Scalp Micro Pigmentation
SMP for Alopecia
Alopecia areata, totalis, traction, scarring — when transplants are not appropriate, SMP offers a flexible, durable camouflage option.
Sessions
2–4 sessions
Session length
90–180 min
Spacing
2–4 weeks apart
Downtime
None
Final result
6–8 weeks
Stability requirement
12+ months
Alopecia is unpredictable, and that unpredictability is exactly why a hair transplant is rarely the right answer. SMP works because it does not depend on follicle survival — pigment is placed in the dermis, the dermis is intact, and the visual outcome is independent of what the follicles do next.
We treat stable alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, ophiasis pattern, traction alopecia (post-stabilisation), and scarring alopecias once disease activity has stopped.
When SMP Is the Right Fit for Alopecia
- Alopecia areata, stable for 12+ months — yes
- Alopecia totalis or universalis — yes, treated as full shaved-look
- Active fast-progressing alopecia areata — no, wait until stable
- Stable late-stage traction alopecia — yes
- Stable scarring alopecia (LPP, FFA in remission) — yes
The Combined Plan
For many alopecia clients we recommend continuing any prescribed medical treatment (topical immunotherapy, JAK inhibitors, corticosteroid injections) and using SMP to camouflage the visible patches. SMP does not interfere with medical therapies. If hair regrows naturally, you can simply leave the SMP in place underneath — it acts as additional density rather than a replacement.
Designing Around an Unpredictable Disease
We document each existing patch, plan a coverage approach, and check in at 6-month intervals to monitor for new activity. If new patches appear later, they can usually be added in a follow-up session with minimal additional treatment.
A Different Conversation Than Standard SMP
Alopecia patients often arrive with frustration from years of treatments that did not work. We start the intake by listening — to what you have tried, what has worked, what has not, and what your goals look like now. The right plan often combines SMP with continued medical management, not as a replacement for it.
Suitability
Is this the right procedure for you?
Best for
- Stable alopecia areata (12+ months)
- Alopecia totalis or universalis
- Stable scarring alopecia (LPP, FFA in remission)
- Late-stage stable traction alopecia
- Patients preferring camouflage over surgical attempts
Not the right fit when
- Active fast-progressing alopecia
- Active scarring alopecia until disease stability is documented
- Active scalp infection or inflammation
The package
What is included
The figure you sign at intake covers everything below. No itemised invoices, no surprise add-ons.
Frequently asked
Honest answers
What if new patches appear after my SMP is done?
New patches that appear later can usually be added in a follow-up session — generally short and inexpensive. We design the original session conservatively so that future patches can be integrated naturally.
Can I keep doing my medical treatment alongside SMP?
Yes. SMP does not interfere with topical immunotherapy, intralesional steroids, JAK inhibitors, or any other dermatological alopecia treatment. We co-ordinate with your dermatologist where helpful.
What if my hair grows back?
Then the SMP simply acts as additional density — invisible under the regrown hair. Many alopecia patients view this as the best of both worlds: they get visible coverage now, and if regrowth happens, the SMP is simply absorbed into the natural look.
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Start with a free intake.
No cost. No obligation. We will tell you honestly if surgery is the right fit — or if a non-surgical plan would serve you better.