Hair transplantation has changed a lot in the last ten to fifteen years. The horrific hair transplants with the "corn row" effect in modern hair restoration surgery are becoming a thing of the past. Modern methods are more accurate and precise in how the operation is performed. Most importantly, the results of modern hair transplant surgery are much more natural than anything you have seen or heard before when it comes to hair transplant surgery and choosing a hair transplant clinic.

But that's the thing. The implant may be a cosmetic procedure using only a local anesthetic, but it is still a surgical procedure, so there will be signs that the work has been done. That's what most people think - what would you look like next?

It really will depend on the type of transplant you plan to have. Let's look at each type:

Ribbon incision implant

Here a piece of pregnant woman's skin is cut from the nape of the neck. The small individual hair follicles are then removed and transplanted into the scalp. You will need sutures in the back of the neck to close the donor area - this will take a few days to heal and will cause some swelling and discomfort. In fact, you will need at least a few days off from work to heal the scar. Also, the newly transplanted hair grafts on your scalp will take some time to heal, the dandruff will dry out, fall out and your scalp will return to normal.

FUE. transplantation

FUE does not require a large scar in the donor area for transplantation. Using the FUE technique, each hair transplant is removed directly from the back and sides of your scalp and then transplanted into the bare parts of your scalp. One large "wound" in the back of the head, a FUE transplant will leave you with hundreds or thousands of microscopic holes in the back of your head and scalp. Again, it will take a few days for the transplanted area to heal and the crust to dry and wash. The donor area (from which the hair was taken) will heal longer because it has many small "cuts" rather than large ones. The receiving area (where they put their hair) will take a week or two to recover properly, so it may be a good idea to take some time off work.

Implant scars

It doesn't matter if you have an incision with tape or a FUE implant, you will have scars from the surgery. It is really important to keep physical activity to a minimum so as not to stretch these scars and make them much bigger than they should be. Ideally, physical activity will be reduced to an absolute minimum for several weeks after hair surgery until you recover properly.

How fast will your hair grow?

Hair transplantation is one of the funniest things about how hair grows back. When hair is transplanted, it grows for a few days or even weeks and then falls out. Relax - this is perfectly normal and your hair surgeon will (or should) warn you. After a few weeks, the newly transplanted hair will start to grow again - you can expect this to happen in the first 90 days. Some people will grow fast and others will have to wait a little longer. After 9-12 months, you should see the final growth results of the transplant. You can then decide if you are happy with the end result or if you want to slightly tighten your hairline with another procedure.

Therefore, immediately after the operation, your scalp will look slightly cracked - there will be dry blood and scabs. They will heal in a few days and your scalp will remain pink for a few days after that. The donor area is usually hidden, unless your head is shaved during the transplant (which is becoming more common), so all the scars need to be hidden there. Even if your head is shaved, it should grow enough in 3 to 4 weeks to cover all the donor's scars, so in the worst case, you will be out of work for a little less than a month. However, it is not bad for the outcome to change lives!