JOANNA LONGSTAFFE is clinical director of the Independent General Practice in Swansea at Sancta Maria Hospital in SA1, which specialises in general practice and primary care. Q I’m considering a hair transplant. Is this a safe procedure?

Q AA hair transplant is generally considered a safe procedure although some people can experience side effects such as a tight, swollen scalp for a few days.

A transplant takes hair from an area of the body unaffected by hair loss and moves it to an area of thinning or baldness. The procedure will be carried out under local anaesthetic and sedation, and will take a couple of days to recover afterwards. After six months the new hair will begin to grow, and after a year you should see the full results.

It is a major procedure and should give permanent results. Make sure you’ve done your research before committing to anything, and choose a CQC (Care Quality Commission) registered clinic. Prices vary anywhere from £1,000 up to £30,000.

AI’m thinking of going vegan. Is it healthy?

It can be – as long as you know what your body needs and find healthy alternatives to replace the nutrients you’ll be excluding from your diet.

Make sure to include potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates in your main meals as well as beans, pulses and other proteins which are good to keep your calcium and iron levels topped up. Make use of the dairy alternatives that are available such as soya drinks and yoghurts.

Continue to eat your five portions of fruit and vegetables every day – more if you can – and drink plenty of water. Also, ensure you get enough sunlight or take a vitamin D supplement.