The length of your procedure depends somewhat on the method of hair transplant that you’re having, the hair specialist you choose, and the number of follicles being transplanted. The process may take just a few hours to cover a small area or a facial hair transplant. Toronto hair transplant patients who plan for significant, high-graft sessions can count on a more extended, 6- to 8-hour day at the clinic.

Today’s FUE procedures bring a shorter and more comfortable recovery period than ever before. There will be some discomfort, mild swelling, and a few restrictions to follow while you heal. You can expect to get back to your usual job and most activities after 5 days. Most inflammation resolves within just a few days, and the small extraction holes close after 2 to 3 days as well.

There are very few complications associated with FUE hair transplants, but preventing infection or the damage of those delicate grafts will be your primary concern for the first week. Your surgeon may tell you to avoid aerobic exercise, heavy lifting, or other rigorous activity because it sends blood pumping to the treatment area and could damage new blood vessel connection. The swelling in your scalp may worsen, or you may note bleeding if you exercise before you’re cleared to do so safely. As well, you’ll want to sleep and rest with your head elevated. Don’t lie down flat for the first week, and you’ll resolve that scalp inflammation as quickly as possible.

You can shower right away, but do not put your head under the water stream. Just gently rinsing the scalp for the first 3 to 5 days is advised. Once you’re permitted to resume normal shampooing around roughly 7 days post-procedure, you’ll note that tiny implant scabs slough off, and your head begins to appear more normal.

Yes, but it’s not what you might think. Often the grafted hairs fall out a few weeks after the procedure. This might cause a panic if you aren’t expecting this natural part of the hair growth cycle. The follicle implants, which heal and establish themselves under the surface, will still be healthy and safe, yet the hairs that carried over with them can fall out to make room for new ones. New hair growth after a transplant takes at least 3 months on average.

You’ll start to see wispy little strands grow in around that time, then thicker and denser results over several months. Choosing an experienced, well-respected Toronto hair transplant surgeon helps ensure that you’ll see a high success rate of 90% or more. The natural, full results you want will ultimately take a year or more to grow in.

Your individual expectations and the extent of baldness determine the number of required hair transplant sessions. For some, one session is sufficient. But for many patients, a second or third session will be needed following the initial hair transplant and sometimes years later, once further hair loss has occurred.

The hair follicles that heal and grow in their new location are typically permanent, with higher take rates all the time. Advancements in technology mean that surgeons can isolate the best grafts and harvest them with less damage or waste. They are selected from DHT-resistant areas like the back and sides of the scalp, which usually have hair that resists fallout. Those robust properties are carried with the transplanted hair and keep hair growing strong in the new location for the average life of a hair.

Unfortunately, the answer is no, at least not yet. Your body will do its job of fighting off an invader and reject a hair implant from someone else. Only the healthy follicles from your own head will be suitable. There have been some cases of body hair successfully transplanting to the head, but the procedure and results are very challenging at this point and not typically satisfying.

Facial hair transplants using a patient’s own hair, are quite successful. So if you’re interested in filling in your beard or eyebrows this way, you’re in luck! You may qualify to have a facial hair transplant using the hair on your head.