Do you think my donor area is over-harvested following my 3000-graft transplant? (Photos)

Question

Hello. I had FUE 9 days ago. 3000 grafts. Do you think that my donor is over harvested? Thank you.

Glenn Charles, DO · Answer

At only nine day post-op it is a little too early to determine if donor area is over harvested. You need to let thing heal and then post new photos of the donor area . If you had at least average donor density to begin with you should still have some remaining usable donor hair for future harvesting if necessary.

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

Your donor area will always look "thinner" proportionate to the number of hairs taken out after a FUE harvesting surgery.  The hairs will NOT grow back from the donor area (where it was taken). It is best to wait for your donor area hair to grow out before determining if it was overharvested.

Tayfun Oguzoglu, MD · Answer

After 9 days of post-operation, it won't be possible to provide an accurate answer to your question.
I would give it easily a month or more to see if there is any improvement.

John Peter Cole, MD · Answer

Over harvesting a donor area is a function of how many grafts are removed and the caliber of your hair shafts.  With fine hair and lower density, sometimes 2500 grafts is the maximum.  With the average donor area there are 15,200 follicular units so 3000 grafts is usually not an over harvest.  The area is still a little pink and the hair is a little short in the harvested area.  Give it some time and follow up with your surgeon.

Matt Tahsini, MD · Answer

Good question. I think you need to be patient and wait at least a couple of months until the donor area grows out a bit and then see how it looks. Good luck to you.

Artur Kierach, MD · Answer

At 9 days it´s not possible to be definitive from your pictures. There is an obvious change but this may simply be while your hair grows longer and the donor area properly heals. You should be able to discuss with your Doctor and it is quite easy to calculate. You need the surface area of the donor harvested. Then the follicular unit hair density in the donor area. If the density is taken in a few areas this helps to take an average hair density. You can calculate your overall hair density from this and then start to examine the % that was removed. As time goes by you will be able to see and feel a hair density change if over harvested. The area may feel patchy or the hair feel finer and thinner. Hope it is ok for you

Jesse E. Smith, MD, FACS · Answer

Your FUE procedure is too recent to truly tell if the donor area is over harvested. A density of 60-65 hairs or more per sq centimeter prevents the appearance of baldness or patches. Healing of the donor area can take a full 12-18 months to completely recover.

David Perez-Meza, MD, FISHRS · Answer

Excellent question and it is too soon to say that after 9 days PO only. So, I need more time for the evaluation. I will suggest you to follow your PO instructions, let the wound healing process to continue and to see your surgeon for the follow ups. Good luck.

Fotis Gkaragkounis, · Answer

From your images and at this stage of healing it is not possible to give you a definitive yes or no. There are many aspects that need to be considered. For example, your starting hair density and approximate hair count per hair unit. Your hair density changes around the sides and back. The harvesting pattern must reflect these changes to counter overharvesting areas. Then transection if it is sever can also cause over harvesting. The quality of the extraction can leave damaged hair units in the donor that may miniaturise. Keep your hair and scalp clean and allow the healing to continue. As your hair grows out properly it will be easier to determine the quality of your donor and then measure your hair density once again.

Arslan Musbeh, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

At 9 days post-op, we can define from the pictures if your donor area was over-harvested.
The donor area is still in healing phase. the grafts taken won't grow hair on the donor area. 
we need to see the donor area before the surgery.

Do you think my donor area is over-harvested following my 3000-graft transplant? (Photos)

Answers (13)

More FUE Hair Transplant Questions

Feeling very fatigued and dizzy 15 days after FUE hair transplant. Any suggestions? (photos)

12 days post-op. After pulling out blood clotting with cotton I can see new hair grafts pull out. Is this normal? (photo)

How many FUE grafts for crown area? (Photo)

3500 FUE photo feedback - Will there be much more growth?. Will new follicles still appear? (photo)

How do you know if you have damaged grafts?

Is the growth normal for 5 months and two weeks? I still have patches of no growth. (photo)

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS