(Picture: Supplied)
There’s one thing I’ve come to loathe every time I get a haircut.
It’s not the loud blowdryers or even the awkward small talk. It’s the moment at the very end where the barber holds up the mirror so I can see the back of my head.
I started hating it around six years ago because that’s when I first noticed the bald spot on my crown, aged 28. And I’ve dreaded this moment during every single haircut since.
That is, until September 6 this year.
For the first time in a very long time, the barber lifted up the mirror and I didn’t see a shiny bald spot staring back at me. On this date, which was just one day short of nine months since my hair transplant, I finally got my confidence back.
And both that – along with my hair – have only grown since.
After the transplant on December 7 last year, I wrote in a one-month update about what the whole process was like. It documented everything from the initial consultation with the British Hair Clinic’s Dr Shuja Chaudhry, to the surprisingly pain-less (not completely pain-free) needles, and the sleepless nights during the initial recovery period.
Now, these are my no holds barred thoughts on what the last year has been like.
There are some photos in this article that readers could find graphic.
Months two to twelve
Let me start by saying that everyone’s progress after a hair transplant is different. This is something I learnt the hard way.
Around one month post-transplant, I went through a completely normal process called shock loss, which is the temporary shedding of both transplanted and existing hair. I had been warned this would happen so I knew to expect it, but I didn’t realise how much it would negatively affect my mood and self-confidence.
My hair loss got so much worse than it had ever been – and, because I had shaved my hair for the procedure, there was no way to style it out or strategically cover it up. I felt exposed and I became incredibly self-conscious.
As a result, I asked the British Hair Clinic’s manager, Af, if it was alright to use hair fibers to essentially fill in the gaps. He said it was fine to use products or hats after four weeks if the scalp was fully healed (which it was) but to avoid daily use of them.
I could also get a haircut two weeks post-transplant, but I decided to wait a month for that too. No clippers or razors for the first few months though, just scissors.
Unfortunately, until about the three-month mark, I didn’t see very much growth at all – even within four months, there was still a visible bald patch on top and a gap in the middle at the front. So I turned to Google for reassurance, which is when I saw other people’s impressive growth by that same point in their journey.
I felt deflated and didn’t know what I was doing wrong, so I looked back on the pictures I took on the day of the transplant and realised that I’d made some small progress and I should give it time before I catastrophise. Easier said than done.
Thankfully, just before the six-month mark, these bald patches seemed to fill in so I started using hair fibers less and less. Then came the moment I described at the top of the piece and it’s only improved since then too.
The lesson? Patience is key and don’t compare yourself to others – just trust the process.
Maintenance
It’s important to understand that a hair transplant alone isn’t enough to regain your hair.
That’s why, included in the £5,000 price tag for the procedure, my clinic offers a 12-month supply of a drug called finasteride. It works by blocking the body’s production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is a hormone that contributes to hair loss.
On top of that, I was recommended to try another drug called minoxidil, which stimulates hair growth, slows balding, and strengthens hair quality. For this, I turned to Hims and their chewable tablets.
I filled out an online form – answering questions about my hair loss, family and medical history, and my goals – which was then sent to a registered pharmacist and I was approved within days. It was £156 for a six-month supply of minoxidil and it’s surprisingly tasty, just like the vitamin C tablets I used to have as a child.
I take both finasteride and minoxidil every single night, using an app called Medisafe to remind me to take it.
Alongside these medications, I use Currentbody’s Skin LED Hair Regrowth device, which is red light therapy that stimulates hair follicles for visibly thicker hair. And, just like finasteride, it also helps inhibit the production of DHT.
For 10 minutes every morning, I pop it on and the in-built bluetooth headphones connect while I drowsily do my morning social media scroll. It took a while to get used to the slight tingle and warm red glow that fills the room – especially after I once had to use it on a flight to Sydney – but now it’s second nature.
The final boss of maintenance after a hair transplant is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments, which is also offered by my clinic as part of the total fee. It’s a process where blood is drawn from your arm, spun around in a machine (called a centrifuge) to separate the platelets, and then inserted back into the scalp.
It assists with activating growth in previously dormant follicles and improving the overall health and condition of skin and hair.
As someone who hates needles, it’s quite a daunting prospect, but it was all over in less than 10 minutes. Sure, it felt like constant pricking in my scalp with a sharp object, but when compared to the numbing needle used in the hair transplant (which I gave a four out of 10), it was a walk in the park.
Final thoughts
Today, I look back on how far I’ve come and I can’t actually believe where I am now. And this isn’t even the end, as I’m told the crown usually takes longer to fill in so full growth doesn’t often show up until the 18-month mark.
So would I recommend the process? Honestly, yes.
The team at the British Hair Clinic were all incredibly reassuring, both during the initial consultation and the seven-hour procedure itself. The clinic’s manager was on hand whenever I had a question – like how to wash my hair within the first few days, or whether it’s OK to drink alcohol the night before a PRP treatment (it’s not recommended).
Of course, it’s daunting to be on medication for the rest of my life because, if you stop it, you lose all of your progress. But I have reclaimed so much confidence that it’s all worth it to me.
I can go for a swim and not feel self-conscious about my hair fibers washing away, or I can walk down the street on a windy day without worrying my strategically-styled hair will get messed up.
And those cringe-worthy moments at the end of a haircut? All gone.
