To schedule your recommended post-op follow-up appointments (2 weeks, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 8 months, 10 months and 12 months), please call 561-394-0024 or email doctorb@baumanmedical.com.

HAIR TRANSPLANT HAIR-GROWTH TIMELINE (“WHEN IS MY HAIR GOING TO GROW?”)

Congratulations! You’ve recently completed your procedure, but perhaps you’re wondering when your scalp is going to return to ‘normal’ and when your hair is going to grow? It is important to understand each phase of the recovery from transplantation, including healing and the subsequent growth of the transplanted hair, in order to properly judge the ‘results’ from your procedure. Remember that this timeline is just a guide—your actual healing and hair growth phases may vary. Healing can be affected by many factors, including age, genetics, health status, and healing treatments (like copper-peptide, laser therapy, hyperbaric oxygen, etc.). Cosmetic ‘coverage’ of any area is a function of hair density (# hairs growing in a given area), hair length, curl and caliber—all of which change in varying degrees over time after transplantation and contribute to when and how much ‘final’ coverage is obtained from any procedure. Most importantly, be patient. Please feel free call the office at any time if you have questions or concerns. Routine follow-ups with Dr. Bauman or his medical staff are recommended to check healing and growth. Post-op ‘after’ photos are normally taken at 6 and 12 months. WEEK 1-2: COSMETIC RECOVERY OF THE SKIN Scabs begin to flake off within 2 weeks and the donor area heals (non-absorbable stitches are removed; absorbable stitches are left in place). Post-op appointment should be made at 2 weeks. Haircuts, coloring and/or perms may resume. You may notice that the transplanted areas which had pre-existing hair might have slightly decreased coverage.

WEEK 2-6: SKIN RECOVERY PHASE Residual hair in the transplanted follicles are typically shed (9 out of 10 patients), scalp continues to recover and returns to pre-surgical tint and texture. Absorbable stitches dissolve and/or flake off around 6 weeks post-op. You may notice that transplanted areas which had pre-existing hair may appear to have slightly less coverage. Sensation begins to return to the transplanted area. Post-op follow up appointment made at 8 weeks.

WEEK 6-12: INITIAL GROWTH PHASE Some of the transplanted follicles begin to grow hair, stubble can be felt. “Ingrown hairs” may appear at this time (see instructions for care of ingrown hairs). Visible results may be difficult to detect at this time.

MONTH 3-6: EARLY GROWTH PHASE Transplanted hair lengthens and thickens. More transplanted hair appears. Results become visible to the naked eye and coverage improves. At 6 months, 50% of the cosmetic result is achieved. Your scalp is ‘ready’ for an additional procedure at any time from this point forward (if indicated). Sensation in the transplanted area improves. Post-op appointments or other office follow-up (by email or phone) are recommended at 4 and 6 months. Photos may be taken at 6 months.

MONTH 6-12: GROWTH PHASE Transplanted hair lengthens and thickens; more hair emerges from the scalp. Cosmetic ‘coverage’ and quality of transplanted hair greatly improves. Most of the transplanted hair is growing at this time. At 12 months, 90% of the cosmetic result is achieved. A 1-year follow up appointment is recommended, photos may be taken for comparison.

MONTH 12-14: LATE GROWTH PHASE 90% of final cosmetic result is achieved from your procedure at this point. Transplanted follicles can continue to begin to grow new hair up to 18 months after the procedure. Quality of transplanted hair and coverage continues to improve.

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