Hair Transplant Result Timeline
Before hair transplant:
After a transplantation operation, the hair follicles go through several phases before finally reaching the desired results. The final hair transplant results can only become clear after at least one year. Below is a roadmap that will help you understand each recovery phase and what to expect from it.
Week 1 ( days 1 to 7):
In the first days that follow the operation you can expect some swelling in the forehead area.
It generally starts on the second or third day after the operation and disappears by day six. In addition, the patient may experience some small blood clots in the incision areas, which usually fall off by the end of the first week. The redness usually disappears after the first week, but the recipient sites might have a slightly pinkish color for the next few weeks.
Days 10 to 14
During this period you will most likely begin to experience some shedding of the transplanted hairs. This is very normal and it’s part of the recovery process. Hair shedding after a transplant happens due to the temporary dormant phase that all hair grafts go through after any hair restoration procedure.
Months 2 to 3:
Over this period, the patient usually can expect to see a few new hair sprouts coming out of the scalp. This growth period is different from one patient to another, but it takes three months for the average patient. The new hair may be thin and growing unevenly, but it is just a matter of time before it grows normally. Also, many patients notice the formation of an acne-like condition in the recipient area. This is a positive sign of new growth. It means that some hairs are trying to make their way out through the scalp and get temporarily trapped like an ingrown hair.
Months 4-5:
Starting the fifth or sixth month after the surgery, patients start to see significant new hair growth. The new hairs will be approximately five centimeters long, and the hair shaft begins to thicken.
Months 6 to 8:
This period is probably when the patient will see the most pleasing difference since the procedure. There is significant growth during this time, and the hair will be getting much longer and thicker, which reflects very positively on the overall appearance.
Months 8 to 10:
One Year After Hair Transplant:
By this time, it has been a year since the procedure, and most patients would see their final result now. However, some new growth could continue to occur even after one year.
Your transplanted hair is now well settled in its new site and will continue to grow for the rest of your life. You may style it however you wish. At this point, there is no special treatment or care; you may treat the new hair as if you have never undergone a hair transplant procedure. Normal shampoos and hair-dying products are perfectly safe to use.
Note: For people (especially men) who suffer from advanced balding (Norwood 6-7), you may now have a second hair transplant session starting at the end of the first year if you wish to increase density.