Hair Shedding After a Hair Transplant

After hair transplantation surgery, I’ve been told that the transplanted hairs will fall out after a period of time before they regrow.   Is this true?

Yes, this is true.  

Between 2 to 4 weeks after a hair transplant, just about all of the transplanted hair will shed.   These hairs go into what is called the telogen or resting phase.   Rest assured, however…the hairs will grow back, but not right away.  

Typically it takes up to 3 to 5 months for the transplanted hairs to start growing back.      As the hairs start to grow, they will most likely not be visible as the will  start out as thin colorless hairs, invisible to the naked eye on the beginning.   Most patients, however, can begin to feel these hairs with their fingertips, even though they can’ t be seen.

These hairs will grow, thicken, and darken with time and eventually match the characteristics of your native hair.   It is important to understand that everybody grows at different rates.   Full maturation of a hair transplant can be seen at about 12 months.   Hold off your final evaluation of whether or not your hair transplant was successful until then.   Most patients, however,  should see a decent cosmetic improvement between  month 6 and 8.

Bill
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog

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