Home / SMP vs Transplant
Methods
SMP tattoos the look of stubble onto the scalp; a transplant grows real hair. They solve different problems — and sometimes work best together.
Scalp micropigmentation deposits tiny pigment dots to mimic a buzzed look or add the illusion of density. It’s non-surgical, has no “growth,” and needs occasional touch-ups as it fades.
A transplant relocates your own living follicles that grow permanently — you can cut and style real hair. It’s the choice when you want length and true density back.
Want a clean shaved-head illusion or to camouflage a scar/thin zone? SMP. Want real, growing hair? Transplant. Many patients combine them — a transplant for density plus SMP to deepen the look.
Scalp micropigmentation is essentially detailed cosmetic tattooing — pigment dots that imitate the look of a closely shaved head or add visual density between thinning hairs. It’s non-surgical and quick, but it has clear limits: it doesn’t grow, you can’t grow it out long, the pigment softens and needs touch-ups over the years, and on a fully bald scalp it only ever reads as “stubble,” never real hair.
Choose SMP if you like a buzzed look, want to disguise a scar or thin patch, or aren’t a transplant candidate. Choose a transplant if you want real, growing hair you can cut and style. Many people combine them: a transplant rebuilds genuine density, and SMP underneath deepens the visual shadow so the hair looks even fuller — particularly useful when the donor supply can’t cover every goal alone.
FAQ
Free Consultation
Book a free consult — we map your plan and give you a published number before you decide anything.
Spots are limited each week — we keep sessions small on purpose.