FUT recovery takes 10 to 14 days before you can return to desk work and most daily activities. Sutures or staples come out at day 7 to 10, new hair growth begins around month 3 to 4, and final results are visible at 12 to 18 months.
This week-by-week guide covers exactly what to expect at each stage so you can plan time off work, manage expectations, and know when something needs medical attention.
Recovery Overview
| Milestone | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Suture/staple removal | Day 7-10 |
| Return to desk work | Day 10-14 |
| Donor area numbness resolves | Week 4-8 |
| Transplanted hair sheds | Week 2-4 |
| New growth begins | Month 3-4 |
| Noticeable density | Month 6-8 |
| Final results | Month 12-18 |
Week 1: Days 1-7
The first week requires the most careful attention. Your body is healing two areas simultaneously: the donor strip wound and thousands of tiny recipient sites.
Days 1-2
Expect moderate swelling at the donor site and mild swelling in the recipient area. The donor site will feel tight due to the sutures pulling the wound edges together. Pain is typically a 4-6 out of 10 without medication, managed to a 1-2 with prescribed painkillers.
Sleep elevated at a 45-degree angle to reduce swelling. Use a travel pillow to prevent rolling onto the donor area. Do not touch the recipient zone for any reason.
Days 3-5
Swelling may migrate forward to the forehead and around the eyes. This is normal and resolves within 2-3 days. Applying cold compresses above the eyebrows (not on the grafts) helps reduce forehead swelling.
Small scabs form around each transplanted graft in the recipient area. Do not pick at these. They fall off naturally during gentle washing, which your clinic will instruct you to begin around day 3-5.
Days 5-7
Scabs in the recipient area begin loosening. Gentle washing with the prescribed shampoo helps them detach. The donor site still feels tight but pain is significantly reduced. Most patients stop taking pain medication by day 5.
Suture or Staple Removal (Day 7-10)
You return to the clinic to have sutures or staples removed from the donor area. This takes 10-20 minutes and causes mild discomfort but not significant pain. After removal, the scar begins its long-term healing process.
Week 2: Days 8-14
Recovery accelerates in week 2. Most recipient scabs have fallen off, revealing pink skin underneath. The transplanted hairs are still in place at this point.
Returning to Work
Most desk workers return to their job between day 10 and 14. The recipient area still looks pink or slightly red, and the donor scar is visible if hair is short. Many patients wear a loose hat during this transition period. Jobs requiring physical labor, helmets, or outdoor exposure may need an additional week.
Activity Level
Light walking is fine from day 1, but week 2 is when most patients feel well enough to increase activity slightly. Avoid anything that raises blood pressure significantly, causes sweating on the scalp, or risks impact to the head.
Weeks 3-4: The Shedding Phase
This is the phase that catches many patients off guard. The transplanted hairs fall out. This is called "shock loss" and it is completely normal.
Why Transplanted Hair Sheds
The hair follicles survive the transplant, but the hair shafts themselves are traumatized by the move. The follicles enter a resting phase (telogen), release the old shaft, and begin producing a new hair from scratch. Nearly 80-100% of transplanted hairs shed during weeks 2-4.
Donor Area Progress
The linear scar is closing and forming a thin line. Numbness around the scar is common and may persist for 4-8 weeks. The surrounding hair is growing back, gradually covering the scar.
Months 2-3: The Waiting Period
Nothing appears to be happening on the surface. The recipient area looks similar to how it did before surgery (or slightly thinner if surrounding hairs experienced shock loss). Underneath, the transplanted follicles are building new hair shafts.
This is the most psychologically difficult phase. Patients who do not understand the timeline may worry the procedure failed. It did not. The follicles are working on schedule.
Scar Maturation
The donor scar transitions from pink/red to a lighter color. It remains slightly raised or textured. Full scar maturation takes 6-12 months. If you had a trichophytic closure, you may start seeing hairs growing through the scar line.
Months 3-6: Early Growth
New hairs begin emerging around month 3 to 4. They start as fine, thin, almost colorless hairs. Growth is uneven, so some areas show progress before others.
What Early Growth Looks Like
| Month | Typical Growth | Hair Quality |
|---|---|---|
| Month 3 | 10-20% of grafts showing | Very fine, thin |
| Month 4 | 20-40% visible | Still fine, gaining color |
| Month 5 | 40-60% visible | Thickening, more pigmented |
| Month 6 | 60-80% visible | Approaching normal texture |
Do not judge your results at month 3. The early hairs do not represent your final density or texture. They will continue thickening for months.
Months 6-12: Significant Progress
This is when results become genuinely noticeable. Hair density increases as more follicles produce mature shafts, and existing new hairs thicken and gain pigment.
Month 8-10 Checkpoint
By month 8, approximately 80% of final density is present. You can style the transplanted area normally. The hairline looks natural if the surgeon placed single-hair grafts along the front edge.
The donor scar has faded to a thin white or skin-toned line. With hair at 1cm or longer, it is typically undetectable.
Month 12-18: Final Results
Full results arrive between month 12 and 18. Graft survival rates for FUT are 90-95%, meaning the vast majority of transplanted follicles are producing healthy hair.
At this point, the transplanted hair is permanent. It grows, is cut, and regrows just like the hair in the donor area it came from. Regular haircuts and styling proceed normally.
For a detailed breakdown of how FUT compares to FUE at each recovery stage, see our FUE vs FUT comparison.
FAQ
How long does FUT recovery take?
FUT recovery takes 10-14 days before most patients return to desk work and daily activities. The donor sutures or staples are removed at day 7-10. Full physical activity can resume at 3-4 weeks. New hair growth starts around month 3-4, with final results visible at 12-18 months.
When can I exercise after FUT surgery?
Light walking is safe from day 1. Light exercise like stationary cycling can resume at week 2-3 after suture removal. Weight lifting, running, and contact sports should wait until week 4-6. Your surgeon will clear you based on how your donor scar is healing.
Does the FUT scar heal completely?
The FUT linear scar becomes a thin white line over 6-12 months when closed properly. With trichophytic closure, hair grows through the scar, making it difficult to detect. The scar is typically hideable with hair at 1cm or longer. It does not disappear entirely but fades significantly.
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