Hair loss can affect confidence, appearance, and how you feel about yourself each day. At Rivela Hair Restoration, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Lucian Rivela offers advanced NeoGraft® FUE hair transplant procedures designed to restore natural-looking hair without a linear scar. Patients from Houston and The Woodlands choose Dr. Rivela for his state-of-the-art technique, minimally invasive approach, and consistently natural results.
With over 25 years of surgical experience, 174+ hair transplants performed, and recognition as Best of The Woodlands every year since 2010, Dr. Rivela has built a reputation for expertise in hair restoration. Using the NeoGraft® automated FUE system, patients benefit from a no-scalpel procedure, faster recovery, and results that blend with their natural hair.
What Is a Hair Transplant?
A hair transplant is a surgical procedure that moves healthy hair follicles from one area of the scalp to another to treat thinning hair and balding spots. For men and women dealing with hair loss and weighing hair restoration options, Rivela Hair Restoration offers two surgical methods: NeoGraft and strip harvesting, with non-surgical therapies and evaluation also playing an important role in choosing the right approach. Because hair loss is common and can affect appearance and confidence, understanding your options early can help you pursue natural-looking, lasting improvement.
With NeoGraft (a follicular unit extraction method), Dr. Rivela will harvest healthy hair follicles from an area of the scalp and individually transplant those follicles to the area of hair loss or thinning. During the procedure, Dr. Rivela uses a touchless automated method. This FUE hair restoration method helps preserve healthy follicles so they are better able to survive the process. This procedure is more efficient and successful than other hair transplant methods and allows patients to achieve natural-looking results.
Strip harvesting, on the other hand, is a follicular unit transplant method that uses a scalpel to remove a strip of scalp, which is then dissected into individual follicular grafts before placement by hand.
Before & After Gallery
See the stunning transformations our patients have experienced with our advanced hair restoration treatments. Our Before and After Gallery showcases real results from real people who have reclaimed their confidence and regained natural-looking, fuller hair.
View Gallery
Understanding Hair Loss and Hair Restoration Options
Hair loss is extremely common. By age 70, up to 80% of men experience significant thinning, and women face similar challenges throughout their lives. Early evaluation improves hair restoration outcomes because preserving existing hair and donor hair density gives surgeons more to work with.
The most frequent cause of permanent hair loss is androgenetic alopecia, a genetic and hormonal condition that progressively miniaturizes individual hair follicles. Other triggers include hormone shifts during pregnancy or menopause, stress, illness, nutritional deficiencies, certain medications, and traction damage from tight hairstyles. Myths about hats causing baldness or everyday shampooing accelerating loss are widely debunked. Most long-term thinning is driven by genetics and hormones, not daily hair care.
Non-surgical hair restoration options can slow or partially reverse loss and are typically less expensive than surgery:
- Prescription medications like finasteride or minoxidil to treat hair loss
- Medical-grade topicals that target the hair shaft and encourage regrowth
- Lifestyle optimization, including nutrition, stress management, and good health habits
- Platelet rich plasma therapy (PRP) injections
- HydraFacial Keravive treatments for a healthy scalp that promotes hair growth
Testimonials
The staff and service at Rivela Plastic Surgery were top notch for my hair restoration treatment. I typically have high anxiety for medical procedures, but the care I received during my procedure made it go very smoothly and I have been very pleased with the result.
Read MoreThe Hair Transplant Procedure at Rivela Hair Restoration
Your hair restoration journey at Rivela Hair Restoration begins with a thorough consultation and continues through a carefully planned procedure day, ending with progressive results over the following year. For those traveling from outside the area, Rivela Hair Restoration offers helpful resources to make the trip to The Woodlands as convenient and stress-free as possible.
Initial consultation:
Dr. Lucian Rivela reviews your medical history, confirms good health status, and performs a scalp and hair density assessment. Together, you discuss goals, evaluate how much hair can realistically be restored, and select the right approach, whether NeoGraft FUE or an alternative hair restoration strategy. Patients often need to consult with a certified specialist to determine the best hair transplant method for their situation.
Day of surgery:
You arrive at the Pinecroft Drive office, where local anesthesia is administered along with optional comfort measures. The transplant surgeon then performs the donor harvest using follicular unit extraction and the NeoGraft system. A surgeon removes individual follicles from the donor area, and each graft is placed meticulously to match your original hair direction and density for natural results. Typical treatment areas include the receding hairline, temples, frontal scalp, and crown. Sessions can last several hours depending on how many high quality hair grafts are required.
Immediately after:
Patients leave the same day with detailed home-care instructions. You can expect mild soreness, scalp swelling, and minor discomfort post-surgery, which are standard surgical side effects of hair transplants.
Lucian Rivela, M.D.
Plastic Surgery in Woodlands, TX
Lucian Rivela, M.D., F.A.C.S. is board-certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, having completed residencies in both Plastic Surgery and General Surgery. Since 1998, Dr. Rivela and his dedicated staff have been offering comprehensive care in cosmetic surgery, hair restoration, and skincare.
About Dr. RivelaRecovery and Growth Timeline
Week 1–2: Crusts typically fall off within 10 days post-surgery. Healing takes about 7–10 days after hair transplant surgery
Weeks 2–6: Patients may experience temporary shedding of transplanted hair shortly after surgery, which is completely normal
Months 3–4: New hair growth starts around 3–4 months after surgery
Month 6: Noticeable improvement in hair density and thick hair growth
Month 12: Full results from hair transplant show by 12 months, with mature transplanted hair blending seamlessly with existing hair
Why Choose Dr. Lucian Rivela for Hair Restoration in The Woodlands?
Rivela Hair Restoration is a dedicated hair restoration practice serving The Woodlands, Spring, Conroe, Katy, and Greater Houston. The practice is led by Lucian Rivela, M.D., F.A.C.S., a board-certified reconstructive surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery who completed residencies in both plastic surgery and General Surgery.
Since 1998, Dr. Rivela and his staff have provided comprehensive care in cosmetic surgery, aesthetic surgery, hair restoration, and skincare, earning multiple “Best of The Woodlands” recognitions over 16 years. He was the first surgical hair transplant surgeon in the South Texas and Houston region to offer advanced NeoGraft FUE hair transplantation for both men and women, having completed over 188 NeoGraft procedures with no visible linear scarring.
Practice strengths that set Rivela apart:
- Focus on natural hairlines and careful graft design for lasting hair growth
- Personalized treatment planning, including combined surgical and non-surgical approaches
- Compassionate, low-pressure consultation style
- Before-and-after photo gallery and patient testimonials
- Financing options such as CareCredit for qualified patients
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a hair transplant fail?
Does hair transplant look natural?
How can I hide my hair transplant?
How long does the redness last after a hair transplant?
Do hair transplant last forever?
How can I sleep after hair transplant?
How can I speed up hair growth after hair transplant?
Can hair transplant give full head of hair?
Can you be too bald for a hair transplant?
How can I clean my scalp after hair transplant?
What is the success rate of FUE hair transplant?
What is the difference between hair plugs and hair transplant?
Can I go to gym after hair transplant?
Can someone else donate hair for hair transplant?
How do I take care of my hair transplant?
How many grafts can be extracted from donor area?
Is a hair transplant noticeable?
Which age is best for hair transplant?
Why cant you exercise after a hair transplant?
Is FUE hair transplantation painful?
Scheduling Your Hair Restoration Consultation
If you are noticing lost hair, a widening part, or a receding hairline, seeking evaluation early gives you the widest range of options to encourage regrowth before thinning becomes advanced. Consultations provide customized treatment plans and pricing information. To schedule a consultation, fill out our online contact form, or give us a call today. Rivela Hair Restoration is conveniently located in The Woodlands with easy access from Houston, Spring, Conroe, and surrounding communities.
Take the first step in your hair restoration journey and contact Rivela Hair Restoration today to restore hair you can feel proud of.

281-771-1684



