Dense packing

Dense packing is a controversial topic in Hair transplantation circles and it can cause problems. There are three reasons for this.

Limited grafts

Firstly, the number of grafts available in the scalp is always limited.

Using too many grafts for a relatively minor operation will prevent you from having the chance to use those grafts later down the line if your hair loss progresses. Male pattern baldness is almost always progressive with hair loss starting in your twenties, increasing at 40 and then thinning out much more over 45. For this reason, the doctor avoids using too many grafts as many of our patients return for more grafts as they age.

You can hold back hair loss with medications such as Finasteride or Minoxidil however if, you wish to stop taking these medications for any reason (side effects for example), then your hair loss continues from where it left off.

Shock loss

The second reason to avoid using too many grafts is the risk of shock loss.

If grafts are placed too close together then the blood supply to existing hairs can be affected. This causes existing hairs to fall out. Although shock loss is always temporary, if it happens, it can be uncomfortable for the patient in the first few months.

Avoiding shock loss is down to the skill of the surgeon at making incisions. For this reason, it’s important that the surgeon performs every single incision for every single patient him- or herself. It’s very risky for technicians with no medical training to perform this key task. You can read more about this in our article on shock loss.

Long term hair transplant results

The third reason to avoid using too many grafts is that it looks unnatural.

A high density of hair looks normal when you’re young however as you age, it starts to look unusual. Low hairlines over 50 look especially odd and for this reason, a quality hair transplant surgeon is responsible and  keen to avoid patients having to face questions about whether or not their hair is real.

Many hair transplant patients are in the public eye and whilst some are open about their transplants, the vast majority of patients prefer discretion. You should be able to go out in public and not have anyone recognise that you’ve had a hair transplant. This is another reason not to overpack grafts – it must always look natural.