Hair Transplantation Before and After

The two most important factors when deciding on a hair transplant are the results and the price. Before and after photos of hair transplants are very important for making this decision. With the development of the FUE method, it has been possible to achieve almost-perfect results in hair transplantation.

While there may be informative results online, unfortunately they may not be genuine and can mislead people. Hair transplant centers rightly strive to convey the best visual images to people. Hair transplant forums where people freely share their results can help in this case.

Before you start exploring this page, you can watch our video on YouTube

Are You Ready for the Good Hair Transplant Result?

A good result is the most important criterion. The surgeon must give you the right information. You should also remember that not every patient is suitable for a good hair transplant. 

To achieve good hair transplant, the following three points must be considered:

1. Regrow of Most Implanted Grafts: For a successful result, the implanted grafts must take root and grow to a significant degree.
2. Ideal Hair Density: The ratio of the number of hair grafts per 1 cm2 must be calculated correctly. A sparse looking result will never make a person happy.
3. Natural-looking: Even if all the grafts have taken root and the density is high, the result should look natural. You can visit the following page to learn about natural hair transplant.

11 Criteria Affecting the Result of Hair Transplants

To get a successful hair transplant result you first need to find out whether you are good candidate for surgery

• Criteria 1-5 should be checked before the hair transplant. 
• Criteria 6-10 concern the operation itself. 
• The last 11th relate to the period after the hair transplant.

1 – Family, Genetic, And Age Factors

Age is an important factor in the decision to get a hair transplant. The rate of hair loss and the condition of the donor area are very important, especially for a young person. Hair loss history in the family should be checked as well. Hair loss in the family should also be checked. This is important especially in people with closest family members such as father, older brother, uncle. For example, a 20-25-year-old young man whose father has Norwood 6-7 hair loss is likely to look like his father in the coming years. For a good hair transplant result, familial factors and age should be considered in advance. At an older age, donor quality may weaken and the result may be less than expected.

2 – Causes of Hair Loss And Its Rate

It is wrong to make a decision about hair transplantation without finding out the cause of hair loss. Sometimes this can be identified with a few simple questions. Sometimes detailed testing by a laboratory may be required. For example, when androgenic hair loss is diagnosed, the decision to have a hair transplant can be made easily. However, if the hair loss is caused by a metabolic disease, such as thyroid disease (goiter), the necessary tests must be taken. It is not right to do a hair transplant before treating the thyroid disease. Otherwise, there can be a poor result. This point is more important for women.

The intensity of hair loss is important because it helps predict future hair health. 

3 – Quality and Capacity of the Donor Area

A good hair transplant doctor should first examine the donor area after that he looks over the implantation area. Hair, beard and other body hair can be donor.

• How many grafts can be extracted from the donor area? 
• How many grafts will be transplanted? 
• How many sessions can be done depending on the capacity of the donor area?
• How many grafts will be left over for another procedure in a few years?
• What is the quality of the donor grafts? 

These points need to be clarified before proceeding with a hair transplant procedure. Remember that successful hair transplant results can be achieved if there is enough hair in the donor area.

Below you see the result of a hair transplant that was performed at another center and ended in failure. This person was never a suitable candidate for a hair transplant. The potential of the donor area is very weak and numerically insufficient. In addition, the hairless area is very wide and difficult to close. For this patient, it would be best to refuse a hair transplant.

4 – Hair Loss Type

According to the Norwood classification, what is your hair loss type? It’s good to know this in advance. You can identify the type of hair loss in the figure below. In cases where the amount of hair loss is high, such as Norwood 6 and 7, the risk of a bad hair transplant also increases.

Norwood Hair Loss

With this classification, the width of the alopecia zone must be defined in cm2. When the number of grafts taken is divided by the width of the bald area, the number of grafts grafted per 1 cm2 is found.

Number of grafts per 1 cm2 (Average) = Number of Grafts extracted (number) / Recipient Area (cm2).

This formula is crucial for the ideal density hair transplant result. In general, 40-50 grafts per square centimeter will be sufficient for a dense result.

5 – Personal Information (Chronic Diseases, Taking Medicine, Allergies, etc.)

Chronic diseases such as hemophilia, heart disease, diabetes with high blood pressure must be reported to your doctor before a hair transplant. Your doctor should also be informed about the medication you are using and any allergic conditions you have. Some blood thinning medications can be a barrier to hair transplantation. Medication you are taking may interact with the drugs used for anesthesia in a hair transplant. If there is a problem with your hair transplant, your doctor will tell you.

6 – Experience of the Hair Transplant Surgeon

This is a criterion that directly affects the result of the hair transplant. The experience of the doctor and his team who will perform the procedure is very important for a successful and natural result. It is useful to see the results before and after hair transplantation beforehand. Unfortunately, there is a large group of people who present themselves as hair transplant specialists but are not doctors. There are many such people in the hair transplant industry. The procedure requires proper opening of canals, placement of roots at the right depth, proper hair growth line, etc. You have to be careful of so-called hair transplant specialists who don’t even know about them. Just like you are selective about buying a shirt and a jumper, you should do your research before getting a hair transplant. Instead of being attracted by impressive advertising, we recommend you go where you can get scientific and accurate information.

7 – Grafts Quantity and Hair Transplantation

The number of grafts to be transplanted and the duration of the hair transplant have a direct influence on the result. There must be a reasonable ratio between the number of grafts transplanted and the recipient area (in square centimetres). Large areas in Norwood 6-7 will require a large number of grafts. If their number is small, distributing them over the entire large area results in a sparse appearance. A successful result cannot be obtained. A high density hair transplant in a limited area is more logical. 

Depending on the number of grafts transplanted, the duration of surgery also increases. In a longer period the survival rate of the grafts consequently decreases. If the number of grafts to be transplanted in one session exceeds 2000, it is better to divide the operation into days. An operation to transplant 2,000 grafts will take an average of 5-6 hours. If the duration exceeds 5-6 hours, it is definitely advisable to divide the hair transplant operation into 2 or 3 days. In our opinion, this is the criterion that must be met for a successful hair transplant result.

8 – Correctly Planned Frontal Hairline

A properly planned frontal hairline is required to obtain natural hair transplant results. The design of the hairline directly depends on the age of the person, the speed of hair loss, the capacity of the donor and the facial structure. The artistry of the doctor plays a major role here. In addition, the direction of the transplanted hair is very important for a natural look. The frontal hairline should consist of single grafts. Implantation that is carried out without knowledge of these features, may result in the appearance of a man-grass.

9 – Complications Caused by Hair Transplant Operation

There is also the possibility of unwanted complications in a hair transplant performed without following medical rules. If an implantation is done without following the sterilization rules, complications such as infection or necrosis may occur after the operation. It is the duty of the transplanting doctor to prevent these complications, which directly affect the result of hair transplantation.

There are two methods of grafting: FUT and FUE. The FUT method is no longer used, except in very rare cases. As far as the implantation method is concerned, channel and DHI techniques of hair transplantation have come to the fore. In our clinics, we prefer the DHI method. We can say that the DHI method is more favorable in terms of successful results.

10 – Implantation Method

You have had a hair transplant, but there are some recommendations to follow after the transplant. Now let’s examine the factors that affect the results of hair transplantation in the post-operative period.

11- Recommendations After Hair Transplant

After the hair transplant, your doctor will give you some simple recommendations. Following these recommendations will help your hair transplant to have a good result. These include: 

• Washing off the crusts. You must wash your hair after the procedure without damaging the grafts. It is best to have your first hair wash at the clinic where you had surgery. 
• Sports and fitness
• Alcohol, tea, coffee
• Getting back to work
• Sea, pools, and saunas
• Sexual activity
• Sleeping position
• Usage of topic, dyes, or other supplements
• First haircut after the operation
• Use of hat
• Redness and swelling after hair transplant
• Nutrition habits

You can find all details about each recommendation on our after hair transplant period page. 

When Are the Hair Transplant Results Achieved?

The postoperative period is actually the most difficult period of the whole procedure. Briefly summarizing it: 

• A shock loss begins after 15-20 days after the operation
• After 4-5 months, the hair begins to grow back; it is weak and lifeless
• In the 6th month, 50%-60% of the hair will grow back. This is general information, though it is individual for each patient. 
• For Vertex hair regrows with a delay of 1-2 months. 
• After 7-8 months the hair is stronger and thicker. 
• After one year, 90%-95% of the hair grows back. 
• It takes about 18 months to achieve 100% results. . 

Therefore, in order to fully evaluate the images before and after hair transplantation, it is necessary to assess the results with monthly photographs.

What should be considered in the before and after photos of hair transplants?

• Pictures should be of high quality
• Pictures before and after hair transplantation should be taken under the same lighting. It is better if they are taken at the same time of the day, if possible. Photos should be taken from the same angle. 
• Unfortunately, unreliable photos may be taken using software such as photoshop
• In fact the videos of hair transplant results are more truthful than photographs.

Examining Before and After Hair Transplant Results at Each Stage

When evaluating hair transplant images, it is helpful to consider not only the transplant area, but also the donor area where the grafts will be taken. Now let’s review the process with step-by-step images.

Day 1-2. Before and after the first hair wash.  The most critical period after surgery is the first 48-72 hours. During this period special attention should be paid to possible situations with bumps on the head. We carry out the first hair wash on the first day of your stay at our clinic. In some clinics, the first wash takes place after 3 days. Washing should be done twice a day. The donor area begins to heal quickly. From the second day onwards, a slight swelling (puffiness) may appear. This is a temporary condition. Serious swelling does not occur with the pen implant technique.

10 Days After Hair Transplant. . After 8-10 days, the skin should be cleaned of scabs. The hair will look as if it has been cut or trimmed. The donor area will heal completely. If the scabs still appear by day 12, you should seek help from the clinic.

Shock Hair Loss

In 15 days after the operation, the transplanted hair starts to fall out. On the 20th day, it continues to increase. This is a normal process. Hair loss varies from person to person. The loss may last until 45-50 days. Some may experience up to 90% -100% loss, while others may go through only 5-10%. You can find more information on shock loss after hair transplant page. 

1 Month After Hair Transplant (30 days). Shock loss continues. This is actually one of the most unpleasant periods before and after hair transplantation. Redness may occur in the recipient area. This is a situation that is more common in people with fair skin and lasts for up to 2-3 months.

3 Months After Hair Transplant. The shock loss is over and the redness has disappeared. During this period, pimples may still appear on the skin. This is nothing to be afraid of. But if you have increased acne, you should contact your hair transplant doctor. On the 90th day, the hair is gradually getting ready to grow.

4 Months After Hair Transplant. The transplanted hair begins to grow back slowly. By the end of the fourth month, about 25-30% of the hair grows back. The first hairs that grow back are weak and thin. They can also be frizzy and gradually become normal over time.

6 Months After Hair Transplant (180 days). 50%-60% of hair grows back. In some patients, most of the transplanted hair grows back.

7 Months After Hair Transplant. On day 210, there is an increase in hair volume and it also begins to thicken gradually. The overall growth rate averages 70-80%.

One Year After Hair Transplant

The average hair growth rate is 95%. Recovery is basically complete.

18 Months After Hair Transplant.

One hundred percent recovery has come to an end.

A poor appearance can occur if an excessive amount of graft is taken from the donor area and unevenly. For this reason, donor capacity should never be exceeded and the graft should be properly planned.

The hair transplant and post-transplant steps described may be different for each individual. You can estimate this information as a general average. For example, in a person with very little hair loss, we may see an average result of 80-90% at the end of the 4th month. In rare cases, this process may take up to 18 months in a person whose expected intensity will not arrive until the end of the 12th month.

5 Examples with Hair Transplant Results

We would like to share 5 patients’ results as an example for the best before and after hair transplant evaluation. 

Case 1: 

23-year-old man, a college student. His hair has been thinning and being sparse. The hair of the donor area is weak enough. Hair loss has increased in the past year. His father is about 55 and has Norwood type 7 hair loss. His uncle also has problems with hair loss. He wants a hair transplant and his expectations are very high.

A hair transplant in this young man will do him nothing but harm. Perhaps his loss will follow the loss of his father, and Norwood will grow to the 6th or 7th degree. If we do hair transplant he may be happy just for a few years. After that, he will regret about it as the hair will fall out quickly. The best way in this case is to slow down the rate of hair loss with medical treatment.

Case 2: 

Male 37 years old with no chronic diseases or allergies. He has Norwood type 4 hair loss. Total amount of donor grafts is 8000. The hair in the donor area is strong and thick. Beard hair is strong. His father has Norwood type 6 hair loss.

Because the donor area is strong, he is suitable candidate for operation. Hair loss problems can be solved with an average of 3,500-4,000 grafts. Hair loss may continue in subsequent years. However, as the overall hair volume is good, one more hair transplant operation can be done ın future. In this way, a successful hair transplant result will likely take place.

Case 3: 

A 38-year-old housewife and mother of 2 children. She has frequent thinning of her hair. The hair in the donor area is also very thin and sparse. She has thyroid (goiter) and anemia (iron deficiency anemia).

A successful hair transplant result is not possible for this lady. The donor hair is also weak and prone to hair loss due to systemic diseases. In the best case scenario, medical treatment is an option.

Case 4: 

A 28-year-old male with Norwood 3 hair loss. The donor area hair is strong and has a total capacity of 6000 grafts. Hair loss continues slowly. Beard and chest hair are quite strong. Father and uncle have Norwood 6 hair loss. His expectations are reasonable and he knows that hair loss will continue.

This person should be told what he may face in 5 to 10 years in terms of hair loss. If a hair transplant is performed, a repeat procedure will definitely be necessary in the following years. Hair transplant can be done as body and beard donor hairs are suitable. In addition to hair transplant, medical treatment should also be recommended. In this case, we assume that the patient will be happy with the result. Most likely, he will have second session in future. 

Case 5: 

58 year old male with Norwood 6 hair loss. Donor area hair is moderately strong. He faces diabetes, hypertension and takes heart medications. He also uses blood thinners. Donor capacity is between 4000-5000. He knows that his hair will not be completely covered and wants a hair transplant.

As for systemic diseases, the first thing to do is to consult a general physician and a cardiologist. If there are no obstacles to taking local anesthesia and stopping blood thinning medications for a certain period of time, a hair transplant can be done. Since his expectations are not high, we think he will be happy with the result.

Contact us for the hair transplant results of Dr. Hakan Doganay.