How long after FUE for donor area to regain fullness?

Question

I am at the 4 month mark post FUE transplant. While my transplants (700) seemed to have grown in already, my donor area has yet to regain good fullness. I should add that my procedure was to correct a FUT scar on the back of my head and the donor area used was above and below my scar. What is a good time table to expect for the donor area fullness to return?

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

If you had FUE, the extracted hairs will not return.  So your donor area would not be perfectly back to its original thickness.  If the donor area was not depleted or over harvested it would take several weeks of hair growth to cover any scarring.

Amir Yazdan, MD · Answer

I see this quite often in my practice from patients who have had FUE previously by other clinics and are unhappy with their donor zone post procedure.  Lately I've been seeing this frequently coming from turkey.In my patients, their donor zone is healed and returns to excellent density within 1-3 months after the surgery.  The problem with FUE is that many inexperienced doctors are using large punches, punching deep, have high transection rates, and over harvest (take out too many grafts) in 1 surgery.  This is what creates the decreased density and thinning in the donor zone and a lot of times it is permanent.At the last ISHRS conference a Dr. from turkey was describing how great his FUE procedures were and that his transection rate was only 30%. At first I thought I was not hearing correctly, and when I realized I was I left shaking my head.Its important to do a lot of research before undergoing an FUE procedure as there are so many things to look out for.

Sean Behnam, MD · Answer

It's possible that your donor area has been overharvested to compensate for the FUT scar. Generally doctors take enough to ensure that it looks full but not so that it feels full.

Gregory Michael Bazell, MD · Answer

You may very well be experiencing some shock loss in the donor area.  You likely haven't seen your hair so short with the scar but it there is a possibility that the density was lighter above and below the scar.  Obviously cutting the hair highlights that and hair only grows 1/2 inch a month so it feels like longer.  I recommend rubbing Rogaine in the donor area to help improve the growth.

Rae Lynne Kinler, MD · Answer

remember, when you remove a follicle from the donor area to place it into the recipient area, you will not grow hair where it was removed, as it is now growing in the recipient site. The donor area should not be over harvested as to cause a thinning in that area. I recommend following up with the surgeon who performed your procedure to review your photographs from pre op.

How long after FUE for donor area to regain fullness?

Answers (9)