Does the donor area grow back?

Author: Mrs. Sandy Kessler  |  Last update: Thursday, May 1, 2025

After the FUT hair transplant, the hair of the donor area grows naturally. For a Follicular Unit Extraction, the surgeon makes micro punches in the donor area to directly and fully extract the hair follicles. New hair will come out in the donor site only if there are healthy hair follicles present.

How long does it take for donor area to grow back?

Growth in the Donor Area

And now for the good news: The hair in the donor area begins to grow immediately after the transplant, since it doesn't experience any shock loss. This means that the donor area, which as part of the procedure had to be shaved for easier access, will be covered with new growth in about a week.

What happens to the donor area after a transplant?

What happens to the donor area after hair transplant? Since hair follicles and surrounding cells are completely removed from the scalp surface, hair regrowth at the donor site is not possible at all. Hair regrowth will only occur in areas of the donor site where the hair follicles have not been completely extracted.

Do hair follicles from donor area grow back?

The answer is yes – the hair on the donor area will grow back, but a slight reduction in density is normal (and not particularly noticeable).

Is donor area permanent?

The donor zone of the scalp refers to the area that contains hair roots that are permanent or resistant to DHT. The significance of this area lies in the fact that if hair roots are extracted from here, the results will be permanent, which is the main advantage of hair transplant surgery.

Donor Area Hair Regrowth After Hair Transplant: Fact or Fiction?

Does the donor area scar?

Healing Process: After hair transplantation, the skin in the donor area enters the healing process. In this process, crusting, redness, swelling or mild irritation may occur in the areas where the grafts are taken. These symptoms usually go away with time, but in some cases they can cause scars.

Is it OK to sleep on donor area?

Take care of your sleep position:

Avoid direct pressure on the donor area or transplanted grafts. Find a comfortable sleeping posture. Follow the surgeon's instructions on sleep positions. Avoid direct face-down pillow sleeping.

Will damaged hair follicles grow back?

Do hair follicles heal after an injury and will my hair grow back? If you damage your hair follicles after an injury, they can repair themselves and your hair will grow back. It could take up to four years before you see new hair growth out of damaged hair follicles, depending on the severity of your injury.

What happens 10 years after a hair transplant?

By the 10-year mark, transplanted hairs remain while some surrounding non-transplanted hairs might thin, potentially affecting overall look and density.

How to improve donor area?

To increase the density of the donor area, finasteride is consumed by the patient. A doctor who is not commercial will most of the time recommend finasteride. This will not only improve the quality of hair but will also reduce the required number of grafts.

Can donor area touch pillow?

After we remove the bandage the next day, you can sleep in any position – over the back, sides or on the stomach. Additionally, you can lie on the donor areas too. However, for the first 10 days you should avoid letting the transplanted areas touch the pillow or anywhere for that matter.

Do grafts taken from donor area grow back?

The answer to this question is both yes and no. Typically, during hair transplant surgery, entire follicles are harvested. Sometimes, these follicles will produce hair again and sometimes they will not. It largely depends on overall health and various other factors.

Why is my donor area so painful?

It is common to have more pain in the donor area than the recipient area after the operation. Some patients also report soreness in the donor area on the second healing week, this is completely normal as the tissue is recovering. Post-op hair transplant pain can be relieved with over the counter pain killers.

What does a healed donor site look like?

Once healed, the skin graft donor area will look red, purple or pink initially as it has a rich blood supply and it lacks skin pigment. It can take up to two years for the skin graft donor area to fade and return to a more normal colour.

How can I speed up my donor area recovery?

Moisturizing: Keeping the donor area moisturized can promote healing and reduce the risk of scabbing. Use a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer as per your surgeon's instructions. Healthy Habits: Maintaining a balanced diet and getting adequate sleep can contribute to faster recovery.

Can pubic hair be used for hair transplant?

Hair from the pubic area is typically coarser and sometimes used for transplant purposes. Given its texture, it may be suitable for specific regions of the scalp where coarser hair is needed. However, it is not commonly used due to the sensitive nature of the donor area.

What do hair transplants look like 20 years later?

Transplanted hair follicles generally continue to grow throughout a person's lifetime.” With proper care of your scalp and hair post-surgery, your hair transplant should still look good after 2 decades. However, it's important to note that natural aging processes can cause changes in your hair transplant's appearance.

What is the best age for hair transplant?

The best age patients should be considering hair transplant surgery is when they are between 30-45. The most common age patients have surgery tends to be when they have turned 30 or older.

Can a hair follicle come back to life?

Fully destroyed hair follicles cannot usually come back to life without surgical intervention, such as a hair transplant. However, you can revive damaged or dormant hair follicles. Only when the follicles are extremely, deeply damaged does it become irreversible.

How do I know if my hair follicles are permanently damaged?

Hair loss or thinning: A damaged hair follicle will be unable to create a strong piece of hair. Consequently, hair will become thin, brittle, and weak. You might notice that it's breaking more frequently than it would or altogether falling out. Breakage can be a direct result of this.

Does cutting off damaged hair help it grow?

The quick answer to “does trimming hair make it grow faster” is no, it doesn't. Hair growth starts at the scalp, so trimming off the dead ends doesn't actually make it grow faster. However, it makes it grow healthier, which is crucial if you want long luscious hair.

Can bald hair follicles grow back?

A shrunken follicle that has been inactive for years loses the cells responsible for hair production, so it cannot be revived. This is why you cannot achieve 'natural' regrowth if you have dead hair follicles due to advanced male pattern baldness.

What is the perfect donor area?

The best donor areas are those that are located on the sides and back of the scalp, as these areas are typically resistant to DHT androgen, which can cause hair loss in other parts of the scalp.

How long after a hair transplant can I shower normally?

Generally, you can begin washing your hair normally about one week after a hair transplant procedure. Your surgeon may recommend you still use the provided shampoo, or they may advise that you can return to your regular products.

How long does it take for donor area to fully heal?

Three to Six Months: The donor area's healing continues, and the scars start to mature and blend with the surrounding skin. New hair growth begins to emerge from the transplanted follicles. Six Months Onward: By six months, the donor area is typically well-healed, and any scarring is usually minimal and inconspicuous.

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