Does Transplanted Hair Have a Slower Growth Rate?

I had a hair transplant of about 1600 grafts almost a decade ago that gave me a great hairline that had been missing for years. I’ve always noticed that when I get a haircut every month or so, the barber will point out that my hair length is uneven in the front. The hair in the transplanted area is shorter than the natural hair in my crown and even at the back of my head. Then I get the hair cut even all the way around and a month later, the barber notices the same length issue.

Does transplanted hair just grow slower or could there have been some sort of damage done to the grafts at the time of the surgery to cause this? The results are amazing and its really not that big of a deal, but I’m just curious if you’ve had any other patients mention slower growth from transplanted hair. Thanks. Love the site!!

Transplanted hair should grow the same rate as the hair on the back of your scalp (where it was taken). However, I do not know of any scientific study that proves/disproves this assumption. Your barber may have made an astute observation, particularly if he sees this with all of his transplanted clients.