15th month into crown FUE. No results whatsoever. Please help!

Question

Hello! I had a FUE surgery on my crown for "2415" grafts, done on May 18th 2023. I am running into the 15th month now and I barely see the results on the crown. Is there a possibility that the surgery failed?. I consume liquor on a weekly basis. Did that habit destroy the transplanted grafts?

Emrah Cinik, MD · Answer

Hair growth timeline:

Month 3 → Hair begins to emerge for the first time.
Month 6 → Visible hair density begins to develop.
Months 9–12 → 80–90% of the hair has grown in.
Months 12–16 → The process is complete.

If you still lack sufficient density at the crown, consult your doctor first.

There could be several reasons for this:

1- The graft retention success rate may be lower than expected.

2- In addition to the transplanted hair, your original hair may have shed.

3- 2,415 grafts might be an insufficient number; perhaps more grafts need to be harvested.

4- If your hair strands are fine, sufficient coverage may not have been achieved, making the area appear sparse.

Taner Karahan, MD · Answer

Hi.Despite the fact that HT surgery has a really really high success rate by exprienced surgeons ,every kind of surgeries can fail.15 month is a very enough time to decide it has failed.We do not expect new growth or improvement after 15 months.if you did not consume liquor soon after surgery,it is not expected to be a main reason for failed HT.You should discuss it with your surgeon..Crown area is a bit complicated area because of its spheric shape ,various angulations -directions of hair follicles.also a bigger area then it looks ,so needs high number of grefts to have a good visual density.Also doppler studies shows lower blood vascularisation on crown.I hope it helps..

Ross Kopelman, DO · Answer

At 15 months post-FUE, it's natural to feel concerned if you're not seeing the results you were hoping for. The crown area can be particularly tricky since it often takes longer for the transplanted hair to fully mature and thicken compared to other parts of the scalp. Some individuals are "slow responders," meaning the full impact of the surgery may take longer to manifest.
In terms of alcohol consumption, while moderate drinking shouldn't directly harm the grafts, excessive alcohol use can affect overall healing and may interfere with blood circulation, which can impact hair growth. Making some adjustments to your habits could help optimize your results over time.
That being said, there are additional treatments that may stimulate growth and help improve the density in your crown. Options like PRP or mesotherapy can be beneficial for boosting the results post-transplant. Keep in mind that hair transplants, especially in the crown, often require patience, and there are ways to encourage further growth even at this stage.

Matt Tahsini, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question.. It would nbe helpful to see some pictures in order to evaluate your case properly. You should definitely see growth by now. I suggest seeing your surgeon for advice. Best of luck to you.

Dr. T

Dr. T

Ryan Welter, MD · Answer

It is very rare for transplants to fail completely in hair restoration.  I would certainly follow up with the clinic you went to and see if they are able to help you.  You can also do a consultation with another reputable clinic and get a second option.  Alcohol consumption can affect the surgical day with increased bleeding but it does not directly destroy transplanted grafts.

15th month into crown FUE. No results whatsoever. Please help!

Answers (5)

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