question about rate of growth for grafts

[JB0078]

Hello, new poster here.  I had an approximate 1400 grafts FUE procedure 8 weeks ago.  Doctors orders were not to touch the recipient area at all, for 28 days.  I used plenty of doctor provided sprays for grafts, minoxidil, etc....  Shampoos and rinses were done via a spray bottle.  After 28 days I got my first real wash at the doctors office.  The doctor estimated that I had maintained about 35% of the grafts that were transplanted but advised they could easily fall out within another week.  That was at 4 weeks, I am at 8 weeks now and none have fallen out.  Looks like I may be in that 5% who take to the grafts right away.  Fingers crossed.

My question is this:  Some of the grafts are obviously growing at the same rate as my natural hair, while others just seem to be stuck at the point where they're popped out of skin but not growing at all or not as fast.  It's obviously tiny new hairs sprouting but they seem to be dormant....Is it normal that some are growing while the others seem to be stuck in this dormant stage?  Attached 3 pictures.  You can see where my natural hair line is at the middle front.  I was a Norwood 2/3....Everywhere that is red I had no hair before the FUE.  Also, the redness!  Ugh...taking betamethasone but it's not helping at all!

Edited July 2, 2018 by JB0078
added third picture

[Melvin- Admin]

Grafts typically shed around 3 weeks, they remain dormant until around 3 months. Growth typically starts around 3-4 months, in the beginning the hair grows as light vellus hairs and as the months progress the hairs will get thicker. 

[JB0078]

Right, but I’m already having the new hair sprout.  It’s not dormant below the skin. Many (but nowhere near all) have sprouted but are just chilling lol.  2 months since procedure and the grafts seem to have taken to my scalp, given I’ve maintained 35% or so. My doctor says “this looks great”.  Honestly I wish they would have just fallen out because I look ridiculous with all these little hairs just sitting there lol.  

[Melvin- Admin]

Grafts don’t always shed, in rare cases the grafts remain and grow. The grafts will more than likely grow in length as the months progress. 

[JohnCasper]

Thought I would provide a picture of my transplant after 8 weeks. You can clearly see the new growth. I agree with Melvin, you will most likely see stronger growth at the 3-4 month stage.

[JB0078]

1 hour ago, JohnCasper said:

Thought I would provide a picture of my transplant after 8 weeks. You can clearly see the new growth. I agree with Melvin, you will most likely see stronger growth at the 3-4 month stage.

awesome!  Yes, I pretty much have the same thing....and I do expect they will get much stronger starting month 3...looking fwd to it...now if only this redness would subside.

[Bill - Seemiller]

John,

 i’d say that everything looks on par for only eight weeks, a.k.a. two months  after hair transplant surgery.   Any new growth you see now will be multiplied substantially in the next couple months. I look forward to following your progress. 

Best wishes,

Bill

[JohnCasper]

Glad your on this website "JB" where so many folks can help with questions and provide ideas.  If you want to monitor your progress and compare yourself to my pictures, I chronicled the entire event since 2012.  You can see all my before/afters with pictures and video at... MyFUEhairtransplant.com.  Just go to the archives in 2012 to see pictures throughout the first year and beyond. 

Best of luck and keep us informed on this website with future pictures of your progress.

Edited July 5, 2018 by JohnCasper

[JB0078]

1 minute ago, JohnCasper said:

Glad your on this website where so many folks can help with questions and provide ideas.  If you want to monitor your progress and compare yourself to my pictures, I chronicled the entire event since 2012.  You can see all my before/afters with pictures and video at... MyFUEhairtransplant.com.  Just go to the archives in 2012 to see pictures throughout the first year and beyond. 

Best of luck and keep us informed on this website with future pictures of your progress.

Thanks John!  Will def check it out for reference.  appreciate it!

[JohnCasper]

The picture I posted earlier was after 8 weeks but it was in 2012 after my surgery.  I wasn't clear in the previous post.  My apologies for the confusion.

[JB0078]

5 hours ago, JohnCasper said:

The picture I posted earlier was after 8 weeks but it was in 2012 after my surgery.  I wasn't clear in the previous post.  My apologies for the confusion.

Thanks...I just checked out all the pics on your blog...looks great.  Seems I'm at a very similar stage as you were at 8 weeks...Looks like you may have had a little more growth than I do so far.  I have some growth but a bunch of them just popping out (or as your wife calls them, "undergrowth"...  I'm getting some pimples here and there as well.  

[JB0078]

*UPDATE*

 

I'm excited to share these updated photos with the few of you who took the time to reply to my original post.  I've had drastic results so far.  It's what, 7 or 8 weeks since I made the original post?  I'm only mid way in my 3rd month and the growth is just so impressive.  I couldn't be happier.  Doctor says I should barely have some hair sprouting at this point but obviously that is not the case.  Guess I am part of that 5%.  Doc also says as impressive as this is, the density is only around 10-15% so I have a lot more to go apparently. 

Edited September 4, 2018 by JB0078