After an FUE Hair Transplant Surgery – A Timeline
Having an FUE hair transplant procedure is a fairly simple surgery. It can all be done in one day, although the days can be long (sometimes up to 12 hours). The procedure leaves very minimal scarring that is hardly noticeable to the eye. No more linear scars from ear to ear on the back of the head! The hardest part for most patients is the waiting game. The hairs that are transplanted will take up to a full year before the patient sees the complete results of the hair transplant. This is an extensive timeline of what to expect and what can be done to maximize the results throughout that year.
Day After a Hair Transplant
This is a very crucial time for the results of a hair transplant. A patient will still have the bandage on the donor area and can remove the bandaging and clean up the area when they are feeling up to it on this day. To clean this area, it is recommended that you use a wet cloth or sponge to wipe off the dry blood, etc. Apply Polysporin to the area throughout the day to protect the healing process. The grafts that were transplanted will all be scabbed over at this point, and it is of the utmost importance that you PROTECT this area from any rubbing, scratching, or irritation.
The First 7-10 Days
You really need to baby those transplanted grafts and follow all post-op instructions during this period. If you have any questions or concerns during this time, it is necessary for you to contact us so that we can treat any issues immediately. The donor area will heal, and new hair will already start to grow during this phase. The scabs will also fall off by the end of the 10 days, and you will get a little preview of what the transplant site will look like.
2 Weeks After
You will have gotten a little preview of the hair in the transplant site, but don’t get too excited. The process has just begun! The transplanted hairs will fall out after 2 weeks or so. But not to worry, you just need to wait for about 3 months.
3 Months Later
Some patients may start to see the new hairs start to grow in around this time. This is the start of the growth phase for some of the transplanted hairs. Some older patients won’t see new hair growing until as late as Month 5. The donor area is pretty much completely healed by this point, and you should not feel any residual pain or have any redness or irritation.
6 Months Later
About half of the transplanted hairs will now start growing, and the results will start to be fairly noticeable. The hairs will initially emerge as thinner strands similar to baby hairs, but will thicken up as the process continues. The donor area will be completely healed by this stage. You will be able to cut and style your hair in any way that you want.
9 Months Later
By now roughly 80% of the hairs will be growing in, and the results will be very noticeable. You will be able to get a very close visual of what the final result will look like.
1 Year Later
At the one-year mark, you are now able to see a very close final result. Some people may still continue to grow new hairs even after a year, but for the most part, this is the end of the long road. Patients who had very advanced hair loss and needed a second procedure can now get another hair transplant to add density, if they want, to the same area that was transplanted the first time.
