Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. SMC Aesthetics is led by a PMDC-registered surgeon, Dr. Mateen Ahmed, and operates under sterile, hospital-standard protocols at both our DHA Phase 2 and Baldia branches. We recommend always verifying any clinic's surgeon credentials directly with the PMDC before committing to a procedure.

Yes, we recommend booking an appointment beforehand so we can schedule you with our surgeon or dermatologist without long wait times. You can book via our contact form or WhatsApp, and consultations at both branches are free of charge.

We operate two branches: DHA Phase 2, Commercial Area, Karachi, and Sector 4F near Tania Banquet, Baldia Town, Karachi. Both branches offer the full range of hair transplant and skin specialist services under the same surgeon.

Yes. We understand privacy is a major concern for many patients in Karachi, especially women. Consultations and procedures are conducted in private treatment rooms, and we are happy to discuss any specific privacy or scheduling preferences when you book.

According to the majority of contemporary Islamic scholars, a hair transplant is considered permissible (halal) when it uses your own natural hair follicles moved from one part of your body to another, for restorative rather than deceptive purposes. This differs from wigs or attaching another person's hair, which is addressed separately in Islamic teaching. If this matters to you, we're happy to discuss it further during your consultation.

We use single-use, disposable surgical instruments for every patient, ISO-standard sterilization protocols, and all core surgical steps are performed directly by our PMDC-registered surgeon rather than delegated entirely to technicians.

Hair transplant pricing at SMC Aesthetics is graft-based, not a flat package. It depends on the number of grafts required (typically 1,500 to 5,000+, based on your baldness stage) and the technique chosen (FUE, DHI, or FUT). We offer a free consultation and written graft-based estimate at both our DHA Phase 2 and Baldia branches before any booking.

The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, making it virtually pain-free. Patients feel a mild pinch during the initial numbing injections, but experience no pain during graft extraction or implantation, and most patients rest, watch videos, or sleep through the several-hour procedure.

Redness and tiny scabs usually clear within 7 to 10 days. Most patients return to light activities and desk work within 3 days. Heavy physical activity and weight lifting should be avoided for at least 14 days, and full, mature results take approximately 9 to 12 months to appear.

FUE extracts individual follicles one by one using a micro-punch, leaving no linear scar. DHI uses a specialized Choi implanter pen to extract and implant grafts directly in one motion, offering precise angle control and a no-shave option. FUT removes a thin strip of donor scalp, yielding more grafts per session but leaving a linear scar. Your surgeon will recommend the best fit based on your baldness stage and goals.

Good candidates generally have a stable hair loss pattern (Norwood Scale 2-6 for men, Ludwig Scale 1-2 for women) and sufficient donor hair density at the back and sides of the scalp. A trichoscopy scan during your free consultation confirms candidacy — we do not recommend surgery for patients with active, uncontrolled Alopecia Areata or insufficient donor supply.

Yes. Hair follicles taken from the donor area at the back of the scalp are genetically resistant to the DHT hormone responsible for pattern baldness, so once transplanted, they continue growing naturally for life, just like your other hair — you can cut, style, and dye it normally.

Yes. We treat female pattern hair loss (Ludwig Scale thinning) using no-shave or partial-shave DHI and Sapphire FUE techniques, which allow grafts to be placed between existing long hair without a visible haircut change.

Yes, we provide non-surgical options including Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) hair therapy, clinical hair fall management programs, and targeted treatment for scalp conditions, to stop active shedding and stimulate thickness in patients who are not yet candidates for surgery.

PRP involves drawing a small sample of your own blood, concentrating the platelets via centrifugation, and injecting the growth-factor-rich plasma into the scalp to stimulate dormant follicles. A course of 4 to 6 sessions spaced several weeks apart is typically recommended, either as a standalone treatment for early thinning or as a booster after hair transplant surgery.

Beyond genetics, Karachi's hard tap water (which coats hair in mineral deposits), coastal humidity (which promotes scalp irritation and dandruff), and air pollution are common environmental contributors to hair fall we see in patients here, in addition to standard causes like hormonal imbalance, stress, and nutritional deficiency.

Yes, we offer clinical treatment for Alopecia Areata (patchy autoimmune hair loss), including steroid injection protocols. Hair transplant surgery is generally not recommended while Alopecia Areata is still active — we treat the underlying condition first before considering any surgical option.

Botox relaxes the muscles that cause dynamic wrinkles from facial expressions (like forehead lines or crow's feet), while Dermal Fillers use hyaluronic acid gel to restore lost volume in hollow areas (like lips, cheeks, or under-eye tear troughs). They're often combined for a fuller anti-aging result.

Botox results typically appear within 3 to 7 days and last 4 to 6 months as the muscle gradually regains movement. Dermal fillers show results immediately and last 9 to 18 months depending on the product used and the treated area.

Botox itself cannot be reversed, but its effect naturally wears off over 4 to 6 months. Hyaluronic acid fillers, on the other hand, can be dissolved with an enzyme (hyaluronidase) if you're unhappy with the result, giving fillers more flexibility for correction.

There is no fixed age — some patients start "preventative" low-dose Botox in their mid-to-late 20s to slow the formation of deep lines, while most patients begin treatment in their 30s or later once dynamic wrinkles become more visible. Your dermatologist will advise based on your skin and goals rather than age alone.

HIFU uses focused ultrasound energy to heat and gradually tighten the deep SMAS tissue layer over 2 to 3 months with zero downtime. A Thread Lift uses dissolvable PDO threads to mechanically lift sagging tissue with an instant, visible result. HIFU suits mild-to-moderate laxity, while Thread Lifts suit more visible sagging needing immediate lift.

When administered by a qualified dermatologist after a proper medical history review, glutathione injections are generally well tolerated, with mild, temporary side effects like injection-site redness being most common. However, patients should be aware that published clinical research shows the skin-lightening effect is often modest and temporary, fading within months of stopping treatment, and unsupervised or excessive use has been linked to rare but serious risks including liver function changes. We only recommend it as part of a supervised, medically appropriate plan — never as an unregulated IV drip from an unverified provider.

Most patients require a course of several sessions, spaced a few weeks apart, before a visible brightening effect appears. Results vary significantly from person to person, and maintaining any improvement requires ongoing sessions plus consistent sun protection, since the effect is not permanent.

No skin whitening treatment, including glutathione, is permanent. With proper maintenance sessions and daily sun protection, results can be sustained for several months to around a year, but melanin production returns to baseline once treatment stops.

Laser hair removal provides long-term hair reduction rather than 100% permanent removal for most patients. It typically requires 6 to 8 sessions spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart, timed to the hair growth cycle, since laser only effectively targets follicles in their active growth phase.

Yes, when performed with the correct laser type. Nd:YAG lasers are generally considered safer than IPL or standard diode devices for Fitzpatrick Type IV-VI (South Asian/Pakistani) skin, as they carry a lower risk of burns and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). We assess your skin type before recommending a device and settings.

A HydraFacial is a non-invasive treatment that cleanses, exfoliates, extracts, and hydrates the skin using a vortex-fusion device with zero downtime. For optimal glow and to control open pores or oiliness, we recommend a session once every 4 to 6 weeks.

A HydraFacial is a gentle, zero-downtime treatment best for instant glow, hydration, and pore cleansing. A Chemical Peel uses a medical-grade acid to achieve deeper correction — such as fading melasma, treating active acne, or softening fine lines — but requires 3 to 5 days of mild flaking as the skin recovers.

Most patients feel only a mild warm or tingling sensation during application, not pain. Superficial peels have minimal downtime, while medium-depth peels (like TCA) involve 3 to 5 days of visible flaking before smoother, more even skin emerges.

The right treatment depends on your scar type: deep rolling scars respond best to Subcision combined with PRP or filler, narrow icepick scars respond best to TCA Cross, and boxcar scars respond well to CO2 Fractional Laser or RF Microneedling. Most patients need a combination approach since acne scarring is rarely a single scar type.

Treatment depends on the underlying cause — pigmented dark circles respond to targeted brightening treatments and chemical peels, while dark circles caused by hollowing/volume loss respond better to dermal filler. A proper assessment during consultation determines the right approach for your specific case.

Pores cannot be permanently "closed" since their size is largely genetic, but treatments like chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and RF microneedling can meaningfully reduce their visible appearance by improving skin texture and stimulating collagen around the pore opening.

Yes, when performed by a qualified dermatologist using proper sterile technique, mole and wart removal is a safe, routine outpatient procedure. Any removed tissue that raises clinical concern should always be sent for pathology review, which we can arrange if needed.

Stretch marks form when skin stretches rapidly (from growth, pregnancy, or weight change), tearing the deeper dermis layer. While they cannot be fully erased, treatments like microneedling and targeted lasers can meaningfully improve their texture and color, especially when started while marks are still reddish/purple rather than old and white.