What results can you expect 4 months after a hair transplant?

21st October 2019

hair transplant 4 months post op results

If you are considering a hair transplant, you will want a realistic idea about the results you are likely to see in the months following your surgery. This post explains what to expect four months after undergoing a hair transplant at The Maitland Clinic.

What to expect 4 months post op from a hair transplant? Following a hair transplant, there is a ‘resting’, or dormant, period of hair growth, which can typically last for two to four months. Once this phase has passed, many patients report seeing noticeable new hair growth at around four months after surgery, although the majority of growth is likely to occur between five and twelve months.

How do hair transplants work?

There are two main methods of transplanting hair – Follicular Unit Transplant/strip (FUT) and Follicular Unit Excision/Extraction (FUE).

In the FUT process the surgeon removes a healthy strip of hair-bearing skin from the donor, usually from the back of the head. Individual follicular unit grafts are then dissected from the strip of skin to be transferred to the areas of hair loss. The FUE technique, meanwhile, involves excising individual follicular unit grafts directly from the scalp, usually using a small punch device. In either method the surgical team then carefully implants the hair grafts into tiny incisions in the recipient areas of the patient’s scalp.

The FUT technique will leave a linear scar, whereas FUE leaves a series of tiny dot scars, although these will be barely noticeable to the naked eye. You can expect your head to be free of scabs ten days after your surgery. 

Four months on: what to expect after a hair transplant

Following a transplant your newly grafted hair will enter a ‘resting’ phase, which can typically last up to four months, although it may be more prolonged in some cases. Most transplanted hairs will have ‘shed’ during the first four to six weeks after surgery and you are unlikely to see much new hair growth during the first few months. However, new hairs will usually begin to grow in the treated areas of the scalp four months after surgery. This signals the start of an exciting time in the growth cycle for many of our patients.

A recent patient recorded a video diary following his FUT surgery at The Maitland Clinic and reported that month four saw some significant and noticeable changes in the appearance of the recently grafted hair:

This video is one of a series of stepped diary entries recorded after the patient’s surgery. You can view the full series on our YouTube channel.

Although at four months post-surgery the new hairs may appear to be very fine, they will start to thicken over the next few months. Most of our patients will see the majority of their hair growth between five and twelve months following their surgery. During this time, hair growth will become more prominent and the rate of growth may also accelerate.

How long does it take for a hair transplant to fully grow?

You should see the full results of your hair transplant around twelve to fifteen months after your surgery. At this point, the healing process is complete and your newly grafted hair should look and behave much like your natural hair. 

Can I speed up hair growth after a hair transplant?

Patience is key when it comes to hair growth following a transplant. The hair restoration process is a journey and you will not see results overnight. To aid the recovery process and promote new hair growth it is important to follow the advice of your dedicated care team.

The Maitland Clinic will provide you with everything you need to look after your grafts during the early stages of your recovery, including state-of the-art Liposomal ATP aftercare sprays designed to promote the healing and growth of your new grafts. We will also give you instructions for washing your hair, along with advice on medication and exercise. Caring properly for your newly grafted hair will give you the best chance of achieving your desired results. 

What can affect the results of a hair transplant?

Led by Dr Edward Ball, one of the world’s top surgeons for hair restoration, The Maitland Clinic has an excellent reputation for delivering successful FUT and FUE procedures. However, every patient is unique and the final results will depend on a variety of factors. Below we outline some of the factors that can affect the results of a hair transplant.

  • The extent of the hair loss – this will affect the ratio of donor area to recipient area
  • Characteristics of the hair – coarse, curly hair will inevitably appear thicker than fine, straight hair
  • The contrast between hair and skin colour – hair will appear thinner on those patients with pale skin and dark hair as more skin will be visible through the hair
  • The size of an individual’s head – it is possible to harvest more grafts in patients with a larger head circumference
  • Skin laxity – the laxity of a patient’s skin will affect the amount of tissue that can be extracted in a FUT strip
  • The density of the donor area – there will be a greater supply of follicular units in patients with dense hair in the donor area
  • Donor follicular unit groupings – the hair of a donor with a plentiful supply of three and four hair follicular units will appear ‘thicker’ when compared with that of a donor with mostly one and two hair follicular units.

At The Maitland Clinic we will always be honest and realistic about the results that you can expect to see after your surgery. We promise not to promise the impossible and we will only recommend a procedure if it is truly the right step for you. Our personal and professional service means you will be fully informed before committing to any surgical procedure.

You can view the before and after results of some of our FUT and FUE surgeries here. 

Aftercare at The Maitland Clinic

As part of our commitment to our patients, The Maitland Clinic provides a complete aftercare service following your treatment. This includes the option to attend consultations and check-ups during the healing process whenever you wish. As most of our patients come from throughout the UK, and often from overseas, many people choose to keep in touch via email, phone and video calls. However, our support also stretches far beyond this.

We see our patients as lifelong beneficiaries of the clinic and we offer ongoing support and monitoring whenever you require. We love to hear how our patients are getting on and you are welcome to return to us at any point, providing you with a lifetime of professional hair care.

To arrange a consultation please contact us, or call on 02392 706 122.