Last reviewed: 3 September 2026
Hair transplant is the definitive procedure for both male and female patients with certain types of hair loss. Your hair is the crown you never take off, so let’s make sure it stays worthy of you.
How does FUE Hair Transplant work?
With today’s technology, you no longer have to live with hair loss. There is FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) hair transplant, the gold standard for creating a dramatic improvement in thinning hair for both male and female pattern hair loss, as well as in deficient facial hair. For suitable candidates, it is a great way to restore a more youthful and confident hairline, or to cover up the balding crown or the top of the scalp.
At Freia Medical, Dr Harold Ma and the team have been performing FUE hair transplants in Singapore for close to 15 years, restoring thinning hair in men and women. FUE, also known as Follicular Unit Extraction hair transplant, redistributes permanent, healthy hair at the back and sides of the head, where healthy permanent hair is abundant, to the more needy areas of your scalp, such as the front and top. Dr Harold Ma calls the donor hairs “permanent or safe” hairs. As technology and surgical skills have advanced, it is now possible to achieve natural-looking and long-lasting results through this type of hair transplant. As a result, hair from the permanent zone is able to give you long-lasting hair results when transplanted properly. We utilise this fact to restore thicker, natural hair, even if you have been balding for years.
Our FUE hair transplant procedure in Singapore is categorised as a low-risk, minimally invasive, highly predictable surgical procedure.
Read more about getting a hair transplant in Singapore by Vogue Singapore here.
What conditions can FUE Hair Transplant treat?
Not all types of hair loss are suitable for FUE hair transplant. Conditions such as male and female pattern hair loss, traction alopecia and hair thinning are considered conditions that may be considered for FUE. Therefore, an experienced doctor would have to analyse your hair and scalp condition during consultation.
Why choose this treatment?
Since 2006, Dr Harold Ma has had years of experience in treating hair loss, and he has honed his hair transplantation skills through extensive travels across the globe, from the US to Europe and even our neighbours in Asia. A firm understanding of Asian hair type has helped him and his team combine the best of both worlds: the latest in international hair restoration standards and hairline design, and the most appropriate techniques suited to Asian hair types.
Come and see our large portfolio of actual before and after photos in the clinic. Dr Harold Ma wants to create a natural result, and this is based on a thorough understanding of hair design along with more than 15 years of experience in the hair transplant field. His practice is not affiliated with a larger chain, a franchise or comprised of part-time hair technicians. The entire procedure is performed with Dr Harold Ma as the team leader. This is different from other establishments, which leave critical steps in the hands of another hair technician.
High volume of hair transplant cases; this is the main procedure Dr Harold Ma performs on any given weekday. All his staff are personally hand-picked and trained by him to the highest standards. Most staff have at least three years of experience in the hair transplant field. Between them, they have performed more than 1 million hair follicle transplants over 15 years. Our protocols are in accordance with (and often surpass) the highest international standards, are aligned and up-to-date with the International Society of Hair Restoration, FUE Europe and the Asian Association of Hair Restoration Society. In addition, at Freia, all grafts must be inspected under high magnification microscopy, then stored in special solutions and controlled temperature for the highest quality grafts with the best chances of survival. Our equipment is carefully selected through rigorous evaluation and testing before they are incorporated into our practice, ensuring you get only the safest, most effective results.
We are so passionate about minimising graft wastage/transection. We consider hair grafts a limited and finite precious resource. Not even one graft should be wasted on any given day. That has become our obsession. Because of that, we achieve, consistently on a day-to-day basis, a high yield of above 95% for FUE. We get more hair per graft because we painstakingly select only multiple grafts for transplantation. You always get more for what you pay. We also provide a 24-hour hotline for pre- and post-procedure support if needed.
What to expect: the FUE Hair Transplant procedure
Step 1:
Injecting local anaesthetic – a mild anaesthetic is gently injected into the harvest area. Within moments, the entire donor area is numb, and the extraction is completely painless. As part of our regular internal audit and patient feedback, 9 out of 10 patients report little to no pain and do not require any pain killers post op.
Step 2:
Follicular extraction – Dr Harold Ma’s FUE technique ensures a high yield of above 95%. Unlike the older FUT or strip technique, there is no linear scar, only random micro dots. We are using the finest instruments (less than 1mm in diameter) to minimise any scarring to the harvest area. Unless hair is shaved very short, even experts sometimes struggle to see where hair was harvested from.
Step 3:
Follicle inspection – all hair grafts are carefully checked under high-powered magnification. The hair grafts contain between 1 and 4, sometimes 5 hair follicles. The grafts are grouped according to the number of hair follicles for planting in specific areas according to Dr Harold Ma’s preference. They are stored in special solutions at precisely regulated temperatures for better graft survival.
Step 4:
Site making – Dr Harold Ma personally decides where the hair grafts will be planted. The angle, direction and distribution of grafts are critical to get the most natural appearance, the best possible density and the highest chance of graft survival. In good hair design, hair grafts with one hair follicle are good for creating a soft, natural front hair line in the first few rows, as well as filling in the crown swirl area. The 2’s and 3’s are best used further back in the main body of hair to create a natural and dense full volume.
Step 5:
Dr Harold Ma's “No-Touch Implanting” – the harvested hair grafts are implanted skilfully (using our “no-touch” technique) into the recipient site. The “no-touch” technique is different because the hair bulbs, which are the critical factory of the hair shaft, are protected from trauma and stress typical of older methods of implantation.
Step 6:
Cleaning and bandaging of the scalp to protect grafts for 24 hours, then removal of the bandage, grafts inspection, and hair wash the next day.
Step 7:
+ Wound Recovery Laser Treatment (optional)
We firmly believe that the FUE technique is better for the following reasons:
- Safe, comfortable and pleasant; using our protocols, our patients report little to no pain, be it during or even in the recovery period.
- Very low transection rates with our technique and know-how (less than 5%, usually close to 0% graft transection/partial transection or damage)
- High yield: most grafts bear multiple hairs, so you get more hairs per graft.
- We can perform up to 3,500 grafts per session on any given day
- The traditional, very faint linear scar in strip technique is avoided in FUE.
- Faster recovery times
- We harvest a precise number of hair grafts, so no grafts are wasted.
- Smaller sessions can be planned with minimal downtime using our no-shave FUE technique
- We use the no-touch technique to implant our grafts, leading to much faster growth and robust results.
- Dr Harold Ma’s Long Hair FUE is possible for eyebrow transplants
At Freia, as one of the hair-restoration-focused hair transplant clinics in Singapore, patients pay only for the number of grafts transplanted. Ultimately, it’s what goes into your head that counts. We want you to get the maximum value out of your surgical procedure. Not only that, our grafts are mostly in multiples, which means most grafts will contain doubles and triples, and only minimally singles (between 10 to 20%). So the patient gets much more hair in reality.
Dr Harold Ma always plans ahead for your hair loss needs. He will guide you on the actual number of grafts to use for the best effect, and not waste precious grafts in case they are needed a few years down the road, as the hair loss progresses in other areas.
Natural, long-lasting results
Gone are the days of the “plugs.” Modern technology today helps you achieve a natural look, and this is made possible by a better understanding of the scalp and hair biology, refined surgical techniques and ever-improving surgical instruments. Hairline design is crucial to achieve that natural look. The scars from our techniques are hardly perceptible, and no one will ever know you had any surgery done.
FAQs
At our hair transplant clinic in Singapore, we assess patients for their suitability for FUE hair transplant based on a number of factors, including:
- Extent of hair loss. The amount of donor hair impacts the expected results of the procedure. If you have extensive hair loss and/or a lack of donor hair, the transplant may not deliver the desired results. Our doctor will discuss your options with you before moving forward with the procedure.
- Healthy scalp. FUE isn’t recommended for individuals with Alopecia or any diseases of the scalp. The donor area may not have suitable hair to transplant, which, again, may not deliver favourable results. The same goes for people with an exceptionally tight scalp which can be determined by a scalp exam before treatment.
- Lifestyle. The ideal candidates for FUE are those who are in good general shape. If you eat well, exercise regularly and don’t have any permanent immune system issue that may hinder recovery, you are likely to get very positive results out of a hair transplant procedure.
- facial hair transplantation (to create a beard, mustache, goatee, side burns, chin straps, etc)
- eyebrow transplantation
- scar revision (scalp scars from traumatic injuries, burns, etc)
- female to male sexual reassignment patients
- male to female sexual reassignment patients
Dr. Harold Ma’s FUE Hair Transplant is a relatively simple outpatient procedure. From start to finish, it will normally take three to nine hours, depending on number of grafts and the complexity of the case.
The procedure is done under local anaesthesia in our clinic. Most patients find the procedure highly comfortable and many say it is painless.In the post-op recovery period, most patients do not require any painkillers at home. There may be some sensation of itch, numbness and mild tingling pain in the 1 or 2 weeks post-op. In general, our patients take between 3 to 10 days off work and social commitments. The more serious your hair loss, the more work will be done on the scalp and the more downtime or recovery time is needed.
The newly transplanted hairs will shed 2-4 weeks post-op and there will be a period of waiting for the new hairs to re-appear. In most cases, some of the transplanted hair will start to appear 3-5 months later.
We have been performing hair transplant procedures for more than 10 years, with a very high success rate. Come and see our before and after photos and decide for yourself the quality of our work.
Usually just 1
The costs depend on how serious your hair loss is, which reflects the amount of work, number of grafts needed, the complexity of the case, etc. In general, it costs about $4.90 per graft upwards, with a separate surgical fee that includes the routine local anaesthetic, post-op medication, dressing change, shampoo, recovery serums, treatment laser and follow-up reviews. More can be explained in clinic after a proper assessment. Alternatively, send us photos of your hair condition for a no-obligation advice.
Our regional and international clients typically spend a minimum of 3 days in Singapore: Arrive in Singapore and check in to the hotel on the first day, have the FUE procedure on day 2 at 9am, go back to rest in the hotel in the evening, return for a review on day 3, before flying home.Our staff are fluent in english, mandarin, malay, filipino and burmese. You can have a Zoom, Google Meet, or WhatsApp video consultation with Dr. Ma prior to your arrival, to have all your concerns and questions answered.
The two main hair transplant techniques are known as Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) and Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT). Due to the significant improvements in surgical techniques and instrument design, FUE has largely replaced the FUT or strip method for hair transplant worldwide.
Is there any maintenance needed after the hair transplant?
The transplanted hairs are usually very healthy and expected to grow for a long time to come. Hence there is no maintenance needed for these hairs. If a patient is anticipated to lose more hairs in the non-transplanted areas, then those hairs may need to have some maintenance treatments such as finasteride, minoxidil, laser treatments, hair care shampoos, etc.
No strenuous activity for 1 week, keep sweatin to a minimum during this critical post-op period. After 1 week, you may go back to the gym, running, yoga, etc.
You may swim after 2 weeks. You may do contact sports like boxing, muay thai, rugby, etc after 1 month. You may resume scalp massages or scalp treatments, herbal treatments at your salon after 1 month.
You may colour your hair or do chemical treatments like perming, rebonding, etc after 6 to 8 weeks, but check with our doctor on specific treatments.
Hair transplant surgery is generally considered low risk when performed skillfullyAs with any surgical procedure, infection is a potential risk, though this is rare. Some patients might experience ingrown hairs. Others may undergo temporary shedding in the recipient or donor areas. A significant consideration is with regard to surgical technique and planning; Dr Ma will consider the final outcome across time as poorly done cases may look unnatural as the patient ages or experiences further hair loss.
Think Hair, Think Dr. Harold.
Our caring professional team will help you regain your confidence. Let's get started with a consult.
