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Keeping Your Hair Healthy After a Hair Transplant

For people suffering from hair loss or thinning, hair transplants can provide a promising and successful solution for long-term, natural-looking hair regrowth. Hair transplantation is a surgical procedure during which healthy hair follicles from one area of the scalp are removed and transplanted into areas of the scalp where hair is thinning or balding, encouraging thicker, fuller-looking hair across the entire scalp.

Tim R. Love, M.D., of Love Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics is a board-certified plastic surgeon who is nationally renowned for his skill and experience in hair transplantation, replacement, and restoration procedures. He worked closely with Dr. O’Tar Norwood, a pioneer in hair transplantation and restoration, and has remained at the forefront in his field as one of the country’s leading hair transplant specialists. Dr. Love has performed hundreds of hair restoration procedures in his 30+ years of experience, treating each patient with the individualized approach and compassionate care they deserve in the face of hair loss and balding.

If you have recently undergone a hair transplant or other type of surgical hair restoration procedure, taking care of your hair is now more important than ever. While hair thinning, hair loss, and baldness are heavily influenced by genetics, there are some steps you can take to help care for what you do have.

Understanding the Hair Growth Process

Hair undergoes a cyclical process characterized by three distinct phases: anagen, catagen, and telogen.

The anagen phase is the active growth stage during which cells within the hair follicles divide, generating new hair fibers. The duration of the anagen phase varies from person to person and can span anywhere between two to seven years.

Following anagen, the catagen phase serves as a brief transitional period. In this phase, the hair follicle undergoes contraction and readies itself for the telogen phase, which is a period of rest. The catagen phase typically lasts around two to three weeks.

Telogen represents the resting phase in the hair growth cycle. During this time, the hair follicle remains inactive for a duration of one to four months, though the hairs don’t yet shed. At the end of the telogen phase, the follicle reactivates, initiating the production of a new hair fiber. This process leads to the expulsion of the old hair, marking the beginning of a new cycle.

How Hair Regrows After a Hair Transplant

During the first few weeks after your procedure, you may experience shock loss, a normal—but discouraging—loss of transplanted hair. This is because during the procedure, the blood supply to the follicles is temporarily interrupted as they are transplanted from one part of the scalp to the area of thinning or balding, causing them to enter the telogen phase prematurely and shed hairs. However, though the hair itself is dead, the transplanted follicles are still “alive” and healthy, and once the follicles recover from the shock of transplantation, they will begin to enter the growth (anagen) cycle again and begin to regrow new hair.

After a hair transplant procedure, it can take up to three months for new hair to enter the anagen phase, or start growing. The rate of growth will vary for each person and depends on the type of surgery that was performed. It can take up to a year for most people to see transplanted hair fully growing in.

Following your hair transplant procedure, here is what you’ll see after…

1-2 months: Stubble-like growth appears as the hair follicles begin to take root.

3-4 months: You will start noticing new hair growth of very fine and soft hairs.

5-6 months: Transplanted hairs will be growing thicker and darker in color, and you should start seeing new coverage.

7-9 months: New hairs are starting to thicken and lengthen, though they are still fragile.

12 months: Transplanted hair is starting to look and feel like natural hair, with the same thickness, color, and texture as your pre-transplant hair.

Caring for Your Hair After a Hair Transplant

Taking care of your hair helps prevent oil buildup, breakage, and split ends, which can weaken the hair. The ideal hair care routine varies with every individual, but some basics can help keep your hair—whatever its personality—healthy.

  • Less is more, especially when it comes to your shampoo. Although it’s designed to clean your hair, too much can strip your hair of the natural oils and minerals that keep it healthy and shiny. Many hair experts even discourage daily shampoo, suggesting you instead opt for an all-natural dry shampoo. You also want to avoid shampoos with excessive chemicals or fragrance. Look for products free of sulfates, parabens, dyes, GMOs, and mineral oils. These ingredients can dry out your hair, and cause buildup that dulls the shine.
  • Be gentle with wet hair, as it’s far more fragile than dry hair. Instead of using a harsh cotton towel to dry your hair, opt for an old t-shirt. Try to comb and detangle your hair before you wash it and use a wide-toothed comb when you still have conditioner in your hair.
  • Beat the heat, as much as you can. While completely cutting out heat treatments may not be possible, limiting them is best. Invest in a hairdryer that has a cooling option, or a straightener that works without being over 300 degrees. Heat-protective products are also recommended.
  • A softer style works for your hair better than harsh up-dos. Loosen ponytails, braids, and any other hairstyle that puts a little stress on your roots. Additionally, try to limit products that make your hair too stiff or too big and opt instead for a little texture.
  • See your stylist regularly to trim split ends. Cutting off those dead ends every six to eight weeks promotes healthier, faster hair growth.

Eating a healthy diet can also help keep your hair healthy after a hair transplant procedure, and there are a variety of foods that you can incorporate into yours that will give your hair the nutrients it needs to grow full and strong, including:

  • Fish, such as salmon, tuna, or trout, are rich in protein and Vitamin D, as well as omega-3 fatty acids
  • Walnuts are also rich in fatty acids, biotin, and vitamin E which help protect your hair against damage.
  • Eggs, in addition to protein, have zinc, selenium, sulfur, and iron, which carries oxygen to your hair follicles.
  • Blueberries are abundant in vitamin C, which is critical for circulation to the scalp.
  • Spinach has beta carotene, folate, and vitamin C—all of which benefit scalp oils.

Sometimes, hair damage and loss can be attributed simply to age or other genetic factors; other times, it’s a result of daily habits. If you’re eating right but still having trouble with your locks, you may want to have your vitamin and mineral levels checked and take supplements as recommended by your doctor.

In addition to limiting product use, try to choose silicone-based products to limit the amount of damage done to your hair. Leave-in conditioners are also excellent for protecting hair and don’t forget about following the product directions precisely. Finally, be sure you trust your hairstylist—whether it’s a cut or a styling, they shouldn’t be hurting your scalp by doing their job.

Trust Your Hair Transplants to Love Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics

Successful hair transplants require choosing the right hair restorations specialist. Dr. Love and his Certified Hair Transplant Specialist Clara Prather, MA, are both members of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, and they, along with the rest of the staff at Love Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics, are committed to restoring your hair, your youth, and your confidence. Dr. Love specializes in the gold-standard strip harvesting method and has performed hundreds of hair restoration procedures for patients from around the country.

Experience the difference and rediscover a better you at Love Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics. Call us today at 405-751-LOVE (5683) to schedule a consultation and find out how we can help you address your hair loss. We accept patients from across the country and offer out-of-town patients a $300 travel reimbursement in the form of 100 free grafts to help offset costs.

Thin Hair or a Growing Problem: Female Pattern Baldness

woman distraught at hair loss shown in brush. As easy as it is to think of men when you hear the term “balding,” the sad truth is that not every hair commercial is to be believed. Although us ladies love our luscious locks, we aren’t exempt from balding patterns—no matter how much time or product we spend on making sure our hair looks perfect.

Alopecia, the clinical term for balding, is a real problem for many women.

Female pattern baldness typically begins with thinning hair, not hairline recession, and rarely leads to total hair loss. However, with one-third of women experiencing some degree of hair loss in their lifetime, it can be distressing. But what separates a few hairs on your pillow from beginning baldness?

What Alopecia Looks Like for Women

Your hair follicles typically grow a half-inch every month for about 2 to 6 years before falling out and getting replaced by new hair. On average, you’re expected to lose 50 to 125 hair follicles per day that will be replaced by new hair growth. Any loss exceeding that amount is considered to be true hair loss and typically manifests itself first in hair thinning around the crown of the scalp. The front hairline usually remains clearly distinguished in women.

Causes of Alopecia in Women

Unfortunately, female pattern baldness can be caused by a wide variety of factors that may not always be able to be diagnosed. A few potential culprits include:

  • Physical stress, such as a recent surgery or weight change.
  • Emotional stress, due to a tragedy or mental illness.
  • Certain medications containing high doses of Vitamin A or ones with hormones, such as birth control.

There are a few things that could potentially contribute to hair loss, including genetics, age, and diet. Based on studies, there are a few things we know that do not cause female pattern baldness.
Despite what you may have heard, these things won’t make you bald:

  • Frequent shampooing or brushing
  • Hats or wigs
  • Dandruff

Treatments for Alopecia in Women

Once you’re diagnosed with female pattern baldness, treatment needs to begin immediately. If left neglected, hair loss can become permanent. There are a few options, depending on what you and your doctor decide is best for your needs:

  • Medication is an option, although there is only one form of medication approved by the FDA to treat baldness.
  • Hair transplants are another option. A licensed professional (like us) will remove tiny plugs of hair from areas on your scalp where the hair is thicker and place them in the balding area to encourage regrowth.

If you’re uncertain about your hair loss or where to begin treatment, give us a call! We’re happy to help you explore your options and get back to feeling yourself!

You’ll Pull Your Hair Out: Pregnancy and Hair Loss

Before you even have a chance to pull your hair out, you may already notice hair loss after your new baby has arrived. With limited sleep and the task of navigating motherhood, you’re already stressed enough: you shouldn’t have to worry about pregnancy hair loss, too. Here’s what’s going on with your hair, and why you don’t need to worry:

Hair Loss During Pregnancy

While you were pregnant, your body was certainly going through some changes, including hormone levels, vitamin deficiencies, blood pressure, and swelling. For the most part, this over-production in certain hormone levels will encourage your hair growth, leading to fuller, healthier locks. Of course, what goes up must come down: you’ll lose a lot of that new growth during the first five to six months after pregnancy. Although the name post-partum hair loss is scary, don’t panic: you aren’t actually losing hair:

  • At any given time, only 90% of your hair is actually growing. The other 10% is during a rest phase, during which it will begin to fall out to make room for new, healthy hair to grow. On average, pregnancy notwithstanding, you lose about 100 hairs per day; you just don’t realize it since it isn’t all at once.
  • During pregnancy, estrogen prolongs the growing stage, causing your hair to grow for a longer period and cutting back on the hair that you lose. Post-pregnancy, your hair is slowly returning to normal levels, causing the extra hair growth to fall out. According to celebrity hairstylist Richard Ward, interviewed by the experts at Mybaba.com, the more dramatic the change during pregnancy, the more dramatic the change afterward.
  • Breastfeeding may prolong the shedding of your new hair growth, but it doesn’t prevent it from happening. Regardless, your hair should return to normal within a year after giving birth—so you don’t need to panic about buying a wig.

If you aren’t experiencing hair loss, consider yourself fortunate: according to urpregnancy.com, only about half of all pregnant women experience post-partum hair loss. However, if you’re experiencing extreme hair loss during or following pregnancy, it may be more than just a little extra hormones. Talk to your doctor to see if it could be one of the following:

  • Discontinuation of birth control method
  • Hormonal imbalance
  • Vitamin deficiency
  • Thyroid problems

As always, talk to your doctor if you have questions regarding the effect hair loss may have on your health. If you have yet to experience hair regrowth or are beginning to notice thinning hair, you may want to talk to us about hair transplantation. Whatever the problem is, we can help you solve it—so set up an appointment today!

The Bald Facts of Hair Loss

An infographic representing statistics on hair loss among men and women in the United States.

Infographic with data about hair loss in men

Hair Loss Awareness Month: Things You Should Know About Hair Loss

man looking in mirror at his hair loss

August is National Hair Loss Awareness Month! Here are a few things you may not know about hair loss:

Hair loss impacts more than 55 million men and women in the United States

For men and women 35 years and older, there were 56 million who experienced a hair loss problem in 2013, according to research by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery. However, many people under the age of 35 can also experience the problem. This is important in realizing that you’re not alone if you are experiencing hair loss.

Hair loss is not just a men’s issue

An estimated 21 million women deal with hair loss in the United States. Women now have more information and options than ever before when it comes to hair loss. But unfortunately, women seem to consult a physician less often than men when confronted with hair loss. If you’re a woman and you notice hair loss, see your doctor as a first step.

Check the products you use on your hair

Some hair care products can be damaging to your hair. Carefully check your shampoo, conditioner, hair gel, hair spray, and other products to make sure you aren’t hurting your hair. Be aware that blow drying with heat is almost always bad for your hair. Weakening your hair can make you more susceptible to hair loss. Start a discussion about your options with your hair care specialist, stylist or physician.

During National Hair Loss Awareness Month, perform an inventory on your hair and find out ways to see warning signs of hair loss. In addition, be certain that you are treating your hair well so it stays vibrant and healthy.  Contact us today if you’re interested in discussing hair transplant options.

Hair Loss Awareness Month: Things You Should Know About Hair Loss

man looking in mirror at his hair loss

August is National Hair Loss Awareness Month! Here are a few things you may not know about hair loss:

Hair loss impacts more than 55 million men and women in the United States

For men and women 35 years and older, there were 56 million who experienced a hair loss problem in 2013, according to research by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery. However, many people under the age of 35 can also experience the problem. This is important in realizing that you’re not alone if you are experiencing hair loss.

Hair loss is not just a men’s issue

An estimated 21 million women deal with hair loss in the United States. Women now have more information and options than ever before when it comes to hair loss. But unfortunately, women seem to consult a physician less often than men when confronted with hair loss. If you’re a woman and you notice hair loss, see your doctor as a first step.

Check the products you use on your hair

Some hair care products can be damaging to your hair. Carefully check your shampoo, conditioner, hair gel, hair spray, and other products to make sure you aren’t hurting your hair. Be aware that blow drying with heat is almost always bad for your hair. Weakening your hair can make you more susceptible to hair loss. Start a discussion about your options with your hair care specialist, stylist or physician.

During National Hair Loss Awareness Month, perform an inventory on your hair and find out ways to see warning signs of hair loss. In addition, be certain that you are treating your hair well so it stays vibrant and healthy.  Contact us today if you’re interested in discussing hair transplant options.