Patients often ask, “How long will it take to start seeing results from my hair transplant?” Or “When will I have the final results?” Or perhaps “When can I return to work?” The following timeline is a summary of the hair transplant process, with of the milestones one can expect and demonstrates how easy it is to return to normal life after a procedure.
Disclaimer: This post-procedure recovery timeline by Natural Transplants® offers a brief overview and is not intended as a comprehensive guide for post procedure care. You will receive detailed post-procedure instructions from your doctor after the surgery.
During the first three days post-procedure, it’s advisable to try to limit excessive movement. For those flying in from out of town, it is perfectly OK to fly back the day after the procedure. Most patients are able to work on a computer or work from home during this time period. Ibuprofen (Motrin) is usually sufficient to manage mild discomfort, but prescription pain medications are prescribed if needed.
For FUT (our HUE or HUE+) procedures, a simple suture will need to be removed by a medical professional 12-14 days post-procedure. This can be done here, or at your primary doctor or at an urgent care center near you. FUE procedures do not require sutures nor suture removal.
The donor area will continue to heal and the scabs will start to clear. By the end of the second week, most scabs in the grafted area should have cleared. Patients can wear doctor-approved cover-ups (bandanas, baseball caps, doo rags, etc.) if needed during the first two weeks.
During this period of the hair transplant recovery timeline, hair follicles enter the resting phase of their life cycle, appearing similar to pre-surgery hair. Patience is key during this period as growth should resume soon.
During this stage, patients should begin to notice their hair transplant growth. New hairs should begin to appear in the transplanted areas. In this stage, known as the “anagen phase” of the hair growth cycle, hairs that emerge from the scalp appear thin or wispy. However, over the subsequent months it will thicken up dramatically.
Patients should see significant new growth in the transplanted area. The transplanted hair typically will grow at a rate of a half-inch each month, so some hairs maybe 3 inches or more at the end of this period. Toward the end of this phase, you will notice your hair strands will begin to thicken and normalize. This part of the process is known as “maturation,” and the transplanted hair will begin to blend in with the non-transplanted hair.
At this point, most of the transplanted hair has grown. As your hair grows longer, the volume of hair increases, providing a fuller appearance. The one year mark is used to track success, however, some patients may require additional months to see final results.
It only takes a day to get your hair back. Schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with a licensed doctor from Natural Transplants.
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