Things You Should Not Do After a Hair Transplant

A hair transplant is a life-changing decision for someone with hair loss. If you are thinking about getting one, it is crucial to know how to take care of your new hair and if the treatment will limit your daily activities.

A healed hair transplant behaves like natural hair, so you can enjoy your life as you always have without missing opportunities. However, there are some restrictions during your healing phase.

It takes time for the scalp to heal following a hair transplant, and in that time, you should take measures to ensure the best chance of attaining the best possible outcome.

To make things easy, here is a timeline of what to expect following your hair transplant surgery, plus a list of things you should not do because they can jeopardize the healing process.

Post-Hair Transplant Timeline

The success of a hair transplant procedure is directly tied to the healing process. While the first few weeks after a hair transplant are the most critical, the healing and new growth of your transplanted hair could last up to a year.

Getting enough sleep, keeping your scalp hydrated with saline sprays and adhering to your surgeon’s aftercare instructions will help you heal quickly. Here is a rundown of how your transplant’s outcomes are likely to unfold over time:

The Month Following a Hair Transplant

• Pain: The donor area may hurt for a few days. Some people have trouble sleeping the first few nights after surgery. Over-the-counter medicine is enough to relieve post-transplant discomfort.
• Swelling: Most hair transplant operations do not cause noticeable swelling, but major hairline surgery can. These cases can cause forehead and eye puffiness for three to five days. Medication reduces symptoms.
• Itching: Hair transplants might cause itching for seven to fourteen days after surgery. Itchy scalp tissue indicates healing. However, refrain from scratching at all costs.
• Sleeping: How you sleep in the weeks following your transplant is crucial. Patients should sleep on their backs with a travel/neck cushion to avoid contacting the donor areas. This reduces puffiness and prevents you from rubbing your scalp while sleeping.
• Recovery: After a day or two, you should feel well, though your scalp may still be a little sore and numb. Red scabs at the transplanted hair’s base will last about ten days. Age, nutrition, lifestyle and climate determine how long it takes to recover.

During this period, you should avoid strenuous exercise, heavily spiced, salty and fatty foods, exposure to sunlight, smoking, drinking alcohol, shaving and anything that can cause excessive sweating, like a sauna or sitting outside on a scorching day for many hours. You can gently wash your scalp around five days after a hair transplant.

The Rest of the Year Following a Hair Transplant

Shock loss begins three to four weeks after transplantation. Lost grafts slowly regenerate after three to five months. Re-growth rate should be 30% after five months and 60% at seven months. The operation’s results should be apparent after a year.

Scheduling a Hair Transplant Consultation

Every person’s experience will be unique. If you are interested in restoring your hair and learning more about how a transplant can do that, please contact Atlanta’s leading NeoGraft® provider Dr. Benjamin Stong of Kalos Hair Transplant.