Remember, I was a high school biology teacher prior to becoming a school administrator and now retired! Therefore, the science of this process is quite interesting to me. Today I'm including a brief lesson on hair growth! It's been 3 1/2 months since my surgery. I can definitely see signs of new growth that I've documented in my blog with pictures. Today, I will discuss the two most important phases of hair growth (Anagen & Telogen) as it relates to my transplant.
Dr. Vories extracted hairs from my donor area and moved them to the recipient area. This in all likelihood caused the individual follicles to move into the Telogen Phase which typically results in the hair falling out (referred to as "shock-out" in my blog). This is part of the normal hair cycle we all experience throughout our lives. However, the stress of the surgery moves each hair into this phase. This resting period for the hair can last from 1-4 months.
The Anagen Phase is the active phase of hair follicles. The root of the hair are dividing rapidly, adding to the hair shaft. During this phase the hair grows about a half inch per month! The hair stays in this active phase of growth for 2-7 years. The amount of time the hair follicle stays in the anagen phase is genetically determined. The arbitrary time line of the two phases is what causes hair growth most of the time and finding hairs in your sink or shower part of the time! Each hair has its own growth cycle!
My transplanted hair has experienced the shock and is resting in the Telogen phase. However, it has become obvious to me that some of my transplanted hair is back in the Anagen phase and beginning to grow!! Dr. Vories keeps reminding me to be patient and expect lots of hair growth over the next few months!
I hope this brief overview of the growth cycle of hair has helped explain what is happening in the pictures on my blog!!!!!
