Recovering from Hair Transplant Surgery

Hair loss patients who have recently undergone hair transplant surgery need to take precaution after their surgery. It is very important to be careful of you newly implanted hair grafts. Since the grafts will be highly visible the day after surgery, they are very vulnerable to infection and damage.

24 to 48 hours after surgery

For 24 to 48 hours post-surgery, it is important to not wash hair with shampoo. Some clinics may provide a loose fitting surgery cap to wear at night for several days following the surgery. This prevents direct contact with the grafts and pillow during sleep at night. Sleep in an upright position with several pillows under your neck and shoulders or in your favorite recliner. To prevent swelling, sleeping in an upright position is recommended. You can also use an ice pack pressed against your forehead for several days following your surgery to reduce any swelling there might be.

1 week after surgery

The graft sites will start to scab following your surgery, so do not hesitate. In fact, these scabs mean they are healing properly. Picking or peeling your scabs can cause infection and jeopardize the grafts. The critical most period is 14 days after surgery. The scabs will fall out in 7-14 days. As the scabs fall out, you may notice the tiny hair is shed with them. This is very normal. Approximately 10 days after your hair transplant surgery, you will have to have the stitches from your donor area removed. Most clinics advise that you can return to work the day after your surgery. However, until your hair grafts scab, your hair transplant will be visible to others.

2 weeks after surgery

 For 2 weeks after the procedure, showering should be done with great care, using a cup of warm water and gently patting the head with shampoo. Do not scrub your scalp like you normally might do. Do not use a blow dryer until after your hair grafts have healed and fallen out. Keep the scabs and grafts clean without irritating them.

Many patients will agree that the hardest part of hair transplant post operation recovery is waiting for the new hair grafts to start growing. Be patient. This can take up to 12 months. After your hair grafts scab, heal and fall out, they have gone into the a resting phase of the normal hair growth cycle. Remember to take your medications as indicated by your cosmetic surgeon and contact him/her immediately if you have any problems.

Other guides

• Overview of Hair Transplantation
• Hair Loss In Women
• Alopecia (Patchy Baldness)
• Facial Hair Restoration
• Hair Transplant Cost
• Cost of Hair Transplantation Abroad
• Preventing Hair Loss
• Medical Reasons Hair Hair Loss
• Myths About Hair Loss
• Male Pattern Baldness
• Common Causes for Hair Loss
• Candidates for Hair Transplant
• Hair Transplant Methods
• Results After Hair Transplant
• Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) Method
• Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) Method
• Preparing for Hair Transplant Surgery
• The Ludwig Scale
• Hair Loss in Men
• Hair Loss in Women
• Hair Restoration Method comparison: FUT vs FUE
• Causes of Hair Loss
• Surgical Hair Restoration: Hair Transplant Surgery
• Hair Loss in Men
• Alopecia
• Cost of Hair Transplant
• Prevent Hair Loss
• Common Hair Loss Definitions
• Hair Loss Treatments

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