I had 1800 done about 5 months ago. I am still seeing new hairs poping up here and there, but I am curious as to when FINAL results are in. I imagine differences for each person, but there must be some point where a transplanted hair is either going to come out or they (the new hairs) are basicall done. What would be an approx. time frame to see "final results" ( one yr, 7 months, 2yrs, etc...?) Any experienced HTs please advise.

It depends on how many procedures you have had. I am going to assume this was your first and you are a newby. I have had 6 done. The more you do the longer it takes to see final result. Pat had an excellant post about "waiting time". If my memory serves here goes: by 6 months most if not all fu's are growing in, but it takes several months for them to grow in length for styling. Also, very important!! They thicken and darken more in months 6 through 12. After 1 year, what you see is what you get. Of course for people with 1st HT it might happen sooner because new skin and no scar tissue.

Ron
You are right this was my first procedure. I had hoped that in doing one large amount (1800) that I may be able to do just this one session. I find 2000 to be common these days, so I guess it really wasn't that huge. I am aware of the long wait to see initial results, but I feel like the new hairs are not really coming in like they were at the 4 month mark. Should I expect not much more new hair, but the thickening of the fresh transplanted hairs? I gather this (the thickening) is as you explained also important for final results. Thanks for the response!

It is possible there might be fine hairs in that you just cannot see. It is very difficult to hold a mirror and really focus in on the top of your head. Lets put it this way, My doctor does not like to do another procedure until atleast the 8 month mark. He can then see where everything is going. If you are like me and most people, you want density as well as undetectableness(if such a word exists, but you get the point. Sometimes it takes another procedure to fill in density. But it is hard to make plans for that until the 8 or 9 month mark. Those babies are still growing in. You will notice more as each passing week goes by and they continue to thicken in diameter and get longer in length. The ones you can see a still very short. You can prepare yourself in your mind and finances for your next HT. Hell, we all do that, but to make an appointment, put down deposits, take off work, etc., not at the 5 month mark. How do I know, I did that once and my doctor sent me home and said come back at the 8 month mark to re-evaluate. So sit back and stop looking in the mirror every 5 minutes. I am teasing you because I am so so quilty of that. I am surprised my girlfriend has not dumped me for being so vane. But All of us on this web site know how that is. We just want back what we so painfully lost. So in summery, keep up your healthy diet, exercise, positive thinking and give your 1800 HT some more time. Hairs grow at different stages. They are not all intune at the same time. I bet if you snap a picture today and than on May 17, you will see a huge difference. My biggest was 1200. 1800 at one time, you and the rest of these people doing these big sessions are studs in my book. Do not get down on yourself. If you know you want to go again, go for it. But wait a few more months at the very least.

Regards,

Ron

Oliver,
There is certainly some variability in when transplanted hairs "come out" and start growing. For most patients, there is always that 1-5% of the hairs that "take off" from the start and never go into their "hibernation" phase. The great majority of transplanted hairs make their initial appearance between three and four months from the time of the surgery. Around 20% of my new patients (especially the ones who start out bald) notice the first hair at 2 1/2 months. Two things that I think are important to mention are these: First, in subsequent sessions after the initial one (when the blood supply system for the scalp is "virgin"), the appearance of the new hairs can be delayed slightly. It is a little hard to tell if this is indeed true across the board or not, because the first session will always be the most dramatic one (especially if nothing was there in the first place), and the hairs from the second session will be quite short in their first month or two of appearing and may be difficult to notice in the mirror as they stand between the taller-shouldered first session hairs. Second, Dr. Martinick of Australia did an elegant study of follicular units, in which she proved that there can still be the appearance of new hairs as far out as 18 months after surgery. One final point is that transplanted hairs that just come out are of smaller diameter than they will be a few months later, which tends to help make them "invisible" also when trying to see if your new hair is growing. Hope that helps.
Mike Beehner, M.D.

Thank you for the helpful info. I think the answer I was looking for came when I read the portion in the response about the Aussie Dr. who found transplanted hairs to be sprouting even after 18 months. I guess I am finding NEW hairs each week(not as much), but was trying to figure out at what point all of my transplanted hair will have shown itself. I now understand that even at the one year mark it is common to still see new hairs coming in. I didn't know they could go into a rest phase for so long. Am I correct in thinking this way? So I have many more months of new growth to look forward to?