How soon will I see results with an FUE hair transplant?

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is a transplant surgery performed on those who are losing hair. The surgery is commonly done for balding men, but it can also be done for eyebrows and other hair transplants.

Thinning hair is a common issue for so many men, but fortunately, there are solutions if you would like to return your hair to its former glory. If you are receiving a Follicular Unit Extraction transplant surgery, there is a good chance you are impatiently waiting results.

There are many factors that go into how long it will take until you begin seeing results from your FUE hair transplant – from the amount of follicles you had transplanted, as well as your hair follicle’s chances at survival.

General Schedule

1-2 weeks
After one to two weeks, the initial redness and scarring should disappear. It is suggested that you take some downtime after receiving any type of hair transplant, but FUE transplants make for quick recovery. To assure your chances of infection or run in with anything that could compromise your hair’s growth, it is crucial to follow this step, at least for the first couple of days.

Luckily, with an FUE hair transplant, chances are that after a week, you should be able to return to your normal life. At this point, the hair that was transplanted will begin to fall out and all signs that this transplant has occurred will be gone for the time being.

3-4 months
This is typically when people begin seeing first signs of hair growth – though the hair growth may not be as strong as promised, you will be able to see a sign that the transplant has been successful. It is important not to be stressed or concerned if you do not see hair growth at this point, though, as all patient’s hair follicles grow at different speeds.

6-15 months
Around six months after the transplant, your hair may be growing in quite strongly. Though your scalp may not be fully covered and the hair may not be as thick as you would like it, this is really when the initial growth period begins.

Throughout the twelve-month period, especially after the sixth month mark, your hair should be growing in quite steadily. Once you reach around twelve months, though – for some it takes closer to fifteen months – your hair should have reached its maximum growth.

If at any point you are concerned with your hair’s regrowth, revisit your surgeon and ask questions. Chances are, you already have an appointment booked to assure your hair is growing back smoothly, so ask any questions you may have at that point.

Factors

There are some factors that have an effect on how long your hair transplant will take. One factor is your age as it plays a large role on how much time your hair will take to regrow. Since the hair is coming from your own follicles, those who have older follicular units may have to wait longer periods for results to be noticeable.

If your hair is thinning at a considerable rate, it may take longer for your hair to grow in as the hair follicles being taken are weak. Your individual hair follicles may not survive, as they are not the most suited for regrowth already, creating the possibility for sparse hairs or longer regrowth periods.

Furthermore, your genetics – such as hair characteristics and how long it generally took to grow before it started thinning – will remain large factors in how long your hair takes to regrow after an FUE transplant surgery.

Conclusion

Follicular Unit Extraction hair transplants are a viable option for those wishing to regrow their thinning hair. Although perfect for balding men and women, FUE procedures are not quick answers to your hair loss problem.

While the process is performed by practiced surgeons, your genetics, age and predicted hair loss play a large role in how long your hair will take to grow back. However, in most patients, there is a predictable time frame for hair growth.

Around 3 months in, you should begin to see the first signs of hair, but your hair may take up to 15 months to be fully grown to its maximum length.