What happens on surgery day
Knowing exactly what to expect can ease any anxiety about your procedure. Here is a detailed, hour-by-hour walkthrough of a typical hair transplant day at Zeeva Clinic.
Hour-by-Hour Timeline
Arrival & Welcome
You will be greeted by our patient care coordinator at Zeeva Clinic. We will confirm your identity, take pre-operative photographs for your medical records, and show you to the comfortable procedure suite. You will change into a surgical gown and be offered tea or water.
Consultation with Dr. Anchal Shah
Dr. Shah will meet with you to review your treatment plan, discuss the expected graft count, and answer any last-minute questions. This is your opportunity to raise any concerns before the procedure begins. Vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate) will be checked to confirm you are fit for surgery.
Hairline Design & Your Approval
Dr. Shah will carefully draw the new hairline using a surgical marker, taking into account your facial proportions, age, hair characteristics, and aesthetic goals. You will review the design in a mirror, suggest adjustments, and give your final approval before any surgical step begins. This collaborative process ensures the result looks completely natural.
Local Anaesthesia
The donor area (typically the back and sides of the scalp) will be numbed using local anaesthesia. You may feel a brief pinching sensation as the anaesthetic is administered, but this subsides within seconds. Once the area is fully numb, you will not feel any pain during the extraction phase. We use a specialised vibration device to further minimise discomfort.
Graft Extraction
Dr. Shah and the surgical team will begin extracting individual follicular units from the donor area using a precision micro-punch tool (0.7-0.9mm). Each graft is carefully removed and placed in a chilled holding solution to maintain viability. You can listen to music, watch a show on your device, or simply relax during this phase.
Lunch Break
After extraction is complete, you will take a comfortable break for lunch. We provide a light, nutritious meal at the clinic, or you are welcome to eat food you have brought. This is a good time to stretch, use the restroom, and recharge before the implantation phase.
Channel Creation & Graft Implantation
The recipient area will be numbed with local anaesthesia. Dr. Shah will create tiny channels at precise angles, depths, and directions that mimic natural hair growth patterns. The extracted grafts are then meticulously implanted into these channels one by one. The angle and placement of each graft determines the naturalness of your final result - this is where Dr. Shah's ABHRS-certified expertise makes the difference.
Post-Procedure Instructions
Once all grafts are placed, Dr. Shah will review the results with you and take post-operative photographs. Our team will provide detailed written aftercare instructions, prescribe any necessary medications (antibiotics, pain relief, anti-inflammatory), and demonstrate the correct sleeping position. The donor area may be bandaged lightly.
Return to Hotel or Home
You are free to leave the clinic. Most patients feel comfortable and alert, though mild tightness in the donor area is normal. Your designated driver or cab will take you home or back to your hotel. Take your prescribed medications as directed and rest for the remainder of the evening. Avoid touching or wetting the transplanted area.
Key moments
Hairline design and approval
Precision graft extraction
Meticulous graft implantation
Frequently asked questions
Yes, hair transplant surgery is performed under local anaesthesia, so you are fully awake and conscious throughout. There is no general anaesthesia involved. Many patients watch movies, listen to music, or chat with the team during the procedure. You will not feel pain in the numbed areas.
The initial anaesthetic injection causes a brief pinching or stinging sensation that lasts only a few seconds. At Zeeva Clinic, we use a vibration anaesthesia device that significantly reduces the discomfort of needle insertion. Once the area is numb, you will not feel any pain for the remainder of the procedure.
Yes. We schedule a dedicated lunch break between the extraction and implantation phases. You can also sip water or juice throughout the procedure. We recommend avoiding heavy meals right before surgery, but having a light, nutritious breakfast is important.
A typical hair transplant at Zeeva Clinic takes 6 to 8 hours depending on the number of grafts. Smaller sessions (1,500-2,000 grafts) may finish in 5-6 hours, while larger sessions (3,000-5,000 grafts) can take 7-9 hours. The time includes consultation, design, extraction, lunch, and implantation.
We strongly recommend arranging for someone else to drive you home or booking a cab. While you will not be under general anaesthesia, you may feel tired from sitting for several hours, and some patients experience mild light-headedness. For your safety and comfort, please do not plan to drive yourself.
Ready to Schedule Your Procedure?
Book a free consultation with Dr. Anchal Shah to discuss your goals, get a graft estimate, and choose your surgery date.
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