Quick answer: Hair loss treatment in Korea usually starts with diagnosis by a dermatologist, then medication such as finasteride, dutasteride or minoxidil, which have the strongest evidence. PRP and other scalp injections may add benefit for some people but need repeat sessions. Hair transplants (FUE or FUT) move permanent follicles to thinning areas and suit stable, well-defined pattern hair loss. Most visitors combine options.
Why diagnosis comes first
Hair loss has many causes, and the right treatment depends on the type:
- Androgenetic alopecia (pattern hair loss): the most common type in men and women, driven by genetics and hormones.
- Telogen effluvium: diffuse shedding after illness, stress, childbirth, crash dieting or medication changes; often recovers on its own.
- Alopecia areata: autoimmune patchy loss, treated quite differently.
- Scarring alopecias: inflammatory conditions that need prompt specialist care.
Korean dermatology clinics commonly use trichoscopy (a magnified scalp camera) and may order blood tests for iron, thyroid function or hormones. A transplant is generally not suitable for active autoimmune or scarring hair loss.
Medication: the foundation of most treatment
- Finasteride: an oral tablet that lowers DHT, the hormone behind male pattern hair loss. Slows loss and regrows some hair in many men. Not for women who are or may become pregnant.
- Dutasteride: a related oral drug that suppresses DHT more broadly; approved in Korea for male pattern hair loss and often prescribed there.
- Topical minoxidil: a solution or foam that prolongs the growth phase; used by men and women.
- Low-dose oral minoxidil: increasingly prescribed off-label; needs medical supervision because of effects on blood pressure and body hair.
Medications usually take three to six months to show results and must be continued to maintain them. Possible side effects, such as sexual side effects with DHT blockers, should be discussed with the prescribing doctor. Ask how you will get repeat prescriptions once home, as rules differ between countries.
PRP and scalp injections: do they work?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is made from your own blood, concentrated and injected into the scalp. Studies suggest it can improve hair density in pattern hair loss for some people, but protocols vary and the evidence is less robust than for medication. Typical plans involve several sessions about a month apart, then maintenance. Clinics may also offer exosome, growth-factor or "booster" injections; evidence for these is more limited, so treat them as optional add-ons rather than core treatment.
Other non-surgical options
- Low-level laser therapy devices, used at home or in-clinic, with modest supporting evidence
- Microneedling of the scalp, sometimes combined with minoxidil
- Scalp care programs for dandruff or inflammation, which support but do not replace medication
Hair transplant: FUE vs FUT
A transplant moves follicles from the back and sides of the scalp, which are resistant to DHT, to thinning areas.
- FUE (follicular unit extraction): follicles are removed one by one. Leaves tiny dot scars; non-shaven or partially shaven FUE is widely offered in Korea for less visible recovery, though it may take longer and cost more.
- FUT (strip method): a strip of scalp is removed and divided under microscopes. Leaves a linear scar but can yield many grafts in one session.
Transplants do not stop ongoing loss in untreated areas, so most surgeons recommend continuing medication. Good candidates have stable loss, enough donor hair and realistic expectations about density.
Hair transplant recovery and how long to stay
- Days 1-3: scabbing, mild swelling of the forehead, gentle washing as instructed.
- Days 7-10: scabs fall off; FUT stitches removed around this time.
- Weeks 2-8: "shock loss" of transplanted hairs is normal.
- Months 4-12: new growth appears; final result at 12 to 18 months.
Plan three to five days in Seoul for FUE, about a week to ten days for FUT. Medication consultations or PRP need only a day or two.
Risks to understand
- Initial shedding when starting minoxidil or after a transplant
- Medication side effects, including sexual side effects or blood pressure changes
- Infection, folliculitis or numbness after surgery
- Unnatural hairlines or low graft survival with poor technique
- Overharvesting that thins the donor area
Where to go in Gangnam
Medical hair loss treatment is handled by dermatology clinics, while transplants are done by dermatologists and plastic surgeons with dedicated transplant teams. Ask who designs the hairline and who extracts and places grafts. Browse
dermatology clinics or the
clinics directory, and check our
price guide for how per-graft and session pricing works.
Frequently asked questions
Can women get hair transplants?
Yes, if loss is in a defined pattern and the donor area is stable. Diffuse thinning in women is usually treated medically first.
Can I bring hair loss medication home from Korea?
Usually a personal supply is possible with a prescription, but import rules vary by country. Check your country's rules before travel.
Is PRP better than minoxidil?
Not as a replacement. Medication has the stronger evidence; PRP is generally used as an addition.
This article is general information and does not replace a consultation with a doctor. Last reviewed: October 2026.
