11 months after 4,260-graft FUE — hairs are present but density still looks low. Can density improve further?

I had an FUE hair transplant on Sept. 19, 2025, at age 45, with 4,260 grafts placed in my hairline, frontal scalp, and midscalp. I’m now 11 months post-op. The transplanted hairs are present and growing, but the visual density is much lower than I expected, and I can still see significant scalp between the hairs. I used 5% topical minoxidil foam from about 30 days post-op until 6 months, then stopped. For hair-transplant surgeons: • Is this level of density still normal at 11 months? • Can density/thickness meaningfully improve between 12–15 months or even up to 18 months? • If the hairs are present but thin/fine, can further maturation substantially improve the appearance? • Could restarting 5% minoxidil now improve density, and would you recommend it? • At age 45, should I consider finasteride to protect my native hair, or is it unnecessary if my native hair is stable? • Would trichoscopy/density measurements help determine whether I have thin hairs that may mature further versus an insufficient number of surviving grafts? I can provide pre-op, immediate post-op, and current photos if helpful.