Concerned about donor area thinning post-transplant: seeking advice (Photo)

Question

I had a hair transplant about 18 months ago, and I am not entirely satisfied with the result. I received 2000-2500 grafts, but I am concerned about the appearance of the donor area at the back of my head. I'm unsure if this degree of thinning is typical for an FUE transplant or if the follicles were not harvested in a well-distributed manner. I would appreciate any insights on whether, at first glance, the donor area seems excessively thin and patchy for 2500 grafts. I appreciate your feed

Amir Yazdan, MD · Answer

Hello, thank you for your question. Based on your photo and the fact that you are 18 months post-procedure, I would say that your donor zone appears to be either slightly over harvested or a large punch size was used during the procedure, which may have resulted in more noticeable scarring leading to the thinned-out donor zone. In my opinion it is not excessively thin, but it is noticeable and if you were to have another procedure done in the same way it could become even thinner.

Hope this information was helpful, please feel free to see my video showing a donor zone of one of my patients 6 months after an FUE procedure. If you have any further questions you can email info@modenahair.com

Hope this information was helpful, please feel free to see my video showing a donor zone of one of my patients 6 months after an FUE procedure. If you have any further questions you can email info@modenahair.com

Arslan Musbeh, MD · Answer

Answer by Dr. Arslan Musbeh – Hair Transplant Surgeon

At 18 months post-transplant, the donor area should normally have recovered well, even after 2500 grafts. If it appears visibly thin or patchy, it could indicate that the grafts were not extracted evenly (non-homogeneous harvesting) or that the safe donor zone was exceeded.

In a properly performed FUE, grafts are harvested homogeneously and within the safe donor zone, preserving the natural density and avoiding visible gaps. Overharvesting or focusing too much on one region can lead to permanent thinning or moth-eaten appearance.

A professional evaluation with dermatoscopic images can confirm if the donor area was overharvested and whether density restoration or SMP (Scalp Micropigmentation) might be beneficial.

Dr. Arslan Musbeh
Hair Transplant Surgeon – Founder of Hairmedico
17+ years of experience in FUE, Sapphire FUE, and DHI

This answer has been approved by Dr. Arslan Musbeh. It is not a medical advice.

Matt Tahsini, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. It's tough to say without seeing the before photos. My first impression is your donor area looks thin. I suggest seeing your surgeon to see what can be done. Best of luck to you.

Dr. T

Dr. T

Wipawan Vathananai, MD · Answer

I think what needs to be done is to compare the donor area before the surgery, maybe you could ask your surgeon to send the photos to you. I am sorry to hear that you are not happy with what's going on at the moment. But it also depends on the donor density before the surgery. In my opinion, what could be done now is Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP) to camouflage the patchy area or wear your hair around 3 cm length might help.

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