The decision to get a hair transplant is a significant one. The results of a hair transplant surgery, however, should last a lifetime. This is because, regardless of where they are transplanted, hair follicles retain the genetic traits that make them resistant to hair loss.

But it’s not surprising that patients frequently inquire about the procedure’s effectiveness, permanence, and potential outcomes. In fact, “how long does a hair transplant last?” is one of the most frequently asked questions by patients.

Unfortunately, it can be challenging to offer a single, conclusive response to this. For those who receive a hair transplant, permanence is not always guaranteed because it can differ depending on a variety of personal factors. In order to address this frequently asked question and examine the various factors that may affect how long a hair transplant lasts, we decided to write this specific post.

Recap of Hair Transplant Surgery
It’s important to first review what a hair transplant is and how it functions before responding to the question “how long does a hair transplant last”. The transplantation of hair follicles from one area of the body, known as the donor area, to another, known as the recipient area, is the basic definition of a hair transplant, which is a minimally invasive procedure.

Several different techniques are employed during hair transplant surgery. Follicular unit extraction, however, is the method used the most frequently (FUE). This requires individually harvesting follicular units, also known as grafts, which may contain multiple hair follicles. The bald or thinning area is then prepared for the implantation stage by creating “channels,” which are essentially tiny incisions. Although new techniques have also been developed using sapphire blades, these channels are typically created using a small steel blade. The follicular units are then inserted into the channels to produce results that appear natural. Your type of hair loss, the amount of hair in your donor area, as well as other unique factors, will determine the precise procedure you opt for. When deciding on a course of treatment, your doctor and you will talk about this.

What Is the Duration of a Hair Transplant?
As was already mentioned, a hair transplant performed by a licensed professional ought to be permanent. The genetic makeup of hair follicles is one of the main causes of this. Not the scalp, but the hair follicles themselves are predisposed genetically to hair loss and balding. Because they are still healthy and haven’t been impacted by hair loss, hair follicles from areas that aren’t thinning or balding are taken during a hair transplant. These healthy follicles maintain their resistance to hair loss after being transplanted to the bald or thinning area. The healthy follicles will maintain their original characteristics no matter where they are positioned. Further hair loss typically doesn’t happen because these follicles are healthy in most cases.

If you have had hair transplant surgery but haven’t noticed as much growth as you’d like, don’t lose hope. After about three months, 10% of the transplanted hair should start to grow back; full growth should appear 10 to 12 months after the procedure. The final results, however, might not show up for up to 18 months in some circumstances.

Additionally, the’shedding phase’ phenomenon is a typical occurrence after a hair transplant procedure. Up to 90% of your transplanted hair may fall out during the first two to eight weeks following your transplant due to shedding. Although shedding may occur, this does not necessarily indicate that your transplant was unsuccessful or that it won’t last a lifetime. This is just a temporary, natural reaction to the surgery, and over the coming weeks, the hair will gradually start to grow back.

Things that Affect Permanence
Long-lasting hair transplants are clearly a result of genetic and scientific factors, but it’s important to recognize that not everyone will benefit from them. Therefore, there are a few things to consider when asking “how long does a hair transplant last” because they may have an impact on how permanent a hair transplant is. Below, we go into more detail about each of these.