Dr. James E. White, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a Board Certified Surgeon at Advanced Surgical Concepts in Chattanooga, TN. In this series of Q&A, Dr. White offers insider knowledge about hair replacement treatment.

I was told the newly transplanted hairs would fall out. Is this true?

Yes. Within 10 days to 2 weeks following the procedure, the newly transplanted hairs fall out. However, the tissue with the growth information remains and resurfaces the scalp in about 4-5 months.

What do the new hairs look like?

They will look like your normal hair as they grow in beginning fine and reaching its full thickness between 9-12 months.

How long are the transplanted hairs immediately after surgery?

3mm on average but they do not contribute any coverage immediately after the procedure and generally go into shock shortly afterwards.

Is there an immediate result from the transplant?

No. It takes about 6-12 weeks for the new hair to begin to grow and 9-12 months for the final result.

What do I look like after the surgery? Can I go to work the next days?

After surgery, we bandage the scalp with gauze wrap and compression bandage for the first 24 hours. After the bandage is removed, the scalp will have some redness and scabbing on the areas where the grafts were transplanted. These should heal within 4-5 days. Most patients who have a procedure on Thursday or Friday, return to work by Tuesday the following week.

What are the most common complications from a hair transplant?

The side effect we see most, although not often, is folliculitis (pimples). This occurs after a hair transplant begins to grow and presents itself as ingrown hairs. It is accompanied by redness and bumps that resemble pimples. Occasionally we also get reports of nausea from pain medication and swelling around the forehead region.