A common concern for many considering a hair transplant is how long the results will last.
Across the Australian market, there are a range of products, prescription medications and at-home remedies that claim to help restore your hair. However, their effectiveness and need for consistent use deters many men and women living with hair loss from taking the initiative for treatment.
This blog post will explore everything you need to know about hair transplantation, particularly its results and longevity. Read on to learn just how long a hair transplant will last and how it can help boost your confidence in your hair's appearance.
What Is a Hair Transplant?
At its simplest, a hair transplant is a type of surgical procedure that relocates healthy strands to areas of concern on the scalp. That is, areas of the head not subject to balding will have hair follicles removed and transplanted at sites of concern.
There are multiple hair transplant methods to choose from. While they all prevent further hair loss and give natural-looking results, their technique and effectiveness vary.
The most commonly used hair transplant techniques in Australia are as follows:
- Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE): A FUE hair transplant relies on carefully cutting out a healthy hair follicle for transplantation. Small incisions are made on the donor area for the healthy hair to be inserted. With proper care, the transplanted hair follicles should encourage new hair growth.
- Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT): Rather than taking out individual hair follicles, the FUT hair transplant method takes a strip of tissue containing multiple healthy follicles. This 'strip method' is then divided into individual follicles and transplanted at the target site for renewed growth.
- Precise Follicle Placement (PFP): Healthy hair that is to be transplanted will be precisely punched out with a unique tool. One by one, the strands will be inserted at areas with noted hair loss to leave minimum scarring and more natural-looking results.
Consulting with an experienced surgeon or hair transplant team will allow you to determine which method works best for you. They will also be able to explain more about the hair restoration process and what results you can expect, including how long the results should last.
Long-Term Expectations: How Long Do Hair Transplants Last Over Time?
When people ask 'how long do hair transplants last', the short answer is generally permanently.
Any type of hair restoration surgery intends to provide a permanent solution to hair loss, balding or thinning areas of the scalp. The exact timeline and effectiveness of a successful hair transplant may differ between people, but this is because each case of hair loss is unique.
However, once you undergo professional surgery at a hair transplant clinic, most recipients experience a similar timeline of progression:
- Anagen (Initial Growth Phase): Transplanted hair follicles securely anchor themselves to the scalp, and new hair begins to grow. This process continues for several months to years, depending on the individual’s hair cycle.
- Catagen (Transitional Phase): Hair follicles detach from the growing strands but continue to remain attached to the scalp. Growth rates tend to slow during this stage, taking between 10 days to 3 weeks to complete.
- Telogen (Resting Phase): Once the hair transplant has taken and grown sufficiently, the strands enter a resting stage. This helps maintain the density and appearance of your hair while new hairs begin to develop.
- Exogen (Hair Shedding Phase): Once hairs finish growing, they naturally shed. This tends to happen across 2-5 months of time, ensuring that while you may lose hair, it will not result in any patchiness or thinning. Rather, the lost hair makes way for newer and healthier growth.
Overall, the final results of a hair transplant surgery do not arrive until over a year from the initial insertion. The effectiveness can vary between recipients, but higher chances of success are viable if you follow your surgeon's advice.
You can also support your hair transplantation's growth and healing process through the use of prescription hair care or everyday products. Be sure to take care of your hair to give it the best chance to flourish.
Is a Hair Transplant Permanent?
If done correctly and maintained with care, a hair transplant should be a permanent solution to any type of hair loss. Whether it is caused by male pattern baldness or female pattern hair loss, the transplanted hair should last once inserted.
The reason why hair transplants last so long is that they use grafts from healthy areas of the scalp.
Hair loss typically starts at the crown or front of the scalp. The hair along the sides and back tends to be healthy and strong, showing no signs of thinning. Hence, they are viable transfers to renew hair growth in areas of concern once transplanted.
Areas of hair loss and thinning are caused by the presence of DHT, otherwise known as dihydrotestosterone. The hormone attacks hair follicles in common patterns along the scalp, causing the female and male pattern baldness or loss that is to be treated.
Thus, introducing newly transplanted hair to these areas introduces follicles that are not vulnerable to DHT. In turn, this creates a permanent solution to hair loss.
Do You Need Another Procedure?
Generally, a single hair transplant surgery is all that is required for a natural looking, healthy, full set of hair. However, there are some circumstances where a second hair transplant is needed or desired.
The first instance is where the recipient may want to make some minor changes to the transplanted hair's appearance. This can be adjustments to the hairline or additional hair density in areas of concern.
Your hair transplant surgeon may also advise a follow-up appointment if they think more hair density can be added.
Alternatively, a second procedure may be required if the hair transplant surgery is not successful. This is rare, but a hair transplant may have gone wrong if you or the surgeon notices the following side effects at the donor site:
- Dead skin, otherwise known as scalp necrosis
- The hairline does not match your projected look
- The incision wounds at the donor hair sites have opened up
- There is little to no new growth at the targeted areas
- Visible scarring develops on the scalp
If you notice any of these side effects or other symptoms you are concerned about, contact your hair transplant clinic or a doctor immediately.
Recovery, Aftercare, & Maintenance
Once a hair transplant has been completed, there are some expected side effects and required maintenance when entering the recovery stage. With proper care, future hair loss can be prevented even as your new hair flourishes.
The symptoms you may encounter on the donor area directly after a hair transplant surgery include:
- Numbness
- Swelling
- Bruising
- A sensation of tightness across the scalp
- General pain, throbbing or discomfort
- Formation of scabs at incision sites
- Redness
You may be required to wear dressings or bandages over some transplant areas to protect the new hairs and your sensitive scalp. It is important to prevent yourself from excessively touching, bumping, or picking at the transplanted hair follicles to encourage recovery.
Other immediate aftercare procedures you may have to follow in the first week to month are:
- Avoiding strenuous activities or exercise that may rise blood pressure as this may cause the incision sites to bleed unnecessarily
- Getting sufficient rest daily
- Not going swimming
- Avoiding smoking and alcohol consumption
- Keeping the scalp hydrated with clinic-prescribed saline sprays as directed
- Not brushing the donor hair sites until after scabs have fallen off, and to do so with a soft-bristled brush
Whoever is set to perform hair transplant surgery for you will give you a tailored aftercare plan once the treatment has concluded. Be sure to follow their recovery tips to ensure long-lasting hair transplants with minimum complications.
Medications to Help Ensure Your Hair Transplant Lasts
While there are a range of prescription hair care products to choose from, always listen to an expert or doctor to determine what is most effective and safest for you to use. They may prescribe a product to prevent further loss of existing hair or to maintain the results of your transplant.
Common medications used to maintain a hair transplant are:
- Minoxidil: A prescription medication that can be taken orally or topically. Minoxidil improves blood flow in the scalp, providing additional nutrients and oxygen to the hair follicles. Over time, this may encourage new hair growth, but results vary and will likely stop once treatment has.
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Finasteride: Primarily used to treat male pattern baldness or hair loss, Finasteride cannot be used by women. However, it successfully targets hormones that encourage hair loss in men, preventing further thinning or balding. Results also vary.
Only ever take prescriptive medications under the guidance of a health professional. Take all dosages as instructed and contact your doctor if you notice any uncommon or long-lasting side effects.
Extraneous Factors That Affect Hair Transplant Results
Despite its permanence and general rates of success, some factors may affect the results of a hair transplant. It is important to be aware of these factors' impacts and how you can navigate them to ensure a successful hair transplant result.
Choice of Hair Transplant Surgeon or Clinic
The experience and expertise of the professional performing the hair transplant can factor into the results. That is, you should always choose a certified and tested hair transplant clinic before a cheaper and less trustworthy option.
Professional hair transplant clinics will provide you with a tailored hair care plan. This is designed to your specific hair needs and desired results, ensuring greater satisfaction.
With the addition of expert aftercare guidance, you can avoid a bad hair transplant from developing.
Future Hair Styling
It is important following a hair transplant not to do anything that will lead to further hair loss. This includes placing your hair into damaging styles.
Some general styling advice to protect your growing hair are:
- Allow your hair to sit as naturally as possible
- Avoid tight hairstyles to prevent pulling of delicate hair follicles
- Use hair products like shampoo that do not contain harsh chemicals
- Do not brush your transplanted hair with sharp-bristled combs, nor should you brush it excessively
Follow the guidance of your hair transplant team to style your hair protectively and healthily.
Recipient's Age
Your age can be a major factor in the success of your hair transplant.
While a hair transplant is intended to be a permanent solution, younger recipients may experience further hair loss in the future at other sites. This can be due to maturation or the development of other hair loss conditions.
To prevent hair loss in the future, younger patients may be prescribed medications that block DHT. However, medications should only be taken when advised by a professional.
Candidacy for a Hair Transplant
While most Australians, regardless of gender or hair loss condition, can undergo a transplant, there may be some restrictions. Most notably, you may not be a potential candidate if you:
- Are living with a medical condition that makes it difficult to perform a transplant, such as an autoimmune or inflammatory disease that damages the scalp
- Have ongoing hair loss
- Do not have enough healthy hair on the scalp for transplantation
- Are under the age of 18
- Have widespread thinning or baldness
Most ideal candidates are between 25 and 40 years old, as this is when hair loss is more likely to have stabilised, leading to better long-term results.
Where to Turn Next
If you're considering solutions for hair loss, speaking with a specialist can help clarify your options. Gro Clinics offers personalised advice for Australians and New Zealand residents based on your specific situation and goals.
Our accredited team can answer your questions about the transplant process, expected results, and aftercare - all tailored to your individual hair pattern.
Get straightforward information with no pressure to decide.
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