Well it sure is exciting to hear you both are having good post-op growth! So CONGRATS to both of you.
There are several dynamics which take place post-op which stimulate the re-growth of both the natural and transplanted hair. It would probably be more helpful if I address each of them.
Our scalps sustain a fair amount of trauma/shock from the hair transplant procedure altogethor both in the donor and recipient areas. Where ever there has been a cut, extraction, or recipient site made the follicules in the immediate "and" neighboring areas sense the trauma and a fair amount of them behave defensively and retreat into the telogen (resting) phase where they lie dormant for approximately three months. And yes the times frames can vary somewhat between patients as both of you are now experiencing. After the follicules have rested they begin to grow new hairs (anagen) and usually in the fourth month or so we can visually see the new hair cylinders break above the scalpline. That no doubt is exciting to see!
And as the new hairs begin to grow again they tend to come in with thinner caliper than our existing terminal hair. I talk with many patients who tell me on a daily basis that their hair is coming in but they look so "skinny"! That's okay because with time and continued growth, the hairs will also get fatter to original caliper where they were pre-transplant. For some this can take up to fourteen months post-op. By ten months or so post-op one can assume that the grafts that "did grow" are now visible above the scalp. It is between ten and fourteen months post -op that the original caliper comes back and believe me "it makes all the difference". Caliper is considered as the single most critical factor in attaing the illusion of coverage. I used to think it was density but it is not. I believe that is the consensous of most reputable hair transplant surgeons. BTW, I had this exxperience myself in all three of my procedures.
I do need to address shockloss and the effect it has on our "natural hair", especially the diffused ones. One of the aspects every patient would want to consider is that the hair transplant procedure in itself can PERMANENTLY shock out some of our natural hair. This usually is true with the weakest hair adversely affected by DHT especially weak vellus hair. That's why the diffusing hairloss patient needs to take EXTRA precaution when making the decisions involving the hair transplant process. Now don't get me wrong, I did not say nor imply that "none" of the natural hair will re-grow again because for most a larger percent does in fact grow back. Just remember that there is NEVER such a thing as 100% yield nor 100% re-growth. That's a fact. If anyone ever tells you to the contrary, THEY ARE STRAIGHT UP LYING TO YOU!
So in closing, most patients will in fact see both the natural hair and transplanted hair grow in togethor. So hey guys, keep us posted of your progress! Just wait till you get six months and on post-op, man that's when lots start coming in!
Hope this was helpful, Gill.
