Patchy growth 157 days post op. Is it too early to tell whether my FUE hair transplant was a failure? (Photo)

Question

Hi docs! About 160 days ago I had a fue hair transplant. It's been some time and my recipient area is still very patchy with little growth. I've seen photos online where people just 6 months post-op have amazing results. Is it too early to tell whether my HT was a failure? I did everything as advised by the clinic. I slept properly, was very cautious with the recipient area. Day ten I started massaging it gently while washing, lots of crust came off. Thank you for the answers.

Marco Barusco, MD · Answer

Hello,

At 160 days post-op, it’s still too early to judge the final results of your hair transplant. While some people see significant growth by 6 months, it’s important to remember that hair growth timelines vary. Many patients don’t see fuller results until 9–12 months, with some even taking up to 18 months for complete maturity.

It sounds like you’ve been following post-op instructions well, which is excellent. I recommend being patient and monitoring your progress. If concerns persist after the 12-month mark, consult your surgeon for an evaluation.

Best regards,
Dr. Marco Barusco

Jeremy S. Wetzel, MD · Answer

Cheerful101843 -- Sounds like you are around the 6 month mark after your FUE restoration surgery. It can take up to 12, and in some cases 15 months for all the hair to grow in after a hair transplant. As you probably know, many of the follicles that are transplanted will shed their hairs in the first few weeks following the procedure and essentially stay "dormant" for a few months before growing their new hairs. The follicles come out of the resting phase and start growing their new hairs asynchronously. For this reason I always counsel patients that it may take up to 15 months to know what the final result is going to be. The majority of patients see significant results by 12 months but in some cases it can be a bit longer. So in the middle months of that year, many patients' recipient area can look about the same as before the transplant; this is not uncommon.All of that is to say that at the 6 month mark, its definitely too early to say that the transplant did not work. Hang in there and keep doing your hair loss prevention!

George Abrahamian, MD · Answer

Hello, Dr. George Abrahamian MD here, La FUE Hair Clinic, Pasadena, CA. Evaluating a transplant 160 days (approximately 5 months) after is still far too early to appropriately gauge results! At 3 months, most people see approximately 15% growth, 50% is seen around 6 months, 80% at one year, and it can take up to 14-16 months to see 100% of your results! It is recommended to wait between 9 months to 1 year before evaluating success of a transplant, and making a decision on whether or not a second transplant is needed. 
A few of the most important considerations to make prior to hair transplant include the surface area requiring restoration, and the density the clinic that is performing your transplant is using to restore the surface area that needs restoration. If the same surface area receives, for example, 500 grafts vs 1500 grafts, the difference between the outcome of the two transplants will be quite obvious. In this example, the 500 grafts may be an improvement to the area, but may not necessarily be natural or near-perfect. 
It is generally best to reevaluate your results at the 9 month to 1 year mark, and come up with an appropriate plan at that time. I hope this helps, best of luck with your hair restoration journey!

Matt Tahsini, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question.  Every case is different but it typically takes close to a year before you see good results. I know you want to see results quickly but this takes time and patience.  Hang in there and IM sure your results will be good.  Best of luck to you.

Dr. T

Audrey G. Bauer, MD · Answer

Every patient is different but we will not assess our post op results before 250 days.  At about 8 months you can expect to be at about 80% of results but for 100% final eval you really do need to wait a year.  The natural hair cycle is LONG and it takes a lot of patience but will be worth it.

Patchy growth 157 days post op. Is it too early to tell whether my FUE hair transplant was a failure? (Photo)

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Patchy growth 157 days post op. Is it too early to tell whether my FUE hair transplant was a failure? (Photo)

Answers (7)

Answer: FUE results

Answer: FUE results

Answer: More time

Answer: More time

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about FUE Hair Transplant

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.