The hair transplant recovery process is essential to maximise your results and ensure healthy hair growth for years after surgery. That’s why we have written this breakdown of the recovery process after an FUE hair transplant. On this page, you’ll find everything you need to know about the hair transplant timeline and all the major milestones that occur up to 1 year after your surgery.
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The Hair Transplant Timeline: What to Expect
As with any surgery, a hair transplant requires a short recovery period for your transplanted hair follicles to bed into your scalp and begin the hair growth cycle. Your hair transplant team will be with you every step of the way, conducting 5 follow-up consultations (0.5, 3, 6, 9, & 12 months) to track your recovery.
Hair transplant recovery is split into two categories: the “initial recovery period” and “hair growth period”. The initial recovery period refers to the first two weeks after a patient has had hair restoration surgery. This is where your scalp and head recover after the surgery. The small incisions made by the hair transplant surgeon during surgery take time to scab over. You must minimise the chances of infection, while your scalp heals.
During the first two weeks after surgery, you will follow aftercare instructions to ensure your scalp heals and that you do not damage your transplanted hair follicles. Aftercare instructions and a 14-day care kit will be given to you on the day of your procedure and your surgeon will walk you through the process.
After the initial recovery period, your new hair follicles will begin to grow. Once you have persevered past the shedding process (4-6 weeks post-hair transplant), your transplanted hair will begin its natural growth cycle. Your final results will be visible around 9-12 months after your surgery. This is dependent on your desired length of hair.
Initial Recovery Period (0-14 Days Post Hair Transplant)
After your hair transplant procedure, you will begin the initial recovery period (IRP). This refers to the short healing period as your body and scalp recover from surgery. As part of the IRP, scabs form on your scalp, anaesthesia and saline solution (used during surgery) break down in the body, and your new hair follicles bed into the dermic layer on your scalp.
During this period, your life will look a little different to usual. That is because this is a vital and delicate part of the aftercare process. You will not be able to play sports or go to the gym, and you will need to prevent your scalp from becoming hot and sweaty. You will also need to be careful when washing your hair. But more on this later!
The Day of Your Surgery (Day 0)
On the day of your FUE hair transplant surgery, you will be given local anaesthesia to numb the scalp. From here, hair follicles will be extracted from your donor area (back and sides of the head). Small incisions will be made on your temples (and crown, if required) to place the extracted hair follicles. From here, the donor hairs will be implanted into the required area, restoring your hairline/crown.
After your surgery, your hair transplant surgeon will talk you through the healing process and provide you with your aftercare kit, which usually consists of a travel pillow, antibiotics, salt-water spray, emollient cream, and specialised shampoo. These items will all be used over the next two weeks. Remember, hair transplant aftercare is vital if you want a good result!
From day 0-7, you will need to change how you fall asleep. It is recommended you keep your head elevated and your recovering transplant donor area free from unnecessary contact with pillows and cushions. This prevents your transplanted hair follicles from dislodging, which could negatively affect your hair transplant results. That is why we include a travel pillow!
Surgery Recovery (Days 1-7)
Days 1-7 are a critical part of the recovery process from a hair transplant. This is because your hair follicles are adapting to their new environment. They need to bed into the dermic layer and prepare for future growth.
Scabs usually form between 24 and 72 hours after a hair transplant surgery. Scabs form on the body to prevent the body from losing blood and prevent infections from entering the body through open wounds. Although scabs may be a bit of an eyesore, it’s a sign your recovery period is going well!
During this period, patients are likely to experience some complications after surgery that include, but are not limited to: swelling, redness, itching or discomfort around the transplant area. Of course, this is part and parcel of a hair transplant procedure and your surgeon will advise you on how to cope!
This is why we pack a salt spray (to prevent itching), emollient cream (to ease redness and dryness) and antibiotics (to prevent infection). If you are feeling a little sore after the surgery, it is permissible to take medications like paracetamol and ibuprofen.
Although hair transplant surgery is minimally invasive, we recommend patients take a week to rest and recuperate from work. However, some patients opt to work from home. Most patients prefer to stay at home during this time as it limits the amount of undue attention they receive from the general public. Swelling, scabbing, and wearing bandages are all a part of the IRP, but no one wants to bring more attention to themselves than necessary.
Days 8-14
The later stages of the IRP focus on helping your scalp recover fully! Your scabs should have formed by this point and will begin to fall off naturally as you wash your hair. Most patients say this is where they suffer from dryness and itchiness on the scalp. So, it’s important to keep spraying saline solution on itchy areas. Don’t rub or scratch your scalp.
Hair transplant side effects can be uncomfortable and annoying, but the key is not to panic! These symptoms will go away. If you use the items in your aftercare kit and resist the urge to rub and scratch your scalp, you will be minimising the chances of shock loss.
At this point in the IRP, the main difference in routine is hair washing. The first week after a hair transplant surgery requires “contactless washing”. This is to prevent the dislodging of new hair grafts. By day 8, “contact washing” is permitted, but following the washing instructions in your aftercare package is important.
At the end of the IRP, we will arrange a follow-up consultation with the patient. Here, we assess how much recovery progress you have made and answer any questions you may have. Your recipient are and donor area should have healed fully by 14-days post hair transplant.
Hair Growth Period (1-12 Months After Hair Transplant)
Once your scalp and donor area has healed, your transplanted hair will begin to grow. The remaining part of the recovery process is often called the “hair growth period”. As the name suggests, this is where you will experience new hair growth and wait for your final results.
From here, the hair transplant recovery timeline is all about patience. Final results will be visible from around 9-12 months. Until then, it is about waiting for each hair follicle to begin the hair growth cycle.
Hair Shedding Phase (1-2 Months After Hair Transplant)
Patients will experience hair loss around 1-2 months after a hair transplant surgery. This is completely normal and a natural part of the hair growth cycle. Once your newly transplanted hair follicles undergo their first shedding (exogen) phase, they will grow at the same rate as existing hair.
All patients will experience hair shedding after an FUE hair transplant surgery. You may find hair follicles on your pillow when you wake up in the morning, or see hair follicles when you shower. At its worst, your head will look like it did before surgery and your old hairline will be visible for a couple of weeks.
After the shedding phase, your hair will grow back at its usual rate. Growth rates differ from patient to patient. So, it’s important to have patience. The end result of hair transplantation is a marathon, not a sprint…The result you’re waiting for will come!
Early Hair Growth (3-5 Months After Hair Transplant)
After the shedding phase, your hair will begin its natural growth cycle. Your transplanted follicles will begin the growth phase (anagen phase) and hair strands start to become visible. At first, transplanted hairs will look very thin and fine. Some patients recount their hair as looking “wispy”. Again, this is normal, and you should remain patient! It is impossible to rush hair growth after a hair transplant operation.
As you go further along the hair transplant recovery timeline (months 3, 4, and 5), the transplanted area becomes thicker and fuller. As each hair follicle matures, your new hairline will look more uniform. Towards the end of this stage (and beginning around month 6), you will see your new hairline take shape.
Mid Stage Hair Growth (6-8 Months After Hair Transplant)
You can now breathe a sigh of relief as the appearance of your hairline looks “normal”. You will experience a significant growth spurt from your transplanted hairs and they will look visibly thicker and fuller. Under your skin, the follicle root will be bedded firmly into your skin and more resilient than previous baby hairs.
By months 6-8, you will be well over halfway through the aftercare journey. You have done the hard yards! The key here is to continue doing what you’re doing! If you think your results are developing slowly, you can always try minoxidil for hair loss. This treatment increases blood flow to the scalp, stimulating hair growth.
It’s also important to consider that growth rates are affected by several factors, including the location of the recipient area and the hair transplant technique. Don’t expect too much too soon from your FUE hair transplant.
Late Stage Hair Growth (9-12 Months After Hair Transplant)
The later stages of the hair transplant timeline focus on the final results! If you have had a hairline hair transplant, then your final result should look as follows:
- Transplanted hairs should “fill in” areas of temple recession and the new hairline should have a natural-looking curve from the widow’s peak to both corners.
- The new hairline should blend seamlessly into existing hair. The new hairline should have a “natural look”, having finer hairs at the front of the hairline and thicker grafts towards the back.
If you have had a crown hair transplant procedure, then your final result should look as follows:
- Transplanted hairs should “fill in” signs of balding/thinning on the top of the head. The crown area should be left looking visibly thicker and fuller than before hair transplantation.
- Although an effort will be made to blend your new hairs into your existing head hair, the main aim of this surgery is to hide signs of balding and “pack” or “fill” out the affected area.
All patients will have their final result around 1 year post-surgery (12 months after hair transplant). The speed at which final results develop varies from person to person.
Conclusion
Hair restoration surgery is the only treatment that enables a person to reverse signs of hair loss. It is a permanent solution to hair loss that leaves hair transplant patients satisfied and feeling confident in their appearance.
The journey towards the final result can be a long process! Your new hairline will take around 1 year to develop and there is an intensive first couple of weeks to recover from surgery. That being said, the long-term benefits of hair transplantation certainly outweigh the short-term period of recovery and anticipation. Don’t believe us? Take a look at our patients’ final results!
If you’re interested in a DHI or FUE hair transplant, book a free consultation! Speak to our expert consultants and begin your hair restoration journey today!
