The first month after a hair transplant shows some dramatic changes in your hairline. First, there’ll be some hair transplant swelling, bleeding, and oozing (pillow protectors at the ready). After this, the grafts will start to heal over, creating scabs across your hairline.
The transplanted hairs in your grafts will then start to grow but before you start to see too much success, they’ll fall out. Don’t panic. This is a perfectly normal part of the hair transplant recovery timeline.
This post-transplant hair shedding (also known as shock hair loss) usually starts after 2-6 weeks in the hair transplant timeline, and nearly always resolves by month 3 or 4 [1]. After this, you will start to see new hair growth.
Wondering what your hair transplant will look like after one month? In this article, we’ll explore hair transplant photos after one month; donor area recovery; shock loss, scabbing and swelling at one month; and how to improve one-month results and why they vary from person to person.
Key takeaways
Here, Wimpole Clinic hair transplant surgeon Dr Correia shares his insights and experiences with long-term hair transplant results.
Number of grafts: 2,500
Areas covered: temples, hairline, mid-scalp, crown
This FUE Wimpole Clinic patient had sparse coverage across his mid scalp before his hair transplant surgery, with near-total frontal balding.
One month after his hair transplant procedure, the shape of his new hairline is still visible, although there’s not much new hair growth from the grafts. This is expected at this stage. Some longer hairs are visible, but these are likely to be existing pre-transplant hairs.
There’s still some redness around the scalp following his male hair loss treatment. In most patients, this clears up within a couple of weeks as the inflammation settles. However, it should be stated that some patients are prone to slower healing.
In these cases, it may take a month or more for any hair transplant redness to go down completely. If you still see redness after around 2 months, speak to your hair transplant clinic for advice.
Number of grafts: 1485
Type of surgery: FUE
This patient’s hairline was receding and he eventually turned to a hair transplant as he was no longer happy with the extent of his hair loss. Eventually, his hair may have thinned further, making his hair loss more obvious. Fortunately for this patient, his hair transplant has preemptively repaired his receding hairline.
As you can see, he has some lingering redness in the area at 1 month post-transplant. The good news is that his new hairline appears neat and natural, with his temple hair loss completely covered. Once new hair begins to grow in the transplanted area, he’ll have a neat, natural-looking new hairline.
Number of grafts: 1,194
This Wimpole Clinic patient also underwent an FUE hair transplant, and these images show his results before and 7 weeks after the procedure. By this stage, any redness and scabbing has disappeared and his transplant is healing well.
You’ll notice that he has less visible hair than before the procedure. This is due to shock loss, the temporary shedding of transplanted and existing hair after a hair transplant, which is a normal part of healing in both donor and recipient areas.
This patient also underwent low-level laser therapy to help with recovery and hair growth post-surgery, and his surgeon recommended Minoxidil and Finasteride to further boost growth.
The early days can be frustrating when recovering from a hair transplant, especially the phase where you appear to have less hair than ever. But it’s worth the wait.
The image above shows the same Wimpole Clinic patient 14 months after his successful hair transplant. While he doesn’t have complete coverage on his crown area, his hair looks significantly thicker and results look very natural.
Number of grafts: 5,700Area covered: temples, hairline, mid-scalp
Most of this patient’s hair loss was across the temples, but he was also starting to thin around the crown. His hair transplant operation has brought his hairline forward substantially, following the natural curve of his forehead to create an organic-looking hairline. The patient has started to lose his grafts at this point, so the density is very thin. However, this should fill out in the coming months.
Despite this patient’s widespread hair loss, a 5700 graft count is almost the maximum number of grafts that should be taken in a single session [2]. A 5000 graft hair transplant is rarely needed and can put patients at risk of graft overharvesting.
Although this patient appears to have had a good result 1 month after his hair transplant, this could potentially have been achieved with fewer grafts. The patient had his hair transplant in Turkey, where it’s more common for unscrupulous clinics to artificially inflate the graft count so you may pay more than you need to for your transplant. Learn more about getting a hair transplant abroad, and the best countries to get a hair transplant.
It’s not just the newly transplanted hair graft area that will look different a month after your hair transplant. Your donor area should also be healing nicely. If you’ve had FUE or unshaven FUE (UFUE) treatment, the tiny wounds should have healed up and the hair across your head will have started to grow to cover the area.
This patient’s hair is still a little shorter in the donor area, but will soon be long enough to disguise the graft removal:
FUT recovery tends to take a little longer, but after a month you should still see significant healing and hair regrowth. Here’s the scarring in an FUT patient 1 month after his surgery:
Shock loss refers to the temporary shedding of hair, both transplanted and existing, after a hair transplant. It’s a normal response to trauma to the scalp and can affect the donor and recipient sites.
It’s seen in varying degrees in most people who have a transplant into an area which retains some native hair. Shock loss is more common in women and those with pre-existing hair thinning [1].
It generally begins 2-6 weeks after surgery, and full recovery is almost always seen within 3-4 months [1], but in rare cases, loss of native hair may be permanent. Surgeons may recommend steroid creams or systemic steroids post-op, starting Minoxidil within 2 weeks of surgery, and using Finasteride to reduce the risk of this happening [1].
Minoxidil and Finasteride are often recommended before a hair transplant to stabilise hair loss, and long-term to help maintain results afterwards [3-4]. Wimpole Clinic hair transplant surgeon Dr Ricardo Correia offers his thoughts on hair loss medication post-transplant:
“Topical Minoxidil can be started between three to four weeks post-operatively. This is due to the possibility of scalp irritation from topical Minoxidil disrupting graft fixation and increasing wound infection risk.
Although there is no large trial data on when to start oral Minoxidil, we advise between one and two weeks post-operatively to allow grafts to settle without the risk of bleeding. Finasteride can be taken throughout the hair transplant process without needing to stop.
No medication is required for a hair transplant. Use of Minoxidil and Finasteride is focused on maintaining and strengthening native hair, which will work in tandem with a hair transplant for optimal final outcomes.”
In most cases, hair transplant scabs fall off within 7-14 days of the procedure. Visible scabs should have completely healed by one month for most people.
One study found that post-transplant swelling affected around 42% of patients [5]. Fortunately, it usually only lasts for 3-4 days.
One Wimpole Clinic patient, James Walton, had noticeable swelling for the first few days following his hair transplant, as shown below:
Fortunately, this quickly went down, leaving him with no inflammation and fantastic results when his recovery period was over:
If scabbing or swelling persists for a month or more post-transplant, it may be a sign of delayed healing or a hair transplant infection. Reputable clinics will offer comprehensive aftercare and keep a close eye on you in the first weeks following a transplant, which helps to prevent complications.
Fortunately, first-month risks and side effects after a hair transplant have decreased as modern techniques have improved. Dr Correia says,
“Advancements in instrumentation, improvements in extraction and implantation techniques, changes in graft handling and storage, refined local anaesthesia protocols, and comprehensive post-operative care advice have reduced short term complications and improved long term results.”
“In the short term, modern developments have decreased wound infection and graft rejection risks, reduced donor site morbidity and shortened post-operative downtime.”
To get the best results possible from your hair transplant, follow all aftercare instructions as closely as you can. Dr Correia shares his advice on scalp care in the first month:
“The first week postoperatively is vital, as it is during this time that the grafts begin to heal within the incisions and are still at risk of being displaced if not handled with care. It is paramount that no force is exerted onto the grafts at this stage.
At The Wimpole Clinic, we advise that the grafts are only gently cleansed during the first week, starting on day one with an hourly spray, followed by gentle washing with shampoo and rinsing clean from day three.
From day seven, gentle massaging of the grafts during shampooing should be performed to break up and remove the scabs that were formed to initially help protect and anchor the grafts. This can take up to three to five days, however, if by seven days of massaging the grafts, there are still some scabs left, I would advise gentle small circles with a fine toothed comb to pry them away.
A normal shampoo routine can be started from day ten to fourteen post-operatively, using a mild shampoo with minimal chemicals and preferable one natural oil. This regime lowers risk of graft displacement and wound infection.”
Post-operative instructions vary depending on the type of procedure you’ve had and your individual characteristics and lifestyle. So it’s best to follow your surgeon’s advice, even if it’s different to advice online or what friends may have been told after similar procedures.
The Wimpole Clinic offers a comprehensive hair transplant aftercare service and aftercare pack, including:
Using these items as advised can help you get the best possible results by one month post-transplant.
One-month hair transplant results vary from person to person for several reasons. Firstly, hair growth cycles differ, meaning that some people’s transplanted hairs enter the growth phase sooner, while others experience more shedding first.
Your age, skin type, and general health all impact how fast you heal, so healing times also differ. Your results after one month will also depend on the type of procedure you had (FUE vs FUT), and the skill and specific techniques of your surgeon.
Another big factor is how closely you follow aftercare instructions. Following the instructions you’re given is one of the best ways to get the results you want from your surgery.
Dr Correia comments on individual factors that may affect healing rates after a hair transplant:
“Smoking delays wound healing, increases infection risk and may reduce graft survival. Ideally this should be stopped prior to procedure, or at least reduced.
Underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, vascular disease and hypertension affect blood flow to the scalp and may increase the risk of slow healing, as well as infections. It is important that these conditions are well controlled prior to transplantation.
Previous scarring can cause a higher graft rejection rate due to decreased blood flow to the area. Patients with thinner scalp skin may notice prolonged redness areas worked on. This would be assessed in consultation and an appropriate plan created for the optimal outcome.
Aftercare in patients with risk factors would focus on regular monitoring and assessment of any possible complications, and managing those appropriately.”
Itchiness is very common in the first few weeks after a hair transplant [1]. Histamine — the chemical that makes you itch — is released as part of the body’s anti-inflammatory response.
Hair transplant side effects like this usually disappear in less than a month, but you may experience some lingering itchiness, especially if you’ve had complications or your recovery has been slow.
Itchiness often subsides if you take an antihistamine or when you wash your hair after your hair transplant. If the itchiness persists for longer than a month, speak to your clinic. They may prescribe a steroid cream to help relieve the itch.
See what your hair transplant will look like at each stage of the hair transplant growth chart:
Ready to restore your hair? The Wimpole Clinic, awarded best hair transplant clinic for four years running, has performed more than 20,000 successful hair transplants to date.
Our aftercare service is second to none, helping our patients get the results they want at one month post-transplant and beyond. If you’d like to see for yourself, check out our hair transplant before and after photo gallery.
Unsure whether a transplant is right for you? Book your free consultation to ask the questions you really want to ask before hair transplant surgery.
If you’re a good candidate for a hair transplant, you can have the procedure at your nearest clinic location and you’ll have access to some of the best hair transplant surgeons in the UK.
At one month post-transplant, it’s generally safe to wear hats and style your hair gently, as the grafts should be securely in place. Avoid tight hats or excessive pressure when styling, and be cautious with heat tools to protect the new follicles.
If you have any complications with your recovery, your surgeon will advise you on whether it’s safe to wear hats and style your hair after one month. Learn more about how long after a transplant you can wear a hat.
At one month, it’s not too late to improve a poorly healing graft or donor area. Most healing should be well underway but redness, discomfort and other symptoms can still be present if healing is delayed. Your surgeon may recommend treatments like topical steroids or antibiotics to combat post-transplant swelling or a hair transplant infection.
It’s completely normal to see little or no growth one month after a hair transplant. Most transplanted hairs shed within weeks, and new hair growth typically starts around 4 months post-transplant [6]. Your surgeon will explain the full healing timeline and what to expect at each stage, including the fact that final results often take 12 months to become visible.
Surgeons usually advise limiting direct sun exposure for the first few months post-transplant. The transplanted follicles are delicate, and harsh sunlight may harm them in the early months — too much sunlight is not good for your hair. It’s best to use a hat or sunscreen to protect the grafts once it’s safe to do so — your surgeon will advise you exactly when that is.
Wimpole Clinic Services:
Hair Transplants, Beard Transplants & Eyebrow Transplants.
Talk to a specialist
With experience in all steps of the transplant process, including graft extraction, incisions, and graft placement, as well as proficiency with all incision methods – including sapphire blades – Dr. Correia (GMC 7426938) possesses an in-depth skill set at the disposal of his clients’ wishes.
His clientele has included celebrities, professional athletes, and social media influencers, all seeking discreet, high-quality care tailored to their public-facing lives.
Having undergone extensive training under the guidance of pioneering hair transplant surgeon Mr. Michael May at the esteemed Wimpole Clinic, he has developed a wealth of expertise in the field of hair restoration. His experience and mentorship under Mr. Michael May have equipped him with cutting-edge techniques and a profound understanding of the intricate art and science of hair transplantation. This comprehensive training has positioned him as a skilled and innovative practitioner in the realm of cosmetic surgery, ready to deliver exceptional results to his clients.
Having graduated from University College London with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery, along with a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience, he continued with a 10-year career in the NHS in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, focusing on surgical specialties, including Emergency, Colorectal, Breast, and Transplant Surgery.
Dr. Correia enjoys combining his interest in the science of hair transplantation with his upbringing in an artistic family to create natural aesthetic designs that complement his clients’ unique features. He also understands how important the decision to undertake a hair transplant can be for his clients and prioritises collaboration throughout the process for optimal outcomes.
