Thinning hair is the result of a variety of causes including genetics. Your hair is one of the main features of the head and has a great effect on your overall appearance. A thinning hairline has a great impact on confidence, that’s why many people seek treatments to counter hair loss problems.
The best way to combat hair loss is to get hair transplants. Learn more about the recovery time for hair transplantation to determine how long it will take to achieve fuller hair volume.
What is Hair Transplant?
Hair transplant is a procedure wherein a plastic or dermatologic surgeon removes hair from the bald spots on your scalp. Hair is grafted from the back, side, or whichever portion of the head has thick hair volume. The grafted portion is then surgically relocated to the balding portion of the scalp.
Graft sizes depend on the type of operation and how much area needs to be filled. Slit grafts contain around 4 to 10 hair strands, while micrografts may contain as little as 2 strands.
There are two popular techniques for hair transplantation procedure, namely follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE). While the specific processes in each procedure differ, their hair transplant recovery period is pretty much the same.
A comprehensive consultation will help specialists determine the most appropriate treatment for your hair loss problems. Before undergoing the procedure, make sure you understand the whole process and have discussed the recovery for hair transplant with your doctor.
The process can take around 4 to 8 hours, depending on the size of the area that needs grafting. The healing time for a hair transplant is relatively short, so there’s no need to worry about not getting back to your usual routine for weeks. However, the results of the procedure fully show 8 to 12 months after the surgery.
Hair Transplant Recovery Timeline
After the procedure, here’s what you can expect during your recovery period:
After 1 day
You’ll experience tenderness, itchiness, redness, numbness, and minor pain weeks after the hair transplant procedure. You can take antibiotics to help treat mild and severe skin allergies as prescribed by your doctor.
Beware that the post-treatment protocol will affect your sleep. You’ll feel fatigued and may have a hard time sleeping.
The best way to mitigate uncomfortable side effects is following the advice of your doctor. Taking these precautions helps your scalp heal quicker. Following your doctor’s instructions to get the best possible outcome.
After 2 to 7 days
A new hairline will start appearing where the grafted hair follicles should be. Scabbing may also be observed on your scalp, both on the grafted and placement areas. You might also experience skin swelling which usually subsides after several days.
You may feel minor soreness and tenderness on your scalp. Pain relief medication can be taken if the pain is too much to handle.
Avoid touching grafts as you may infect the operated area. Follow the showering and hair washing instructions given to you during your healing process. Hair transplant healing will take longer if you don’t follow post-treatment protocols.
After 1 month
Several weeks after the hair restoration surgery, hair will start appearing on the transplanted area. New hair will regrow on the grafted location, but it will take some time before your look becomes normal. New hair growth will be slow at first while the head adapts to the new setup of the transplanted follicles.
After 6 months
After 6 months, you’ll notice that hair grows quicker on the grafted area. You’ll see your hair volume increase faster than before.
Noticeable improvements can now be seen as your scalp prepares for the final phases of your hair transplant recovery timeline. Your hair will grow back into its full volume after a year or so.
After 1 year
A year after the procedure is when you’ll start seeing the full effect of the hair transplant. Your scalp will experience increased hair growth as you approach full hair density.
While this is still not the final phase of your hair transplant recovery cycle, you’ll already observe that your current hairline will become fuller than before, giving your head a more youthful appearance.
After 18 months
On average, it will be around after 18 months before you enjoy the full effects of your hair transplant procedure. By this time, you can freely style your hair and no one will be able to tell the difference between the grafted areas on your scalp. The newly transplanted hair will grow similar to non-grafted hair follicles, giving your hair volume a natural look.
The results of hair transplants are permanent, so there’s no need to worry about the grafted area coming off.
After the full recovery process is done, you’ll be invited back by your doctor for a post-operative consultation. Your specialist will evaluate the regrowth area and give you an assessment of how successful the transplant has been. In case you need further treatment, your doctor will give you a timeframe on when to return to achieve your desired appearance.
Side Effects to Observe During the Recuperation Period
Scabs at the incision sites shouldn’t be picked off and inhibit the hair transplant recovery time. Your doctor will advise you on what to do in case the side effects persist and become unsightly to look at.
Some of the risks after the transplant are bleeding and infection. Scarring and unnatural hair growth might also become apparent, especially if post-treatment protocols are not followed.
Shock loss is another side effect of the hair transplant procedure. This happens when the original area where follicles were grafted starts to lose hair after the procedure. This is usually a short-term, non-permanent side effect that disappears after a few weeks.
A hair transplant is designed to last a lifetime. But as you age, the hair follicles will become thinner, and you’ll still lose some hair in the process. However, you’ll have more hair volume now compared to what you had before the transplant, so you’ll still look better and younger as you age.
If hair thinning continues, your hairline won’t recede like before and follow the old hair loss pattern. If you’re bothered with how it looks, set an appointment with your specialist to make sure your scalp won’t appear patchy or unnatural.
Want Lesser Side Effects? Go With Robotic Hair Transplant
Do you want to lower the risk of having side effects of the procedure? Robotic Hair Transplant may be the best option to minimize errors and increase the success rate of the transplantation process.
Traditional hair transplant procedures are manually done, thus they run the risk of the specialist experiencing fatigue during the treatment. This can cause a degradation of the quality while increasing the risk of mistakes due to repetition and exhaustion. In Robotic Hair Transplant, a machine will do all the work for better precision and a smaller margin for error.
Here at Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeons Centre, we use the most advanced technology in Robotic Hair Transplantation procedures. Our ARTAS Hair Transplant procedure uses state-of-the-art technology to create an in-depth and interactive 3D simulation of the proposed treatment. The operation uses image-guided robotics and ARTAS’s intelligent algorithm for enhanced precision, minimal damage, and outstanding results.
Who To Trust For Hair Transplant Procedures
The success of the hair transplant procedure depends heavily on the doctor that will perform it. They have to be hair transplant specialists with years of experience in the field. That’s why here at the Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeons Centre, we only have board-certified and highly-trained experts in hair transplant procedures.
Included in the roster of doctors is Dr. Nicholas Nikolov – one of the leading specialists in hair transplant treatment. Dr. Nikolov’s precise hands can restore not just your crowning glory but also your confidence with your hair. With revolutionary hair transplant procedures that involve hair follicle transplants, Dr. Nikolov can help you address issues like balding, receding hairline, or uncontrollable hair loss.
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeons Centre is the leading institute for cosmetic procedures in the Middle East. Our facility is home to renowned physicians and specialists worldwide, so you can rest assured you’re in good hands with us. We’re committed to achieving the most aesthetically appealing results and providing superior care to our hair transplant patients.
For hair transplant procedures, we offer FUE and FUT techniques. We also offer advanced robotic hair transplant options, as well as eyelash and eyebrow transplants. We continue to strive to enhance your appearance through state-of-the-art treatments and service.
It’s time to get a thicker hair volume and look younger than ever! Book your appointment today!
