FUE Hair Transplant recovery — week by week

What healing actually looks like — week by week — for fue hair transplant.

Recovery timeline

1. Days 0–3
   Scabbing in donor and recipient areas. Sleep elevated. No washing for 48 hours.
2. Day 10
   Most scabs cleared. Transplanted hairs begin to shed (this is normal — the follicle is alive).
3. Months 1–3
   'Shock loss' — both transplanted and surrounding native hairs shed. Lowest density point.
4. Months 4–6
   New growth begins. About 30–50% of transplanted hair visible.
5. Months 9–12
   Most growth complete. Density and direction become apparent.
6. Month 18
   Final result. Shaft thickness has fully matured.

What's normal vs. what to call about

Some swelling, bruising, asymmetry, numbness, and tightness are expected in the first weeks. Sudden severe pain, fever above 101°F, drainage, spreading redness, or one-sided swelling that worsens after improving warrant a same-day call to your surgeon.

See fue hair transplant results across the recovery curve on the main FUE Hair Transplant page.