Does Transplanted Hair Fall Out?

One of the questions people who have had, or are planning, a hair transplant ask most often is whether the transplanted hair will fall out. Transplanted hair can shed for various reasons. Sometimes the shedding is caused by the procedure itself — but what causes shedding that is not related to the procedure?

So why does transplanted hair fall out? Does new hair grow in its place? Let’s look at all the details together.

Why Does Hair Loss Happen?

Hair is one of the things people care about most when it comes to looking good. Hair loss can be caused by genetics, environmental factors, stress and many other reasons. Some people start losing hair as early as age 10, while others keep a full head of hair until 60.

The cause of hair loss and when it occurs are important for determining the age range in which a hair transplant is possible. Technically, the ideal age for a hair transplant is considered to be between 21 and 60. However, the right time is decided by looking at the individual’s hair loss, which is why careful planning is needed to prevent the hair from falling out again.

Will the Hair Grow Back?

Shock loss after a hair transplant usually ends completely about 6 months after the procedure, although this is based on clinical experience. If the shock loss was caused by a technique that seriously traumatised the tissue, it is unlikely that all of the lost hair will grow back. In such cases, the trauma appears too extensive and destructive for the tissue and its follicles to regenerate.

Where the tissue damage is less severe, the tissue can regenerate after a while, and the lost hair can be expected to grow back. Unfortunately, however, it is impossible to predict whether the follicles will recover enough to produce new hair.

Causes of Shock Hair Loss

The causes of shock hair loss differ depending on the area where the shedding occurs. They can be listed as follows:

Shock Hair Loss in the Donor Area

• Tissue-traumatising scalpel incisions with the FUT method (strip method)
• Very extensive donor harvesting for FUE hair transplants (more than 2,000 grafts)
• The use of micromotors and robots to harvest donor hair in FUE

Shock Hair Loss in the Recipient (Transplant) Area

• Overly dense transplantation (dense packing)
• The use of tissue-traumatising instruments to prepare recipient sites in the skin
• Excessive tumescent anaesthesia (visible as massive tissue or facial swelling after surgery)

Recovery After a Hair Transplant

In the first two weeks after a hair transplant, the scalp heals beneath small scabs. Despite any itching, you should not scratch, to avoid bacterial infection. The aftercare lotion you are given supports the healing process. The follicles anchor firmly in their new place and begin to heal. After five months, fine hairs develop and grow stronger over time.