You may have heard that a hair transplant is as close as you can get to a cure for baldness with today’s medical technology. And that if you are one of the 85% of men [1] and 55% of women [2] who experience androgenetic alopecia at some point in life, it could be the most effective option to solve your hair loss problems. But how long does a hair transplant last? Can you enjoy the results of hair restoration surgery for a lifetime or will your newly transplanted grafts start falling out in a few months or years?
The good news is that in most cases, a hair transplant is permanent, which means you can enjoy fuller hair forever. However, having your procedure at a reputable clinic and closely following hair transplant aftercare instructions can increase your chances of success. This article will tell you all you need to know, including:
A hair transplant is a simple surgical procedure which requires no hospitalisation and is often completed within a few hours. The surgeon will first mark the previously agreed-upon donor and transplant areas on your head. Then, they will inject your scalp with a local anaesthetic to keep you comfortable during the procedure.
Once your scalp is numb, the surgical team will harvest healthy hair follicles from your safe donor area (normally on the back of your head). They will then create small slits in your balding areas and implant the harvested hair grafts, following your natural hair growth patterns.
The surgeon will then apply disinfectants to the areas and potentially a hair transplant bandage and provide you with aftercare instructions. Once all this is completed, you will be ready to go home and start healing. Learn more about how a hair transplant works.
The reason hair transplants are extremely effective, especially for patients with androgenetic alopecia, rests in hair follicle sensitivity. Some of your hair follicles, especially those on your hairline, temples and crown, are more sensitive to a male hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT binds to androgen receptors in sensitive follicles and makes them shrink, leading to hair miniaturisation and, eventually, balding. That is how androgenetic alopecia occurs [3].
However, follicles at the back of your head are less sensitive to DHT, so they are not normally affected by pattern balding. This doesn’t change when they’re transplanted to other parts of your head.
You will be happy to learn that hair transplants are permanent [4], which means that there is no expiration date. If the procedure is performed properly and you are diligent with the aftercare instructions, you should still be able to enjoy your hair transplant results after 10 years, 20 years or even more.
Once your grafts have survived and become securely attached to the transplant site (and any hair transplant shock loss has passed), your hair will keep growing normally, as if it had always been there. And unless something unforeseen happens to the transplanted follicles (such as mechanical damage, hair follicle infections, or a new type of alopecia), they should re-enter the normal stages of the normal hair growth cycle.
However, while you can expect your hair transplant to last a lifetime, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will maintain the same hair density. As we age, our hair often grows thinner and this can also affect transplanted follicles.
Moreover, while more research is needed to prove this, one 2020 article [5] suggests that the majority of patients who have undergone FUT surgery experience some reduction in hair density 4 years post-surgery.
In rare circumstances, your newly transplanted grafts don’t last as long as they should. Some of these are related to the hair restoration procedure, others to different, unrelated occurrences. Here are some of the most common reasons your transplanted hair may fall out:
The best thing you can do to ensure that your hair transplant will last a lifetime is to choose your surgeon and clinic wisely. Make sure your surgery is performed by an experienced professional, in a clean, safe environment where health and safety codes are respected.
After your surgery, it is crucial to carefully follow your surgeon’s aftercare instructions. Keeping the transplant area clean and protected (and respecting the recommended downtime before resuming your normal activities) will help your grafts survive and attach securely to your scalp. It will also prevent infection that can damage the fragile newly implanted hair follicles. Furthermore, be sure to contact your surgeon at any sign that something may be wrong with your healing process.
Once your hair transplant has healed, you don’t have to take any specific measures to protect the area. Simply treat your hair gently and avoid overexposure to the sun, heat-styling (heat-damaged hair can be very hard to fix!) and using hair products that contain harsh chemicals. This will help reduce unnecessary hair breakage and keep your hair full, healthy and happy indefinitely.
Your trichologist may also recommend that you take hair growth medications, such as Minoxidil and Finasteride. This can help prevent further hair loss around your transplant area.
This largely depends on when and why your transplanted hair may be falling out. It is perfectly normal for the hair on your freshly implanted grafts to fall out about 2 weeks after your procedure. This is a phenomenon known as hair transplant shedding (or shock loss). However, it is temporary and it does not damage your newly transplanted hair follicles. It just causes the hair shafts growing out of them to shed. You will start experiencing new hair growth 3-4 months post-procedure.
If you notice your transplanted hair falling out after 1 year or any time after your shock loss has resolved, it is a good idea to contact your surgeon. It may be due to a temporary type of alopecia, such as telogen effluvium. This condition occurs when you are under significant physical or psychological stress and normally resolves itself in 3-4 months after the stressful event has ended. But only a hair doctor can confirm whether your hair loss is temporary and benign or if it requires intervention.
Both FUE and FUT hair transplants produce excellent, permanent results in improving your hair density. There is no difference between how long an FUE transplant lasts when compared to FUT; they should both normally last forever.
However, there are certain differences between FUE and FUT hair transplants. FUE involves harvesting hair follicles individually, while FUT entails harvesting an entire strip of skin from your donor area before cutting it into grafts.
FUE can be more precise and leave virtually no scarring, but it is also more time-consuming. FUT, on the other hand, can be performed faster, but it will leave a fine scar on your donor area and take slightly longer to heal. However, these differences in no way affect how long your hair transplant will last.
According to the hair transplant timeline, you should be able to see your final hair restoration surgery results about 9-12 months post-procedure. However, every person is different, so don’t be too concerned if a year has passed and your new hair is still growing in. For some patients, it can take up to 18 months for the results to become final.
Keeping in close touch with your surgeon and attending follow-up appointments can provide you with reassurance that your healing process is on track. Your surgeon will also be able to tell you whether your results are final or if you can expect further hair growth.
It is difficult to say whether a patient will need a second hair transplant in the future. Statistics provided by the ISHRS show that almost 32% of patients need more than one procedure to achieve the desired result [6]. This can happen for several reasons – here are some of the most common:
Yes, getting a hair transplant is normally a very safe procedure, provided that you are having your surgery at a reputable hair clinic. While you may encounter some hair transplant side effects, they are normally mild and temporary. Most should subside in a couple of days. Serious hair transplant risks (such as procedure failure, tissue necrosis, and hair transplant overharvesting) are rare. They tend to be associated with underskilled or unauthorised technicians instead of experienced surgeons.
Proper aftercare and respecting your surgeon’s recommendations regarding the safe resuming of activities can minimise your risk of developing unwanted side effects such as infection or poor graft survival.
Not everyone is a good candidate for a hair transplant. However, some people can achieve excellent results from getting hair restoration surgery. You may benefit from getting a hair transplant if [4]:
No other treatments or therapies come close to lasting as long as surgical hair restoration. Hair growth medications, such as Minoxidil or Finasteride, need to be used every day to remain effective. And while the effects of therapies such as PRP hair treatment or PRF for hair loss can last for months or even years, you still need to get regular refresher sessions.
The scientific community is exploring new permanent hair growth treatments, such as hair cloning and stem cell hair transplants. But it will be at least a decade before these innovative solutions may start to become commercially available. So if you are looking for a permanent solution to your hair loss in the present, a hair transplant may be your best bet.
If you are thinking about getting hair restoration surgery, keep in mind that this is a lifelong investment in your appearance. The support and expertise of a top-tier surgeon can help you get a natural-looking hair transplant that lasts forever.
The Wimpole Clinic has a 50-year legacy of hair restoration excellence, with success rates of nearly 100% for both FUT and FUE procedures. So don’t hesitate and book a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our hair transplant surgeons. They will help you determine if you can benefit from surgical hair restoration and answer all of your questions regarding this potentially life-changing procedure.
If you would like to find out more about how long a hair transplant may last, read the answers to these frequently asked questions.
Smoking can interfere with your hair transplant results and duration in several ways. It can slow down your healing process, promote infection, reduce blood flow to your hair follicles, promote microinflammation around your grafts and increase oxidative stress [7][8]. Therefore, smoking may prevent your hair transplant from being successful and long-lasting. So it is a good idea to listen to your surgeon and quit smoking at least 2 weeks before and after your hair restoration surgery for the best results.
It’s not the place where you get your hair transplant that determines how long it will last, but the experience of the surgeon, the safety and hygiene conditions the surgery is performed under, and the quality of the aftercare.
However, it is true that many hair transplant clinics in Turkey have red flags. These are usually the facilities that offer highly discounted hair restoration surgeries that they are not authorised to perform. They often hire untrained and inexperienced technicians instead of surgeons and cut corners on procedure safety, which can result in poor outcomes, such as graft overharvesting and hair transplant failure.
So always be sure to do your due diligence regarding the clinic you choose and the surgeon you decide to trust with your hair and select a safe, well-reputed, authorised option. While hair transplants in Turkey may cost less, it’s not always worth the risk.
That depends on the reason your hair transplant failed. If it was due to a medical error or patient safety regulations not being followed during the procedure, you may be entitled to compensation.
However, a failed hair transplant is not always a result of something the surgical team did wrong. Inadequate aftercare or failing to wait the recommended amount of time before wearing a hat after your hair transplant or engaging in strenuous exercise can also hurt your grafts. Infections may also develop if you don’t keep your transplant area clean.
Minoxidil is a vasodilator, which means it can increase blood flow to your hair follicles, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to them. This can support them in growing strong, healthy hair. So if your surgeon recommends that you keep using Minoxidil after your hair transplant, it can indeed support your grafts and stimulate your hair follicles for growth. It can also help reduce hair loss around your hair transplant, decreasing the risk of needing a second intervention.
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