Recovery & Results
The recovery timeline, and how to read before-and-after results honestly.
We won't publish before/after photos until we have real, verifiably-timestamped patient results with consent. Here's the recovery timeline and what to look for wherever you're evaluating results.
Written by Sedef Özdemir · Content Specialist
Reviewed by Dr. Muhammet, Anatomist; Hair Transplant Specialist
Last medically reviewed: 13 August 2026
Source quality
Based primarily on clinical guidelines and peer-reviewed literature. Commercial sources are used only for labelled price observations. Where the evidence is limited or outcomes vary by individual, we say so in the text rather than stating a single number.
See our full source hierarchy →The recovery timeline, briefly
| Stage | What's happening |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Scabbing and mild swelling, expected and temporary. |
| Weeks 2–4 | Transplanted hairs shed, this is normal, not failure. |
| Months 1–3 | Dormant phase, little visible change. |
| Months 3–6 | New, finer hair starts to appear. |
| Months 12–18 | Final density and texture, the point a result can be fairly judged. |
What's normal, what to avoid, and when to get help
Recovery follows a fairly predictable pattern. Here's how to tell an expected symptom apart from something that actually needs a doctor's attention.
- Scabbing and mild swelling in week 1
- Redness in the recipient area for a few weeks
- Transplanted hairs shedding around weeks 2–4
- Mild itching while the scalp heals
- Some numbness in the donor and recipient areas for weeks to months
- Touching, scratching, or picking at grafts
- Direct sun on the scalp without a hat
- Pools, saunas, and sea water until cleared
- Strenuous exercise and heavy sweating for the first 1–2 weeks
- Alcohol and smoking, which can slow healing
- Tight hats or helmets that rub against grafts
- Pain, redness, or swelling that increases after the first few days
- Pus or discharge from the recipient or donor area
- Fever
- Grafts falling out in clumps, rather than normal single-hair shedding
- Anything that feels wrong and doesn't match what you were told to expect
This is general information, not personal medical advice. If you're genuinely concerned, contact your clinic or a doctor directly rather than waiting.
In progress
Verified results gallery: coming soon
Every result published here will include the technique used, graft count, and time elapsed since surgery, with patient consent. We'd rather launch this page late than publish anything we can't stand behind.
How to read any before/after photo critically
Check the timestamp
A "final result" photo taken at 3–4 months is showing early regrowth, not the mature result. See our recovery timeline for what each stage actually looks like.
Check the angle and lighting
Genuine comparisons use the same camera angle, distance, and lighting for both photos. Inconsistent angles or lighting can make density look higher or lower than it is.
Check the graft count and Norwood stage
A result should be interpreted relative to how much hair loss existed beforehand and how many grafts were used: a Norwood 3 result and a Norwood 6 result aren't comparable.
Be skeptical of styling tricks
Hair fibres, strategic styling, and camera flash can all make density look higher in a single photo than it is in daily life.