This article was reviewed by Lynn Marie Morski, MD, JD.
.What’s the Latest Hair Transplant Technology?
Hair transplant procedures have improved considerably over the years, with new innovations offering better results for those dealing with male pattern baldness. Beyond providing guys with thicker, fuller heads of hair, new hair transplant technology is doing so with less invasive, less painful techniques.
So, in 2025, what’s the latest in hair transplant technology? One of the most popular techniques nowadays for hair transplantation is called NeoGraft® — a minimally invasive surgical procedure that promises to improve your hairline without many of the downsides of traditional hair transplants.
We’ll cover all the details on NeoGraft and other hair transplant procedures, plus alternatives to hair surgery you might want to consider before signing up.
Most Common Hair Transplant Procedures in 2025
The main hair transplant procedures currently in use include:
- Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT): The FUT technique involves removing a strip of skin from the back of your scalp and then extracting the hair follicles to be implanted into balding areas.
- Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE): The FUE technique involves removing individual follicles to avoid the need to remove a strip of skin.
When it comes to FUE vs. FUT transplants, FUE is now generally favored because it typically comes with a faster recovery and without a long, thin scar on the back of your head.
Two specific types of FUE have emerged recently and are growing in popularity: the NeoGraft procedure and direct hair implantation (aka, the DHI hair transplant). We’ll explore these more below.
What to Know About NeoGraft
NeoGraft is a newer hair transplant technique that can add thickness and density back to your hairline without some of the downsides of a traditional hair transplant.
NeoGraft is a semi-automated version of the FUE hair transplant technique. With NeoGraft, the surgeon uses a “micro-punch” method to remove follicular hair units (usually containing one to four individual hairs) from one part of your head or beard to be grafted onto areas of the scalp experiencing balding.
NeoGraft technologies involve a special device to harvest small groups of hair follicles and implant them in other areas of the scalp. This means you don’t need a surgical incision.
Benefits of NeoGraft
There are many reasons men are considering new hair transplant technologies like NeoGraft over traditional FUT hair transplants:
- The NeoGraft hair transplant method is minimally invasive. Because the transplanted hairs are removed in such small clusters using a handheld harvesting device, the procedure doesn’t call for stitches or surgical staples.
- Recovery is relatively quick. The less-invasive approach means a quicker recovery time for NeoGraft hair transplant surgery than with FUT. Most people who get the procedure can resume normal activity within about two weeks.
- The results look natural. By implanting individual hair follicles or small groups of follicles, NeoGraft usually produces natural-looking results without the “pluggy” look of old hair transplants. The most skilled plastic surgeons can make it look virtually identical to a natural hairline.
- There’s minimal scarring. There’s significantly less scarring with a NeoGraft procedure than with a traditional FUT hair transplant.
- It keeps hair follicles intact. NeoGraft technology minimizes damage to hair follicles during the extraction process. This may help increase the survival rate of transplanted hair, resulting in better density and coverage.
- It’s getting more affordable. Although FUE procedures are generally more expensive than older FUT hair transplant approaches, they’re becoming more affordable and widely accessible as the technology grows in popularity.
Potential Downsides of NeoGraft
In general, NeoGraft is one of the best procedures for harvesting and implanting hair for men with hair loss. However, this new hair transplant technology still has a few potential downsides.
- It’s expensive. For most people, the biggest drawback of NeoGraft is the steep price. It’s getting more affordable, but as noted, FUE hair transplant procedures still typically cost more than FUT hair transplants.
- The procedure itself can be relatively long. Another minor downside of NeoGraft is that it’s a more intricate procedure than a conventional FUT hair transplant, so it takes longer.
Does NeoGraft Work?
Yes, NeoGraft can improve hair coverage. When performed by an experienced hair transplant surgeon, FUE techniques like NeoGraft can help restore your hairline or add density to your entire head of hair.
With that said, it’s important to have realistic expectations about what’s possible.
Hair transplant surgery has a high success rate of restoring hair around the hairline, mid-scalp, and crown. But it doesn’t have any impact on your natural hair growth cycle — meaning it won’t stimulate any new hair growth.
Because you’re simply moving hairs from one part of your head to another, you’ll have the same total amount of hair follicles after the procedure — albeit in different locations. So you won’t actually have any new hair follicles.
If you already have very severe hair loss, even an extensive NeoGraft hair transplant might not be able to restore enough hair to your hairline, mid-scalp, and crown.
This is something you’ll want to talk about with your surgeon before undergoing any type of hair transplant procedure. Additionally, hair transplants usually aren’t recommended for people with alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that causes patchy hair loss.
Is NeoGraft Permanent?
If done well, hair restoration procedures from NeoGraft are permanent. But — and this may seem counterintuitive — it’s still possible to continue losing hair after getting a hair transplant.
Great NeoGraft reviews aside, hair transplantation surgery isn’t a miracle procedure. While the hairs transplanted during the procedure are unlikely to shed, it’s normal for men to continue losing non-transplanted hairs after this type of procedure — especially those genetically predisposed to hair loss.
To prevent further hair loss, your surgeon may recommend using a hair loss medication (such as finasteride, minoxidil, or both together) after your procedure.
Because male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia) isn’t the only cause of hair loss, it’s also vital to maintain good lifestyle and grooming habits. Simple things like sleeping well, managing stress, and eating a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals for hair growth may help limit shedding and keep your hair thick, dense, and healthy.
What’s the NeoGraft Procedure Like?
A hair transplant with FUE procedures typically takes four to eight hours, but this can vary depending on the number of hairs transplanted, your hair type, and other factors.
First, the donor area of your scalp will be shaved. Your surgeon might suggest cutting your hair short before the procedure to make any post-surgery changes in your hair less visible. Recently, a “no-shave” version of the surgery has been developed (called UGraft Zeus), but it tends to take longer and be more expensive.
During the procedure, your surgeon will numb the donor and recipient areas (balding areas) of your scalp using a local anesthetic. You may be offered a mild sedative to reduce pain and help you relax.
You might feel a mild level of discomfort as the hair follicles are being harvested and implanted. It’s normal for your scalp to feel tender after the procedure.
Follow your hair transplant surgeon’s post-op instructions. You may need to use topical antiseptics, a special shampoo, or other products to keep the area clean and help it heal.
What to Know About Direct Hair Implantation (DHI)
NeoGraft isn’t the only hair transplant technique that’s been developed in recent years. DHI is a modern procedure that builds on FUE but changes how the hair follicles are harvested.
During DHI, follicles are removed one by one and then inserted immediately into your scalp using a special pen-like tool called a Choi implanter. Because the grafts spend less time outside your body than with traditional techniques, it’s thought that they may stay healthier. Your surgeon can control the exact angle, depth, and direction of each hair for a natural look.
Some companies offering the procedure claim it’s more advanced than other techniques, but there’s little research directly comparing the results to other hair implantation surgeries.
How New Hair Transplant Technology Minimizes Hair Transplant Scarring
Previously, hair transplants were mostly performed using the follicular unit transplantation (FUT) — or “strip-harvesting” — method to extract hair follicles. This technique is effective, but it leaves a long, visible scar on the back of your scalp, often referred to as a strip scar or linear scar. One perk of NeoGraft is that this new hair transplant technology results in minimal scarring.
A strip scar may not be the biggest deal if you have long, dark hair. However, if you have light colored hair, cut your hair short, or shave your head, the scar from an FUT hair transplant can be visible.
Of course, hair restoration surgery is nothing to be ashamed of. If you’re shouting about it from the rooftops, more power to you.
Instead of creating a long strip scar, NeoGraft leaves many teeny-tiny pinpoint scars. These scars are often still slightly visible up close, but they’re easier to hide under your hair.
Who’s a Good Candidate for Hair Restoration?
NeoGraft, DHI, and other types of hair transplant surgery can produce incredible results, but they aren’t for everyone.
A good candidate for a hair transplant generally has significant amounts of donor hair (hair follicles you can spare) at the back and sides of their scalp. Generally speaking, the less hair you’ve lost from your hairline, mid-scalp, or crown, the more effective the results of a hair transplant can be.
If you have moderate to severe hair loss, you probably can’t expect a hair transplant to yield a totally full head of hair. And you may need more than one procedure to achieve the desired results.
NeoGraft and other types of hair transplant surgery can be performed on all hair types, textures, and colors. However, your hair type may affect the final appearance.
Side Effects of Hair Transplants
Hair transplant surgery is generally a safe and effective procedure that improves hair density with few side effects or complications. One of the main complications may be dissatisfaction with the final result.
After a hair transplant with FUE procedures such as NeoGraft or DHI, some scabbing is normal around the area where hair follicles are harvested. It usually flakes off in about a week. FUT will cause a long, thin scar at the back of your scalp.
After surgery, you might have:
- Temporary hair shedding. Short-lived shedding (referred to as postoperative effluvium) can happen after any type of hair transplant procedure. It typically improves on its own within three or four months.
- Pinpoint scarring. Although FUE hair restoration techniques such as NeoGraft and DHI don’t leave behind any large scars, they can cause pinpoint scarring. These scars are usually easy to conceal under your natural hair.
- Donor site depletion. When an excessive amount of hair is extracted from the donor site, the area may look sparse. This is sometimes referred to as a “moth-eaten” appearance.
Other potential side effects include:
- Poor hair growth in the recipient area
- Folliculitis (inflamed hair follicles)
- Elevations and indentations, referred to as “cobblestoning”
- Cysts
- Keloid scarring (thick, raised scars)
- Buried grafts (hairs implanted too deep beneath the skin)
Also, a poorly performed hair transplant technique can give the hairline an unnatural, artificial-looking pattern.
While uncommon, hair transplant surgery can result in cutaneous necrosis (dead skin tissue), edema (fluid trapped below the skin), and hair loss conditions like lichen planopilaris.
But for the most part, severe side effects or complications from NeoGraft or DHI hair transplant surgery are rare. Most patients have a positive outcome and report that the procedure was worth the time and money.
If you’re interested in learning about hair implants versus hair transplants, check out this guide to hair implants for men.
Are Hair Transplants Worth It?
Whether a hair transplant is worth it depends on how much you value your hair. Some men are perfectly happy going bald, while for others, it might be a traumatic experience.
It’s important to keep in mind that you’re ultimately moving existing hair to a different part of your scalp during a transplant, not growing it back. It’s kind of like repotting a plant — you’re not actually getting a brand-new bloom, but it looks like you did, thanks to its new locale.
If you have enough hair follicles to make the procedure worthwhile, the latest hair transplant procedures may provide a thick, full, natural-looking hairline. However, if you’re almost totally bald, getting a hair transplant may not be worth it.
Other Options for Treating Hair Loss
If you have mild or moderate hair loss, you might want to try medications before considering hair transplant surgery.
Currently, the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) has approved two medications — oral finasteride and topical minoxidil — to treat male pattern baldness.
Finasteride Medication
Finasteride (generic for Propecia®) is an oral prescription medication. It works by stopping the body from converting testosterone into DHT (short for dihydrotestosterone), a hormone that binds to receptors on your scalp and damages hair follicles.
Some research suggests that topical finasteride applied directly to your skin may also be effective, but it hasn’t yet been FDA-approved.
Topical Minoxidil
Minoxidil (generic for Rogaine®) moves healthy hair follicles into the anagen (growth) phase of the hair growth cycle and stimulates blood flow throughout the scalp.
Finasteride and minoxidil are effective on their own, but they work especially well when used together. Research consistently shows that taking a combination of minoxidil and finasteride causes improvements in hair growth for more than 90 percent of people.
Other treatments
Some other treatments with less research to support them include the following.
Low-Level Laser Therapy
Low-level light therapy (LLLT) involves using a special red light laser that shines on your scalp. This light is not hot or painful.
LLLT is thought to work by increasing blood flow to the hair follicles, which may help them grow thicker and stronger hair.
It’s often performed a few times a week in a clinic. While many people see results, it may take several months, and it might not work for everyone. In recent years, home machines have become available.
There’s a limited amount of research examining the effectiveness of LLLT, but some early research is promising.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
PRP therapy is a minimally invasive procedure that uses your own blood to stimulate hair growth.
Blood is drawn, processed to concentrate cells called platelets, and then injected into your scalp. Platelets release growth factors that may promote healing, improve blood supply to hair follicles, and extend the growth phase of the hair cycle.
PRP is commonly used for androgenetic alopecia but may benefit other types of hair thinning. It is generally safe, with minimal downtime and mild side effects like scalp tenderness. Multiple sessions are often needed, and results vary, with best outcomes seen when combined with other treatments.
Like LLLT, it also hasn’t yet been FDA-approved for hair loss.
New Hair Transplant Technology: The Final Word
Hair loss can have a major impact on your well-being — especially when it happens suddenly or if you feel you’re a little too young to be losing your hair.
But hair loss is treatable, usually without the need for hair restoration surgery. This is good news for guys wary of the often eye-watering hair transplant cost.
If you’re considering a hair transplant, here are a few things to remember:
- Hair transplants can be effective at restoring the look of hair, but they don’t actually regrow hair (it’s like moving a rug to another room instead of getting a new one).
- The latest hair transplant technology includes FUE procedures such as NeoGraft and DHI.
- If you’re just starting to see hair loss, it’s probably too soon for a transplant. This guide to the early signs of balding explains what to look out for and the steps you can take to curb a receding hairline, diffuse thinning, and other common symptoms of male pattern baldness.
- Related: Do Laser Caps Work?
- Related: How Long Does Minoxidil Take to Work
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This article originally appeared on Hims.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
