Hair Transplant procedures are often performed over 1-2 days depending on the severity of hair loss but you may not be able to see results until at least 3, 6 or even 12 months post-procedure.
You will be able to see where new hair follicles have been implanted immediately after your FUE Hair Transplant procedure. The recovery process following a hair transplant procedure is very important to ensure you achieve the best results.
To understand how new hair follicles grow, it is best that you understand the hair growth cycle and how, exactly, each strand of hair usually grows.
The hair growth cycle typically has 3 phases the anagen, catagen and telogen phases, there is also the exogen phase which is technically part of the telogen phase where hair is then shed from the scalp.
The anagen phase is also known as the growing phase. This is where new hair is formed and begins to grow. It can stay in this phase for 3-5 years. Hair growth on average is around ½ an inch to 1 inch each month. Usually around 90% of the hairs on your head are in the anagen phase.
The catagen phase begins when the hair follicles begin to shrink which slows down hair growth. The hair will separate from the bottom of the hair follicle, but it will still remain in place in the catagen phase which lasts for around 10 days. Usually around 5% of the hairs of your head are in the catagen phase.
The telogen phase is when new hairs begin to form in the hair follicles that have just released hairs as part of the catagen phase. The telogen phase lasts for 3 months and around 10-15% of the scalp hairs are in this phase.
The telogen phase is often split into two parts with the other half known as the exogen phase.
The exogen phase is technically part of the telogen phase but is often split into its own stand-alone phase. During the exogen phase the hair is naturally shed from the scalp as new hairs begin to grow in the hair follicles (telogen). Hair shedding during the exogen phase occurs naturally but is often most noticed after brushing or washing the hair. On average between 50 – 100 hairs are shed during the exogen phase each day which can last between 2-5 months.
Once you have had a FUE Hair Transplant, your hair follicles will not change their hair growth cycle phases so hair will continue to grow at the same rate it did prior to a hair transplant procedure. Shedding following a hair transplant procedure is normal and this is only usually the hair shaft falling not the newly implanted hair follicle which should still be in place in the scalp.
It can take 2-3 months for newly implanted hair follicles to start showing noticeable growth following a hair transplant procedure and around 6-12 months for all the new hairs to be seen.
Each patient will have different growth rates and our hairs are often asynchronous which means they don’t grow in sync so different follicles within your scalp are likely to be in different phases of hair growth so it is unlikely that you will see a huge growth of hair at one time.
Waiting for hair growth following a hair transplant procedure can feel frustrating and it is recommended that you stay in close contact with your clinic and surgeon as they will be able to support you throughout this time and see you for post-procedure appointments to make sure that everything is healing and growing as intended.
The Private Clinic have put together a timeline to use as a rough guide to find out what to expect at each stage of your hair transplant recovery.
Swelling and redness on the scalp should have now reduced, scabbing may still be noticeable, but these will begin to disappear as you wash your hair.
You may be back to the majority of your usual activities by this stage, but we would still advise that any highly strenuous exercise is avoided to reduce sweating of the scalp.
Hair loss may have started to occur at this stage this is a normal side effect and does not usually mean there are any issues with your grafts. You can begin to wash the hair ‘as normal’ after two weeks, but we would advise to continue using a mild shampoo for at least 2 months. All exercise can also be resumed at this stage.
At this stage your incisions are likely to be healed and you will just be allowing the hair to grow naturally. It is advised that you wait at least 4 weeks before having a haircut post hair transplant and it is best if you make your barber or hairdresser aware so they can make provisions to ensure no damage is caused to the new hair follicles.
Your first scheduled follow-up appointment with your hair transplant surgeon should be around 3 months following your procedure. This is where your surgeon will check to see how your recovery is going, answer any questions, offer any advice that may help you in the rest of your recovery and take photographs of your hair growth progress so far.
The second scheduled follow-up appointment following a FUE Hair Transplant will be at 6 months. Again, this is when your surgeon will assess your progress, take photographs and it is your chance to discuss any questions you may have about the future of your hair.
12 months marks your final hair transplant aftercare check-up. Your surgeon will check the transplanted areas to assess your hair growth and overall end result. Photographs will be taken which can then be compared against your previous visits including before the hair transplant. You may also be asked for feedback on the clinic and surgeons for others considering a hair transplant to see and read through.
Despite this being the last official hair transplant check up appointment, The Private Clinic’s expert surgeons are always available to see patients should they have any further questions about their procedure or require any advice about maintaining results and reducing the risks of any further hair loss.
The Private Clinic prides itself on ensuring you have the best quality and most comprehensive care. They offer:
Dr Furqan Raja, MB ChB, GMC Number: 7419667
Mr Michael Mouzakis S.C.F in Plastic Surgery, GMC Number: 7237640
Dr Luca De Fazio MD, BSc, MSc, GMC Number: 7095123
Dr Ismail Ughratdar, MB ChB, GMC Number: 6103427
Hair Transplant consultations are available at The Private Clinic in London Harley Street, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Northampton.
To find out more about FUE Hair Transplant Surgery at The Private Clinic, visit their website or give them a call on 03339209135 to book a consultation.
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