6 months & no result - would a slight iron deficiency impact growth?

Question

Hello everyone, I'm now 6 months after my HT and unfortunately I haven't noticed any growth. I'm afraid that nothing will come of it... Now I also saw that I have a slight iron deficiency, would that have a major impact on growth? I mean, women suffer from it more often and also have hair transplants, so I would be surprised...(at 06.03.2024 month passing the 6 Month mark).

Emrah Cinik, MD · Answer

It is worth investigating why no hair growth has occurred by the six-month mark; however, even in this situation, it would be incorrect to label the hair transplant a failure.

Hair transplantation yields results over a period of 12 to 18 months; initial hair growth typically begins around the third or fourth month, while the final result is achieved between the 12th and 18th months. Therefore, a degree of patience is advisable.
Iron deficiency is a significant factor, specifically, low ferritin levels can trigger telogen effluvium, causing natural hair to shed and theoretically leading to weaker growth of the newly transplanted hair. However, the mild iron deficiency present in your case is not severe enough to negatively impact the quality of your hair growth.

I recommend undergoing a more comprehensive test for iron deficiency;
it is necessary to evaluate ferritin, hemoglobin, MCV, MCH, TIBC, and transferrin saturation collectively. If true iron deficiency anemia is present, the underlying cause must be investigated and treated.

Christine M. Shaver, MD · Answer

You should be seeing growth starting at 4-6 months. I would return to your hair transplant doctor to have them evaluate. Iron deficiency can cause slow growth but for a male with a well-done hair transplant then this should not reflect as zero growth at 6 months. Sounds suspicious.

Wipawan Vathananai, MD · Answer

I would recommend correcting any factors that could potentially affect hair growth, such as iron deficiency in your case. You might also consider checking your serum total vitamin D levels if you haven't already. When it comes to promoting hair growth, I believe it's best to consult with your hair transplant surgeon or provide us with some before-and-after photos. Typically, it takes about 12 months to see the full results of a hair transplant.

Matt Tahsini, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. You are just entering the time when growth typically starts. That being said, I usually advise patients to wait until at least 8-9 months before panicking. It takes a good 12-18 months before you see final results. Be patient a bit longer and if you don't see results contact your surgeon. Best of luck to you.

Dr. T

Dr. T

6 months & no result - would a slight iron deficiency impact growth?

Answers (4)

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