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After a hair transplantation procedure is completed, the recovery period begins. This period is considered very critical because this is the phase when you have to take extra guidelines provided by your surgeon. Before you leave hair transplant clinic, your surgeon will provide you a list of aftercare instructions that need to be followed sincerely. A hair transplant procedure may sometimes be strenuous; hence, a candidate must go for recuperation help afterward. This is particularly helpful for individuals who are already facing underlying hair loss issues as it helps prevent unfavorable situations after the procedure.
Growth Phase: It is the longest phase, which lasts 3-5 years, although in some cases, hair can grow for up to 7 years. During this stage, hair follicles actively push out hair which continue to grow. The process continues until they reach the end of their lifespan. Hair on scalp mostly have a longer growth phase in comparison to facial or pubic hairs.
Transition Phase: After the growth phase, transition phase starts that lasts nearly 10 days. Hair grow slowly in this stage, and hair follicles shrink slightly. Separation of hair from follicles happens and remains intact on scalp for its final days of growth. Nearly 3-5% of hair are in the transition phase at any given time.
Resting Phase: Transition phase is followed by the resting phase which lasts nearly 90 days. During this stage, hair growth stops while follicles form new hair. Nearly 10% to 15% of hair is in the resting phase at any particular time.
Shedding Phase: This stage is believed to be an extension of the resting stage and probably lasts 2-5 months. During this stage, hair get separated from follicles and those not effectively growing will shed. Hair shedding may happen as you sleep, wash, or brush. As old hair shed, new hair begin growing from follicles.
After 1 day
Your are required to follow aftercare instructions sincerely on the first day after a hair transplant. There can be some tenderness and swelling, which can be easily managed by taking pain relievers as suggested by the surgeon. Always position your head a little elevated and refrain from doing strenuous activities. Do not touch or scratch the transplanted region in order to prevent dislodging the grafts. Your surgeon will generally ask you to wait before you wash your hair or use hair products.
After 1 week
After one week, you might experience certain post-surgical effects like swollen or red transplanted area, and some scabbing might be noticed around the grafts. You need not worry as these signs are part of the healing process. Most people have to bear mild discomfort, but this can be effectively managed by taking pain medication. Follow aftercare instructions from the surgeon, like avoiding shampooing or any physical activities that may cause stress on your scalp. Avoiding scratching the transplanted area is very critical to keep grafts undisturbed.
After 10 days
After 10 days of hair transplant procedure, you may notice reduction in initial swelling and redness. There can be still scabs around the grafts but they will start falling off gradually. You may experience some hair shedding, but could be a normal event at this stage. You should focus on following your aftercare routine carefully. Most candidates may resume some light activities as suggested by doctor, but they should avoid any strenuous exercise and activities that could hamper the healing process.
After 15 days
After 15 days of hair transplant, there will be some early signs of recovery. You will notice reduction in initial swelling and tenderness. Some scabbing or crusting can still be seen in the transplanted area, which is considered normal and would slowly fall off. You should continue following your doctor's instructions for scalp care, such as gentle washing. You may notice slight redness or irritation. However, you will start feeling more comfortable.
After 1 month
Once you have crossed one month period after the procedure, you will notice that most of the scabs have slowly disappeared. There will also be reduction in the redness. It is normal to experience some transplanted hair shedding at this stage. You don't have to worry because it is part of a hair growth cycle that is called “shock loss,” which is characterized by shedding of the transplanted hair before the growth of new hair. The donor area will start healing, with gradual diminishing of any residual tenderness or sensitivity.
After 2 months
When you have completed 2 months, the initial shock loss of transplanted hair comes to an end. Some new hair growth can be seen, although hair will be initially little fine as well as thin. The recipient and donor areas will be healing, and there will be minimal visible signs of the hair transplant surgery. Like earlier, keep on taking good care of scalp and sincerely follow the surgeon's advice on hair and scalp treatment.
After 3 months
After the completion of 3 months, you will notice some more hair growth, while it is likely to be little fine and short. The final results may not be yet visible because hair continue to grow and thicken with time. The scalp will be healed well, and symptoms such as discomfort and redness should mostly go away. This is the best time to evaluate the progress with the surgeon and discuss whatever concerns you have about your hair growth and recovery.
After 4 months
After completing 4 months, you will notice a more visible improvement in the growth of hair. The new hair which started emerging during the first three months will start thickening and becoming more visible. While the transplanted hair can be still fine, it will slowly become more strong and dense.
After 5 months
With the completion of 5 months, you can clearly notice the the results of your hair transplant. The new hair grow in length and density, though they have not yet achieved their final thickness or fullness. While hair growth rates are likely to vary from person to person, most people begin to observe significant improvement by this time. The transplanted portion will look quite natural, and you would see the hair is filling in quite well.
After 6-12 months
After a span of 6-12 months, you will get to see much improvements in the density and appearance of your hair can be seen. Most people will notice fuller coverage as well a more natural-looking hairline when the transplanted hair grow fully. The final results of your hair transplant surgery become more apparent, though full maturation of new hair might continue up to 18 months.
After 12-18 months
After a duration of 12 to 18 months of a hair transplant, you would witness the expected results of the procedure. During this period, the transplanted hair generally grow to its complete length as well as density, and any previous thinning and unevenness will disappear.
Managing expectations after a hair transplant procedure is crucial. Here we will see a few important factors that affect managing your expectations before and after the procedure.
Consultation: Go for a thorough consultation with an experienced and qualified hair restoration specialist. The surgeon will minutely evaluate hair loss pattern, check your donor hair quality, and then discuss your all expectations.
Hair Loss Stage: Your hair loss stage will play a vital role in managing expectations. People in their early stages of hair loss, with properly defined hairline and minimum thinning, are likely to have more expected outcomes after the procedure.
Transplant Techniques: Hair transplant outcomes will differ with techniques used. The selection of the hair transplant method will eventually depend on miscellaneous factors such as the level of hair loss and the donor area quality.
Quality of Donor Hair: The success of your hair transplant procedure will be largely determined by the quality as well as quantity of donor hair. Your doctor will evaluate the donor hair quality and tell you how this will affect the final results.
Result Timeline: Understanding the timeline of the final results is an important aspect of managing your expectations. Hair transplant being a gradual process takes time for the transplanted hair to fully grow. Unnecessary disappointment can be avoided by being patient and having proper understanding of the timeline.
Post-Operative Care: It is important to note that the success of a hair transplant procedure will depend on how a person follows the post-operative care instructions given by a doctor.
