The new buds look like tiny replicates of a full head.You should even see small polyps on them.It will take a long time,I'm not sure of the time frame but my estimate,6 months or more.I've only seen very few ever become normal size heads,maybe because so much of the light is being blocked.I have also another theory,the buds could be carried off by the current to form new colonies.If it does happen in the home aquaria,I've never witness or heard of them surviving.