Having a hair transplant isn’t something you do on the spur of the moment. Indeed, it’s very common to hear people who have had hair transplant surgery say something to the effect that they’d been thinking of having it done for years before they eventually decided to take the plunge.
There are many reasons for this kind of hesitancy. One of them is, undoubtedly, fear of the unknown. Unless you know someone who has been through it, it can be a scary prospect with a lot of unanswered questions. How long will it take me to recover from the surgery? Will I be left with scars? Above all, when will my new hair look good?
This article will answer those questions and a few others besides. Keep reading!
Types of Hair Transplant
There are two main types of hair transplant. These are the Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT) and the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) methods. The FUT method has been around for decades and was considered a revolution in transplant surgery when it first emerged. It involves removing a strip of skin with hair follicles attached from the client’s donor site, which is usually the back of the head.
The hair follicles are taken from this skin and implanted into the balding areas after individual holes are made in the scalp to accommodate the follicles. The negative aspects of the FUT method are the scarring it leaves on the back of the head and the intensive post-op care it requires.
FUE surgery does not require a strip of skin to be removed from the donor site. Instead, individual follicles are harvested and implanted in the balding areas. This cuts down on the residual scarring and the number of post-op care hours required. For these reasons, FUE hair transplant surgery has become the pre-eminent hair transplant method.
Surgery
Hair transplant surgery, whichever type of procedure you choose, is non-invasive and carried out under local anaesthetic. You may feel some tugging on your scalp during the operation, but you shouldn’t experience any pain. There may be a little localised pain afterwards when the anaesthetic has worn off, but you will be given pain-relief medication to take home with you.
Following your surgery, you should take a couple of days to rest and recuperate. While many people return to work within a few days, surgeons recommend booking time off if this is an option; as with any surgery, sleep and rest are essential parts of the recovery process.
Post-op Recovery
A reputable clinic will have aftercare plans in place and will send you home with everything you need. That will include a list of things to be done and activities to be avoided. Strenuous exercise, for example, is off the menu for the first seven days if you’ve had an FUE procedure. If you’ve undergone a FUT treatment, you’ll need to park the gym training and avoid overexerting yourself for at least two weeks after your surgery. This is to avoid damaging the scar on your neck. Swimming pools are also no-go areas for at least a fortnight, as the chlorine in the water is not good for the healing process.
You will not be able to take a shower on the day of your surgery. You can do so the following day, but only if you’re sure that you can avoid the water hitting the top of your head. You can wash your hair from the third day providing you take care not to disturb the grafted area. Reputable clinics will provide you with a saline solution and soft cloth to use for this.
Follow-up appointments at three and six months after your procedure will allow surgeons to monitor the healing process and the new growth coming through.
When Will I See My New Hair?
Care is still required once the scabs from your surgery have fallen off and healing has taken place. The new follicles are still bedding in, and it will be between two and three months before they’re fully settled. Do not be concerned if you notice some hair loss in the months following surgery. This is perfectly normal and is an indication that normal hair growth patterns are kicking in.
It can take up to three months for newly implanted hair follicles to start showing noticeable growth. Sometime between ten and twelve months, your hair should be fully grown, and a trim may be necessary to bring your hair to an even length.
Endpiece
Anyone expecting instant results from a hair transplant is likely to be disappointed. Remember, an FUE transplant will deliver a long-term solution consisting of your own, natural hair, but hair doesn’t grow overnight. It’s likely to be a year before you see the best results. Manage your expectations; this is a marathon, not a sprint!
If you’re thinking of a hair transplant, you should speak to the experts at Vinci Hair Clinic. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to all our new clients. All you need to do is get in touch with us and book an appointment!
