The surgery usually lasts between 4 and 8 hours and begins with the removal of healthy hair by the dermatologist. Within 2 to 3 weeks after surgery, the transplanted hair will fall out, but new growth should start to appear within a few months. Most people will see 60% of their new hair growth after 6 to 9 months. Some surgeons prescribe minoxidil (Rogaine) to improve hair growth after transplantation, but its effectiveness is not clear.
It is a common myth that transplanted hair that moves during a hair transplant lasts forever. In reality, most hairs that are transplanted generally stay in their new location forever, but not all. If an area of hair loss is small, it is possible to create an excellent density in the area, but the density is generally lower than it was before. A skilled surgeon can often help 35 to 40 follicular units resemble the original density.
The team of surgeons then divides the strip of removed scalp into 500 to 2000 tiny grafts, each with an individual or just a few hairs. Other candidates are satisfied with the results after their first hair transplant has healed and, later, they decide to try to fill in additional thinning areas on the head.
Once the hair transplant procedure is complete, you’ll notice the new outline of your improved hairline. The permanent area from which the hair follicles are extracted earned its name because the hair is genetically programmed so that it does not fall out. The strip is further divided into between 500 and 2000 tiny follicular grafts, and each graft comprises an individual strand of hair or a few hairs.
If hair thinning continues, the hairline will not regress according to its previous “natural pattern of hair loss”. Therefore, before undergoing any hair transplant procedure, you should understand that there will be permanent scarring. But once the healing process is complete, the transplanted follicles begin to grow hair that will fill the bald areas of the scalp.
