I have no pain, the grafts no longer need protection.
False. The treated area still needs the protection and activity limits set out in your aftercare plan.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Recovery ↗7. I should agree my return to strenuous exercise with the surgical team.
True. Strenuous activity may increase bleeding. Follow the limits appropriate to your procedure.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Recovery ↗8. Any tight-fitting hat is suitable immediately after surgery.
False. Use only headwear and timing approved by the surgical team to avoid rubbing the grafts.
NHS: Hair transplant ↗9. Every graft should start growing on the same day.
False. Individual follicles do not necessarily grow in synchrony. Early unevenness does not establish the final result.
ISHRS: Surgical treatments ↗10. Hair that was already present can shed after surgery too.
True. Shock shedding can affect existing hair as well as transplanted shafts. Persistent concerns need clinical review.
ISHRS: Strip FUT ↗11. Seeing a shed hair shaft proves that its follicle has come out.
False. Shaft shedding commonly happens after transplantation. An isolated shed hair cannot establish graft loss.
ISHRS: Glossary ↗12. Similar lighting and hair length make progress photographs easier to compare.
True. Changing lighting, styling and angle can alter apparent coverage. A clinician should interpret progress alongside examination.
ISHRS: Consistent progress photographs ↗13. Sparse early growth is enough to decide that another transplant is needed.
False. Allow the expected growth period and arrange review before making further surgical plans.
ISHRS: Surgical treatments ↗14. Follow-up remains useful even when recovery seems straightforward.
True. The team can review healing, growth and any concerns at planned appointments.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Recovery ↗15. I should take leftover antibiotics if a surgical area looks red.
False. Do not self-treat a possible surgical infection. Contact the clinic for advice about symptoms and treatment.
NHS: Antibiotics ↗16. Taking twice my prescribed pain medicine dose helps me recover faster.
False. Changing a dose can increase harm. Follow the prescription and contact the prescriber about concerns.
NHS: Taking paracetamol safely ↗17. Persistent or troubling changes in scalp sensation deserve follow-up.
True. Numbness is a recognised possible effect. Discuss persistent or worsening symptoms with your clinician.
Cleveland Clinic: Hair transplant ↗18. Someone else’s recovery timeline can replace my own team’s instructions.
False. The harvesting method and individual treatment affect care. Follow your treating surgeon’s plan.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Recovery ↗19. After surgery abroad, I still need a clear route to care once I am home.
True. Confirm follow-up, complications arrangements and local help before travelling for surgery.
NHS: Cosmetic surgery abroad ↗20. Breathing difficulty or collapse after surgery needs emergency medical help.
True. Call the local emergency service for breathing difficulty or collapse. Do not wait for a routine clinic reply.
NHS: Anaphylaxis ↗Level 5: Complex decisions (20 answers)
1. Thinning within the donor area can change the suitability of a transplant.
True. Diffuse loss may reduce reliable donor hair. A full assessment must come before a surgical plan.
ISHRS: Hair transplants for women ↗2. An active patch of alopecia areata is automatically suitable for transplantation.
False. It is an autoimmune condition. Surgery is not a routine solution for active patches.
ISHRS: Alopecia areata ↗3. Sudden shedding after illness may need investigation before surgery is considered.
True. Telogen effluvium can follow illness or stress and often improves after the trigger resolves.
ISHRS: Telogen effluvium ↗4. A scarred bald area can always receive a transplant without further investigation.
False. The cause of scarring, disease activity and the condition of the tissue affect the options.
ISHRS: The scarred scalp ↗5. Fine, miniaturised hairs in a potential donor area can affect long-term planning.
True. Hair that is already thinning may not provide reliable long-term coverage after transplantation.
ISHRS: Donor assessment ↗6. Equal graft counts guarantee equal visual density in two patients.
False. Hair calibre, curl, colour contrast and recipient area size all affect the appearance.
ISHRS: Donor harvesting ↗7. Beard hair becomes identical to scalp hair after transplantation.
False. Beard hair can be coarser and curlier. Its suitability depends on the intended area.
ISHRS: Body hair transplantation ↗8. Body hair offers an unlimited, equally predictable replacement for scalp donor hair.
False. Its growth and cosmetic contribution vary. It cannot be assumed to replace a limited scalp supply.
ISHRS: Body hair transplantation ↗9. A depleted donor area can limit correction of an earlier transplant.
True. Scarring and limited donor hair can restrict the available corrective options.
ISHRS: Revision and repair ↗10. An unnaturally low hairline is always easy to reverse with more grafts.
False. Adding hair may not correct a poorly placed hairline. Repair needs specialist assessment.
ISHRS: Revision and repair ↗11. Hair direction can matter even when a transplant has good growth.
True. Grafts placed at unsuitable angles or directions can make a result look unnatural.
ISHRS: Revision and repair ↗12. Grafts containing one hair can help create a softer leading edge.
True. Fine single hair grafts can create a gradual transition at the front.
ISHRS: Recipient sites and graft placement ↗13. The highest possible implantation density is always the best plan.
False. Recipient incisions and spacing need careful planning to avoid damage and support growth.
ISHRS: Recipient sites and graft placement ↗14. If I cannot tolerate a hair loss medicine, the surgeon needs to know before planning surgery.
True. Benefits, side effects and alternatives need discussion. Do not assume everyone can use the same medication.
ISHRS: Finasteride ↗15. Declining medication makes a transplant stop future loss of native hair.
False. Without effective prevention, native hair may keep thinning. Planning must account for that possibility.
ISHRS: Revision and repair ↗16. Keeping the hair long during surgery guarantees that those shafts will not shed.
False. Unshaven methods change the shaving approach. They do not remove the possibility of post-operative shedding.
ISHRS: Shaven and unshaven methods ↗17. Postponing surgery can be a reasonable outcome of a careful consultation.
True. You can take time to understand the likely benefit, alternatives and risks before deciding.
Royal College of Surgeons: Professional standards ↗18. A woman with widespread thinning needs donor assessment even if she has no bald patches.
True. Diffuse thinning can involve the donor area, affecting the suitability of surgery.
ISHRS: Hair transplants for women ↗19. All conditions called hair loss should be treated in the same way.
False. Autoimmune loss, temporary shedding and pattern hair loss can need very different approaches.
ISHRS: Alopecia areata ↗20. A perfect quiz score still leaves medical suitability to a clinical assessment.
True. Diagnosis, health, donor hair and realistic goals must be assessed individually before surgery.
Royal College of Surgeons: Professional standards ↗