The first 3 months (shock loss, fall and resting phase, no growth):
- During the first month, virtually all the transplanted hairs, traumatized by their relocation, will, as expected, fall out (“shock loss”). 0-7 days: Temporary growth of the transplanted hair. 1-4 weeks: The growth ceases and the hair shafts begin to fall out with the scabs.
- Any hair shedding that happens 4-5 and later days after the surgery is just hair shafts. Hair follicles are captured underneath the scalp by ingrowing vessels and are safe 4-5 days after the surgery.The deepest parts of the hair shafts imitate the shape of their follicles and look like a dot. This is why people mistake it for a follicle. The truth is that the hair bulb (follicle) remains safe when the shedding begins 4-5 days after the procedure.
- Afterwards, the follicles go into the telogen resting phase which takes 8-10 weeks. Because the hairs are individual structures; some of them lose their contact with the follicles totally and fall out first, some may retain some thin connections and may fall later, thus, if the transplant area ever appears patchy later, do not be alarmed.
- The remaining donor area’s hair begins to grow immediately after the transplant and covers the area in a week.
3-6 months (new / slow growth phase, ugly-duck stage):
- 3 to 4 months later, new hair begins to grow. At first, the new growing hairs may be thin and curly as the body hair. As they lengthen, the hairs become thicker and straighter.
- Due to the fact that at first the hairs grow at different times, the transplant area may appear patchy again at that stage.
6-9 months (hair bursting stage):
- The most noticeable growth and thickening of the growing hairs occurs.
- Your new hair grows normally (1-2 cm per month) and will continue to thicken over the next couple of months.
9-12 months (final thickening):
- Thickening (caliber increase) of the hair occurs.
- If you wish, you may style your new hair with a precised scissors haircut. During the first year, be sure to advise your stylist or barber to use only scissors – no razors or other hair cutting instruments should be used during the first year following your hair transplantation.
- The final result appears 12-15 months after the surgery.
The growth rate differs from person to person. Generally speaking, reaching the final result is seen faster in younger patients and front area transplants; on the other hand, it is seen slower in older patients and vertex area transplants.
Sometime after the 1 year anniversary of your surgery, we would be pleased if you would schedule a follow-up visit to check up on your results (complimentary). Should you not be able to visit us, we would be looking forward to receiving pictures of your new hair makeover.
FUE Donor Scar:
- FUE does not leave any scar over the recipient – transplanted area.
- It only leaves very tiny white dots over the donor areas where the grafts were taken. The appearence of the donor scars depends on many factors. Ie: Age is the most important besides race and skin color.
- Anyways, patients of all ages can easily cover these scars with a short haircut, even with a buzz haircut. The scars may only be visible with shaved head. Older people (older than the age of 40) mostly do not show any scar. On the other hand, younger people aged 20-30 may show more color contrast over the donors and more visible scars only if they shave the head and the donor area.
Donor view 1 year after a FUE transplant in an older patient – 4200 grafts. Virtually unvisible, perfect FUE scar with shaved head.
Haircut after FUE transplant:
- During the first year after the operation, you will only use scissors for cutting and trimming the hair of the transplanted areas. No clipper and no trimmer should be used over the transplanted areas for the first year. The first haircut for the transplanted areas may begin 1 month following the operation.
- You can cut the hair of the donor area whenever you wish (even 1 week after) and you may use a trimmer, clipper or scissors. You are completely free to cut the donor area’s hair after the transplant operation.
- You may maintain your hair short or long during the first 9-10 months. In any case, to be able to see and evaluate your final result properly, please let your hair grow long enough during the last 2-3 months of the year after the operation (minimum 4-5 cm over the transplanted areas and 1-2 cm over the donor areas).