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Hair Transplantation Results

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On this page we’re going to take you through everything you should expect from your hair transplant recovery process, what you can do to ensure you get the most optimal hair transplantation results, and how long you’ll need to wait before you can see what your hair transplantation before and after results are.

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Table of Contents

How Long Before You See Results?

In order to make an educated decision about the possibility of having a successful hair transplant, it’s always advisable to look at hair transplantation before and after photos. Always talk to a medical professional about hair loss.

Hair transplants can restore permanent fullness and graft density to balding parts, with a 95% recovery rate for total grafts. Regardless of knowing what the hair transplantation results will look like in the end, how long before you actually get to see some change happening on your scalp?

Hair Transplantation Results After 1 Month

A common mistake that many people make is believing that this procedure provides instant hair transplantation results, but that isn’t the case. It does take some time before you are able to see any difference throughout your hair. You may not see any hair transplantation results after the first month as the hair follicles are in their dormant phase, you could possibly experience some of the side effects that come with getting this procedure.

Hair Transplantation Results After 3 Months

Once you hit the 3-month mark, you would have probably experienced some of the hair transplantation side effects. However, this point of time in your recovery journey is a significant one as you are likely to enter the Anagen phase of the hair growth cycle. Once you enter this stage you will start to see some signs of hair growth on your scalp where the procedure had taken place.

Hair Transplant Results After 6 Months

Around the six-month mark, you will have reached halfway along your hair transplant recovery journey and will start noticing the first signs of your hair transplantation results. You will see an increase in the growth of your hair and see a marked difference in the density of your hair.

The growth rate of your transplanted hair will start to match the rest of your hair after you reach this stage. Depending on your hair type, you will typically shed 1-2 cm per month. It is the Emergent stage of hair growth, during which you will see approximately 50-60% of your hair transplantation results.

You will observe 70-80% of your maximum hair results around your 8-month mark. Those who received DHI and FUE hair transplants will enjoy this exciting time as they begin to reap the rewards of your hair transplantation results. As the hair density increases in all previously bald or patchy areas of the scalp, you will start seeing the true hair transplantation results at this point in the recovery process.

Hair Transplant Results After 12 Months

Within one year of a hair transplant, most people’s hair thickens and grows to its full potential. There are cases, however, when the full results of a hair transplant are not evident until 18 months after the surgery.

Hair transplantation results are dependent on several factors, including the method of hair transplant you selected, your hair density and growth cycle, and how closely you followed the doctor’s hair transplantation instructions before, during and after the procedure.

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Factors That Can Influence Your Hair Transplantation Results

In order to achieve the best possible results from your hair transplant procedure, there are a few factors to look at.

  • Preparation: You should prepare yourself mentally and physically when it comes to getting a hair transplant. The way you prepare yourself can influence your hair transplantation results. There are a few hair transplant clinics that offer a preparation box that includes some products you will need to use to thicken your existing hair. The thicker your hair is on the day of your procedure, the fewer grafts will be needed to complete your transplant.
  • Your Surgeon and medical team’s expertise: The type of procedure you select for your hair transplant will undoubtedly influence your final results. This is where your surgeon’s expertise comes in. Along with your surgeon needing to correctly assess your hair follicles, they will need to tell you which hair transplant method would suit you best and give you the maximum results.
  • Your natural hair growth cycle: There are four phases to hair growth, and this can be observed in natural hair and hair transplants. These phases are called the telogen, exogen, anagen, and catagen phases. The way your hair grows naturally will affect how long it takes for you to see your hair transplantation results.
  • Aftercare: After your hair transplant surgery, your surgeon will give you a few aftercare instructions to follow. The way you follow these instructions will also determine what your final hair transplantation results will look like.

When you first consult with a medical professional about a hair transplant, they will go over everything you need to know from the different types of hair transplant methods to what affects the outcome of your procedure. Along with that, they should also provide you with what you need to do before your procedure, and what aftercare steps are necessary.

How to Ensure Optimal Hair Transplantation Results

Following a strict aftercare regimen will ensure you experience the best results from your hair transplant. The first three months following a hair transplant should be spent avoiding rubbing the grafts. You should also use mild shampoo when gently washing your hair. One week after having a hair transplant, one can typically resume normal daily life activities.

All of your transplanted hairs will fall out, but this is not an indication that the treatment failed and is completely normal. After hair transplants, regrowth typically begins about six to nine months later. However, you should please contact your surgeon if you notice any irregularities with your newly transplanted hair. There are a few things you can do to ensure you end up with the most optimal hair transplantation results.

  • Make sure you wash your hair frequently: Use lukewarm water and avoid applying too much pressure to your hair. You should also try not to wash your hair too vigorously.
  • Avoid direct sunlight on your scalp: Solar radiation can damage your transplanted hair as well as cause pigmentation problems.

Along with the steps you need to follow for proper aftercare, there are also certain things you will be required to avoid to get those ideal hair transplantation results. Avoid the following:

  • Driving: Driving is not recommended for 24 hours after your hair transplantation. Local anaesthesia is used in hair transplantation, so you should get someone to drive you to and from the procedure.
  • Sleeping flat: Avoid sleeping flat on your head. It is best to sleep with your head elevated for the first seven days after surgery in order to reduce swelling.
  • Forgetting about your medication: Your surgeon will give you some medication to take after your hair transplant. This usually includes antibiotics to avoid getting an infection. Make sure you don’t forget to take it!
  • Sleeping on your tummy: This goes hand-in-hand with sleeping flat. When you sleep on your stomach, you risk swelling.
  • Ice: This might be one of your best friends during your recovery. By resting some ice above your eyebrows for about 30 minutes, you can reduce any swelling you may have. Just ensure you never place the ice directly on your scalp.
  • Colouring your hair: There’s nothing worse you could do than dyeing your hair. For at least the first six months, you should avoid dyeing your hair at all. This is because your newly transplanted hair follicles are very fragile and the chemicals in the hair dye will damage them.
  • Dehydration: Maintain hydration by drinking plenty of water. Maintaining this hydration will ensure that your hair transplantation results are excellent. Staying hydrated will help you recover more quickly after the procedure.

All you need to do is follow these steps and you’ll look years younger and more confident in no time as you’ll have better hair transplantation results than you expected!

Also read our 7 tips to reduce swelling after a hair transplant.

Understanding the Different Hair Growth Phases

In both natural and transplanted hair, the hair growth cycle consists of four phases. These four phases are:

  • Telogen
  • Exogen
  • Anagen
  • Catagen 

Following your hair transplant procedure, you can expect to see some progress in your hair transplantation results. Let’s run through what happens in each of these phases.

Telogen Phase

After your hair transplant, this is the first phase that your hair automatically goes in. The Telogen phase is also known as the resting phase, and in this stage, your hair will not grow. However, it will stay affixed to your hair follicles. This phase, combined with the Exogen phase usually lasts for around 3 months where you’ll then enter the Anagen phase.

Exogen Phase

As you grow your hair, you will experience the exogen phase which is essentially an extension of the Telogen phase. This stage is also known as shedding, and you can expect to lose up to 100 hairs a day – which is completely normal. This phase can last anywhere from 2 to 5 months.

Anagen Phase

After you’ve experienced all the shedding, you will then head into the Anagen phase which is also known as the growing phase. The pigment melanin is produced within the hair bulb, which is a tunnel-like pouch in the epidermis from which hair grows. In the bulb, living cells divide quickly and force the dormant hairs known as “club hairs” out of the follicle.

The melanin which is produced is a concentrated pigment made up of cells called melanocytes that line the follicles, with the colour of new hair determined by the position of these cells. 

The Anagen phase is the stage where you’ll first get to notice any of your hair transplantation results. You will visibly notice your hair growth and an increase in your hair density. This phase usually lasts around 3 to 5 years, but sometimes even lasts as long as 7 years. It lasts much longer than any of the other hair growth phases.

Catagen Phase

The catagen phase begins after the anagen phase has ended, and tends to last about 10 days. The hair follicles shrink during this chapter, causing hair growth to slow down. During its final days of development, the hair remains in place after it separates from the bottom of the follicle.

Hair Transplantation Results From Different Methods

The thing to keep in mind when looking at hair transplantation results is that you may not get exactly what you see on all the images online. A few factors play a role in the overall outcome, a major one being the type of hair transplant you choose to undergo.

There are a few different types of hair transplants to choose from, and each of them will give you different hair transplantation results. The hair transplant methods you can choose from include:

For the purpose of better understanding what the hair transplantation results of each of these methods are, we have laid out who gets these treatments and what to expect from them.

FUT | Follicular Unit Transplant

The follicular unit transplant, or FUT, is best suited if you’re looking for a fuller head of hair. The one thing you can expect from these hair transplantation results is a minor scar, although you’ll luckily be able to cover this with your hair once it grows out.

Using this method, your surgeon will need to remove a small amount of skin from behind your head, resulting in a scar. Based on how many follicles will be required for the implantation process, the size of this strip will ultimately vary.

FUE | Follicular Unit Extraction

If you find yourself balding, there’s no need to worry! The FUE hair transplant method might be the best option for you! Many hair transplantation clinics will offer you two different kinds of FUE methods, namely the standard method and the FUE Sapphire method.

The FUE Sapphire method is less invasive than the standard method as it makes use of a sapphire blade instead of scalpels like the standard FUE method does.

DHI | Direct Hair Implantation

The DHI, or direct hair implantation method is the better option if you only suffer from hair that is thinning. This method’s follicular unit extraction from the donor site process is exactly the same as the FUE method. The main difference between the two methods is when it comes to the insertion process.

When your surgeon performs the DHI method, a Choi Implanter is used to insert the extracted hair follicles into the desired areas.

FUE & DHI Combination

Perhaps you battle with both thinning hair and balding over certain areas. In this case, the best thing would be to get both the FUE and the DHI methods. While many places will request that you get these procedures separately, there are very few clinics that offer a combination of the two done at the same time. Doing this will give you optimal hair transplantation results.

Affordable Transplants With Exceptional Results

If you’re looking at getting an affordable procedure that produces optimal hair transplantation results, then travelling to Turkey would be your best option! A big reason to travel to Turkey for your hair transplant is that you can save up to 70% of your money for the procedure than if you were to do it locally!

Many Turkish clinics will also offer all-inclusive packages which include travel, luxury accommodation and more. You can get a hair transplant in Turkey for as low as €2,000! It is still possible to receive quality care and get the procedure performed by highly qualified surgeons despite the low hair transplantation costs. 

Good vs. Bad Hair Transplantation Results

People go for hair transplants because they want to feel good about themselves, and gain some confidence back that they might have lost. When getting a hair transplant, there is a 95% success rate, but there is still a 5% chance of it going bad.

Bad hair transplants may result in scarring that is obvious or excessive, noticeable implant clusters, or unnatural hairlines. An inexperienced hair surgeon might harvest too much hair from the same area of the scalp during FUE, leaving the donor areas with suboptimal amounts of hair. 

The best thing to do is to research the various hair transplant clinics and see which surgeons they use. This way you can ensure you’re getting the best quality for the money you spend.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Hair transplants are permanent. The moment your hair reaches the Anagen phase, you will see your final hair transplantation results.
The time it takes for hair transplantation results to be visible will differ from person to person. However, you will first notice some results after 6 months, with the final hair transplantation results being available around 12 months later.
Turkey is one of the most affordable countries to get a hair transplant in. You can save up to 70% when compared to the cost of doing it locally.
There are a few things you can do to ensure you have positive hair transplantation results. Your surgeon will often equip you with a list of dos and don’ts before you undergo the procedure. We talk a bit more about this in this article.
The success rate of hair transplants are up to 95%, so you can rest assured knowing you’re in good hands if you choose the correct clinic, experienced surgeons and follow your aftercare regime.

Last updated by Wendy on January 4, 2023. Content medically reviewed by D. Demirel, MD.

  • Ekelem, C., Pham, C., & Mesinkovska, N. A. (2019). A systematic review of the outcome of hair transplantation in primary scarring alopecia. Skin appendage disorders, 5(2), 65-71.
  • Fattah, J. H. (2021). Adjuvant measures and genetic evaluations to improve results of hair transplantation. Cellular and Molecular Biology, 67(4), 367-375.
  • Nuri, T., Abe, N., Sakamoto, A., Tsushima, A., Kasai, Y., Narui, Y., & Ueda, K. (2021). Treatment of scarring alopecia from trauma and surgical procedures in young patients using follicular unit hair transplantation. Pediatric Dermatology, 38(3), 721-723.
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