Before and after an FUE hair transplant

Before-and-after photographs are most useful when lighting, hair length, styling and camera angle match. The final appearance also depends on donor density, graft placement, hair calibre, curl and the progression of the underlying hair loss.

Follicular unit extraction removes individual follicular units from a donor area and places them into small recipient sites. Tiny extraction dots and recipient-site crusts are expected early features rather than the finished result.

Transplanted hairs may shed while the follicles remain beneath the skin. New hair then emerges on its own growth cycle, so density and texture become clearer over months rather than days. Existing non-transplanted hair can continue to thin if androgenetic alopecia remains active.

Give the clinic a complete list of medicines, supplements, allergies, scalp conditions and previous procedures. Follow its instructions about washing, hair products, smoking and any medicine changes; do not stop a prescribed medicine without the prescriber's advice.

After surgery, use the supplied washing method, sleep as directed and avoid rubbing, scratching or picking crusts. Keep follow-up visits so the team can assess healing, donor-area recovery and the planned distribution of growth. Compare progress photographs only at the intervals your surgeon recommends.

Contact the treating clinic promptly for worsening pain, spreading redness, increasing warmth, pus, fever, persistent bleeding or swelling that is severe or affecting the eyes. Seek urgent care for breathing difficulty, facial swelling or another rapidly developing allergic-type reaction.

Patchy shedding alone can occur during recovery, but sudden extensive loss, darkening skin, open wounds or a donor area that is not healing deserves assessment rather than home treatment.

Ask what density is realistic with your donor supply, who performs each part of the procedure, how the hairline will be designed and whether medical treatment is appropriate for ongoing hair loss. Also clarify the washing plan, activity restrictions, review schedule and whom to contact after hours.