What to expect after the FUE HT?

The below representation of the period following FUE HT operation should serve as a general guidance only. A considerable variation can be observed. Some hairloss patients may experience few of the issues for a very short while others may experience all of them for a longer period. Some may have a rather visible cosmetic change after only 4-5 months, while other patients may see growth setting in after 10-12 months.

During the operation and the following days: Some patients may develop swelling of the forehead and face and in some cases it can be severe. It's not a sign of an infection and it will usually wear off in 3-5 days and is not painful. Severe swelling is very rare, though.

Most patients will have no pain while some may need paracetamol for pain. Only rarely will the pain be more pronounced.

First 2 weeks: Few may experience pain from the donor-area. Paracetamol is usually sufficient to treat the pain.

First 12 weeks: Itching, pimples, pop-ups and dry skin are relatively common. Anti-histamins (used for allergic rash), white petroleum (vaseline) or baby oil may be helpful. In larger surgeries numbness may occur specially in the recipient-area. The transplanted hair may shed but the growth centre is left intact in the skin.

3-4 months: Growth starts. Usually the itching, pimples, pop-ups and dry skin is gone. Numbness in recipient-area may persist.

6-8 months: Cosmetic change starts appearing. Numbness is gone in nearly all patients.

1-1.5 years and even upto 2 years: Final results.

Returning to work and social life

If the recipient-area is not bald but only thining most patients will be able to take up normal social activities after 10-14 days without drawing any attention.

If the recipient-area is bald or nearly bald 3-5 weeks may be required before the recipient-area becomes un-noticeable. However, in few cases a light pinkish colour (third picture) and irritation may persist even beyond 8 weeks.

In far most of the cases of FUE HT with punches less than 1 mm, the donor-area will hardly be visible after two weeks. 

Caring for your precious hair transplantation

It is essential that patients comply with the following instructions to ensure a succesfull result of the HT and a fast return to daily routines.

• The patient is encouraged to take a low-pressure shower 2-3 times following the last day of the operation. This helps the scabs go away and speeds up the process of making the operation un-noticeable.
• The patient should sleep using two pillows for the first two nights. In case of grafts implanted into the lower crown or a strip-scar the patient should sleep on the side for the first two nights.
• No aspirin, smoking, bending over or exertion for first 72 hours following FUE
• Mild exertion (jogging, bicycling and mild weight lifting) may be resumed after 10 days. No body contact
• No violent activity (hockey, soccer) or body contact for first two weeks.