Hair Transplant is a surgical procedure done to rekindle hair growth in balding areas. In addition, it can be done to recover hair on the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, beards, and so on. Generally, hair transplants have proven to be successful, with between 85 percent to 95 percent success rate of transplanted hair.
If you’ve had the hair transplant done, you’re probably impatient to see the results immediately. However, as it is with all things in life, it is a process. The surgery itself is the first and most important step handled by the certified clinic. However, the period that follows requires the patient to do certain things to aid the regrowth of the transplanted hair.
The surgery usually takes more than one session that can span over an entire day. Immediately after the surgery, the patient is usually allowed to return home. Most patients can return to work within days or a week as desired. The doctor may, however, prescribe otherwise, as the situation demands.
The doctor will then provide the patient with post-surgery instructions that are suitable for the process’s success. These instructions can include not wearing any form of right covering on the scalp, keeping the head in an elevated position while sleeping, using a special type of shampoo to wash the hair, and other washing instructions, etc.
After the Surgery
Immediately after the surgery, the hairline’s shape will become visible. In addition, the spots where the hair follicles were planted will be visible. Patients experience a reddening of the scalp after the surgery. Some redness may reoccur one to three days after the surgery; this is most times perfectly normal. Sometimes it’s an outbreak of acne.
Patients are sometimes given a spray to apply on the scalp. The saline spray can be used as many times as once an hour to ensure that the scalp does not become infected. The patient would also most likely be provided with pain killers when necessary and antibiotics to be used as prescribed.
If a patient notices any growth on the transplanted area, it is important to consult with the surgeon or a dermatologist. Sometimes acne can form in that area, and it usually isn’t anything to worry about. The important thing is to contact the clinic that carried out the surgery as much as possible during the initial months.
First Five Days
Within the first five days, scabs may begin to appear in the region where the transplant was carried out. But not to worry, they usually disappear quite quickly. Also, the doctors usually prescribe a spray to be used on the scabs during that period. If the patient has any reason to use any special cream, spray, etc., it is advisable to consult the surgeon.
By the Seventh Day
By the seventh day, the scabs should have disappeared. Our advice to the patients within this first week includes curbing alcohol intake for the period, stay away from anything that may result in excessive sweating, such as visits to saunas, rigorous exercising, and other strenuous activities.
Two Weeks After the Procedure
Two weeks after the surgery, the patient may begin to experience hair loss in the region where the transplant was carried out. This is a normal occurrence, and there is no need to panic. It is simply the old follicles that are falling out. The patient would have been enlightened about this by the doctor. It is called “shock loss.”
By the Third Month
By the time the third-month post-surgery rolls around, the patient would have begun to observe the actual growth of the transplanted follicles. This is the period when the hair follicles actually “wake up.” While it is not a major growth, this period should put the patient at ease as to the procedure’s success. Hair growth will occur at about a centimeter each month.
Between the third and fifth months, the hair should have grown about 3 centimeters. This should give the patient an idea as to what the final results will look like. By the end of the third month, about 30% (approx.) of the hair follicles would have penetrated through the scalp. The moment the patient has been waiting for, a sign that everything went right after all.
After the Third Month
Immediately after the third month, there is usually a sudden growth sprout. After waiting for three months with little observable change to the region, this is usually a relief to patients excited to finally see hair on their previously bald spots. In that sense, the third month is the tipping point in the entire hair growth process.
The most asked question 3 months post-op is whether the hair growth they have experienced is normal. Patients want to know if their growth is fast, slow, or just okay. Patients can return to the doctor for examination during this period if possible. The important thing to note is that growth occurs differently in different people.
It is important to know that complete hair growth usually doesn’t occur until between 9 months and 12 months post-operation. By this time, the hair is full and silky. By completing the entire process, you will be glad that you leaped to get the hair transplant surgery done in the first place. It is more efficient than other hair growth methods.
Tons of people post their post-surgery process on social media. If you’re keen on following other people’s experiences, you can check out their stories. This may put your mind at ease as you watch other people go through a similar experience as you. Of course, as mentioned before, growth can occur differently in different people, so there is no need to get anxious if someone experiences faster growth.
In Conclusion
You need to stay calm and wait out the process. Follow the instructions given to you by the surgeon as it can determine whether or not the hair starts growing again. Also, stay in contact with the clinic if you can, and find a community of people who are going through or have gone through similar experiences.
Leave a Reply