FUE Post-Op Week 3 – Second Clinic Check-In

John Maddock

Hi, I'm John. About age 30 my hair started receding. After trying lots of products I eventually decided on a hair transplant. And now I have my hair back.

FUE Post-Op Week 3 – Second Clinic Check-In

It’s time for my second check-in with the clinic. I have taken the pictures they need and sent them in by email. I would say at this point about 80% of the transplanted hair in my hairline has fallen out.

The redness front and back has reduced quite a bit, but is still visible. The clinic have informed me that everything is looking good at this point. Apparently at this point the redness should have subsided more, so it looks worse for me than it would the average person. So my skin appear to be a little more sensitive than most peoples, and I am a little pale. I am continuing with the aloe vera gel to reduce the redness and I am happy with my progress so far.

I would say at this point you are quite confident rubbing your hair in the shower, engaging in more strenuous exercise, and generally getting out and about. At first I was paranoid that I would accidentally pull out some of the new hairs. But now I’m quite confident. It seems less about healing and medication at this point, and more about playing the waiting game for it all to start growing.

Hair Transplant Common Questions

Check out the FAQ’s section for more.

How much does it cost?

Prices in Europe are between 50% and 75% cheaper than in the UK or US. Packages start from £1500 and include accommodation. I paid £2000 for 1000 grafts (3000 hairs) in Budapest, which is less than a 3 hour flight from the UK. I was quoted between £8000 and £12,000 for the same procedure in the UK. Adding £200 for flights I paid £2200 in total - so it is very affordable!

Does it hurt?

No! A hair transplant is painless. On the day of the transplant you are given a few local anaesthetic injections into your scalp. You may feel the first one or two. From that point on your are numbed and you don't feel anything. Most people actually fall asleep - I did for most of the day!

How long before it grows back?

A few weeks after your transplant your new hair starts to fall out. It then takes a couple of months to start growing again. Between month 1 and month 3 post-op your hair is thin. They call this the 'ugly ducking' phase. This soon passes and it starts getting really exciting. Around month 4 I had good coverage and was going to the hair dressers again. By month 6 you could not tell I had a transplant. When it got to 12 months post-op I was a different person.

Regaine is an FDA approved treatment for hair loss, suitable for both men and women. The active ingredient it contains is called Minoxidil. Minoxidil is clinically proven to prevent further hair loss in around 80% cases. It works by enhancing the blood supply to your hair follicles.

Naturelo Multivitamins are fantastic! They contain 110% of your recommended daily allowance of Biotin, as well as a host of other vitamins that are great for your hair and general well being. I love them!

Keratin is a basic protein that makes up your hair, skin, and nails. Biotin improves your body’s keratin infrastructure. It adds colour and thickness to your hair.

Alpecin Caffeine Shampoo is a really nice shampoo to use. It claims to boost blood flow to the scalp which promotes hair growth. It’s not as effective as Regaine, but it’s still a really nice cost effective shampoo.