The recovery after FUE hair transplant surgery is split into 4 stages.
1) Post-op recovery
2) Hair Shedding Phase
3) Initial Growth stage of transplanted hair follicles
4) Final Results of hair transplant
The post-op recovery consists of two weeks of self-care that you will be advised to follow. The first five days consists of resting as much as you can, taking the pain and anti0inflamatory medication prescribed along with the anti-biotics. This helps you stay as comfortable as possible and prevent any risk of skin infections.
During the first five days you may experience facial swelling. This is normal, some people swell a lot, whereas others hardly notice any swelling. Within a few days the swelling starts to subside and the cuts (incisions) start to heal and form scabs. It is important to keep the transplanted hair moist during this stage using the sterilised solution provided and applying cream and oil in the donor area.
Days 5- 14
You can start washing your hair after day 5 using the shampoo provided. It is pH neutral to prevent damage to the healing scalp and follicles. Over the next few days the scabs will start to flake off and the transplanted hair remains. After two weeks, normal physical activity can resume, along with your pre-surgery hair care routine.
The shedding stage is the process when transplanted hair falls out (sheds) before regrowing again. This can begin in the first few weeks after hair transplant surgery and can last up to 3-4 months after surgery. As each hair follicle may be at a different stage of growth, the hair follicles may fall out at different times. Similarly, they will regrow at different times.
The growing stage follows the shedding phase. Between the 3rd and 6th month after FUE hair transplant surgery, an initial growth of transplanted hair is seen. By the end of the 6months, we usually expect approximately 40-50% of the hair follicles to have started to grow. The remainder of the hair grow in the
The full results can take up approximately 12 months. The crown area can take up to 18 months for the full growth of transplanted hair. Each patient’s hair growth cycle is unique so it is important to understand that hair grows at varying speeds. If your hair growth is taking longer than usual, don’t panic. Follow the aftercare advice you have been given and attend the review appointments along with any ongoing aftercare treatment to ensure you get the best possible results.
You can get a haircut two weeks after your FUE hair transplant. The first haircut we advise your barber gives a scissors cut and avoids using trimmers (clippers). These can cause growing hair follicles to get blocked and some people may still feel quite sensitive in the scalp after surgery for a few weeks or months.
The donor begins to recover straight after surgery. However, some people may experience mild soreness or sensitivity for weeks and rarely months after surgery. This is normal and not something to be concerned. If you do feel that you are having to take pain relief or are experiencing excessive itching or other scalp problems months after your surgery, then do get in touch and ask to see the hair transplant surgeon for a review.
