Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is an extremely effective and popular solution to hair loss. Using established surgical techniques with a success rate of up to 98%, FUE has restored the confidence of millions of people around the world.
While the results are impressive, they’re not immediate. Most FUE patients don’t start to see lasting results until 6-12 months after hair transplant surgery. If you’re considering FUE hair transplantation, it’s important to understand what will happen to your hair during and after the procedure so you’re prepared for every stage.
FUE is a hair transplant technique that involves harvesting individual donor follicles from one area of the head and transplanting them into thinning hair or balding area. Depending on how much hair you’ve lost, surgeons can transplant up to 4,000 hair follicles in a single treatment.
The FUE hair transplant procedure takes a day to complete and leaves minimal scarring compared with other hair transplant operations. It creates a new hairline that will eventually flourish into full hair regrowth, with no restrictions on how short you can get your hair cut in the future.
Another type of hair transplant technique is Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT). FUT hair transplants are usually more expensive because a larger medical team is required to carry out the hair transplant procedure and may not be suitable for those who wish to wear their hair short as there is scarring to the donor site.
During a FUT hair transplant procedure, a strip of hair is removed, and the scalp is sutured together using a trichophytic closure to minimise scarring and to allow hair to grow through the scar tissue. The strip is then dissected into individual follicles which are implanted into the bald areas.
When your surgery is complete, you’ll be able to see where the newly transplanted hair has been implanted in the shape of your new hairline. There will also be some scabbing, swelling, and soreness across your scalp. With an FUE procedure, the scabs on the scalp tend to be small and heal relatively quickly.
Your clinic should provide you with an aftercare programme. This may involve changes to how you shower and sleep post-hair transplant, and will probably recommend you stay at home for a few days to recover.
After a week or so into the recovery process, the redness, soreness, and swelling should have mostly subsided. Your hair transplant surgeon will advise when you can resume washing, brushing, and getting your first hair cut after your hair transplant surgery.
Most new hair will appear around 5 or 6 months after your hair transplant procedure. At 8 to 10 months, the hair will be at its longest and thickest, as the hair follicles reach maturity. You can expect the final results in around 1 year after hair transplant surgery, but it can take up to 18 months [1]. The colour and texture may continue to develop and change slightly even after this point.
Everyone is different and experiences different rates of hair growth, so all time frames are based on average experiences. The one thing you can be certain of is that the results will last. Find out how long a hair transplant lasts.
Around 2 weeks after your procedure, you might be alarmed to find that the transplanted hairs begin to fall out, and your hair returns to its pre-transplant look. Don’t worry! This is part of the process and is known as hair transplant shedding.
When a follicle is moved from one area of the head to another, it is briefly starved of blood. As a result, hair transplanted from one area to another temporarily stops growing and existing hairs start to fall out. However the hair follicle is still there, and when it has recovered from the transplant, your hair will start to grow again.
Hair typically grows at a rate of 1cm per month, so you’ll start to see results over the next few months. You may begin to get an idea of the final result 4 or 5 months after treatment, though it can take up to 18 months.
As the hair begins to grow, you may notice acne-like spots developing on your scalp. Some people worry that this means their scalp or follicles are infected or damaged. In most cases, spots are actually a good sign. It means your new hairs are trying to push their way through the scalp but may be getting trapped. Eventually, they will push through the skin and develop as normal.
However, if your spots are weeping a lot or you’re concerned about them, speak to your clinic. They’ll be able to advise you on the best way to care for your hair and scalp.
The first hairs that come through from your transplanted hair follicles may be very fine, perhaps even colourless. Some people also find that new hair is growing patchy in places.
This is part of the initial growth process following an FUE transplant, and part of the reason why it takes many months to see the actual results of your hair transplant. Eventually, your hair will even out, and will grow to be the same texture and colour as the rest of your hair.
If you want to get the best hair transplant results possible, you’ll need to carefully follow your post-transplant aftercare advice. While it may not significantly cut the time it takes for your full transplant results to shine, it can help promote healthy hair growth and reduce the risk of further hair loss. That way, when you do see results, you know they’re here to stay.
Here at the Wimpole Clinic, we’ve been treating baldness and thinning hair for decades. We offer a range of treatments to rejuvenate your scalp and hair follicles for the best possible aftercare. These include:
At the Wimpole Clinic in London, we have over 45 years’ experience providing successful hair transplantation surgery and have been awarded hair transplant clinic of the year three years running (2020 – 2023). We pride ourselves on keeping up to date with the latest research and methods, so we’re perfectly placed to answer any queries you may have about the FUE procedure and other treatments for hair restoration.
Give our expert team a call on 0207 935 1861 or book a consultation and ask about our FUE hair transplant procedures. We’ll be happy to give you all the information you need to help combat further hair loss.
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