The Essential Roadmap to Hair Transplant Recovery
Hair transplantation is, in many ways, like any other major investment. It is an extensive process that involves great care and diligence for a proportionally greater yield. While the surgeon’s precision is, of course, essential for an excellent result, the success of your hair transplant process is also greatly dependent on how you handle the months of aftercare.
Hair transplant recovery doesn’t end with the procedure; it is just the beginning. The hours and days and months to follow are your duty to the healing body to ensure that you are taking everything in your power to protect your newly invested grafts so that they can take root, flourish, and grow into a full and natural head of hair. We’ll discuss how to do just that in the most effective ways possible.
The first three days post-op are crucial for graft survival, so your number one goal is to do little to nothing except rest at home. Drive home after your procedure and relax with your head elevated at a significant angle with a few pillows even when you sleep. This can help to greatly reduce swelling and throbbing. You may notice some minor oozing of blood and lymph fluid coming from the recipient site, but this is normal. If so, gently dab it with a clean, moist gauze pad. This may need to be repeated every few hours until the fluid stops. Take your pain medication if you have been prescribed some by your doctor. Do not use aspirin or ibuprofen. The first night of sleep is key. You must sleep on your back only and using a neck pillow or propping pillows around yourself can help avoid rolling over in your sleep.
Beginning at the end of day two, you will move on to a more involved and careful cleansing protocol to reduce the chances of infection and to allow the scalp to properly heal. Despite popular myths you should NOT avoid washing your hair for any period of time. In fact, doing so may result in a hard, thick scab that will negatively impact healing. Most hair transplant clinics will tell their patients to begin washing their hair 48 hours after the procedure using a “pour method.” This method involves pouring a mixture of lukewarm water and mild, prescribed shampoo over the entire recipient area without allowing the water stream to hit the grafts directly, allowing it to soak for a while in order to soften up the crusting, and then pouring another clean batch of water to rinse and then patting it dry with a soft towel or using a hairdryer on a cool setting. Do not touch, scratch, or rub the recipient area at all for the first week as the grafts will still be taking hold. If it itches, gently pat it or use a saline spray recommended by your doctor. Strenuous activity is still off-limits and you should still avoid bending over or entering dusty areas.
Somewhere around weeks two to four, the majority of your newly transplanted hairs should begin to shed, which can be a disconcerting surprise. However, this is completely normal and to be expected, as it is part of the process called shock loss. This is the point at which you must understand that this is not the shedding of grafts, but only of hair shafts. The follicular units that they are attached to are not lost but are simply dormant and just entering into another resting phase before beginning their cycle of growth. By the end of the second week, all of your scabs should have washed away naturally as long as you were washing correctly and there will be no need to pick at them. You can start doing some light cardio and exercise 10-14 days after your procedure, but avoid heavy activity that may cause sweating. Your scalp should look normal to the naked eye but slightly pink. You can start to wear hats around town to protect your scalp from UV damage, but keep them loose and protective in case they may rub against the transplanted area. The biggest part of the first month is patience, as the true results are not yet visible.
Month one to three of recovery are still dedicated to below the surface processes. This is the time in which the resting follicles are preparing to put down roots for their next growth phase. During these months, it is important to continue the new washing routine and wear your hats as you normally would, but continue to avoid rubbing or massaging the recipient area. This is also the time when you will experience hair growth; the first hairs should begin to peek through the skin around months three to four, and the hairs will be fine and colorless. Your hair will then continue to visibly fill in and thicken between months four to six and will become visibly more dense and darker from months seven to twelve. It is important to note that the follicles and hair shafts are still continuing to grow and develop, so the final look will continue to become more visible as it nears completion, which is often around the one-year mark, when the result is 90% complete. The very last final result will be achieved around 18 months.
During your healing period, certain things are absolute requirements and others are highly recommended for long-term success. It is required to avoid smoking and any use of nicotine for the first month after your hair transplant procedure, as this will constrict blood vessels and greatly impede healing. Avoid drinking alcohol in the first week before and after surgery as well to reduce the risk of bleeding and dehydration. Chlorinated swimming pools and bodies of water and natural hot springs are off-limits as is the sauna and steam room for at least one month due to infection and swelling risks. Support your body’s healing process from the inside as well by staying well-hydrated and eating a healthy, nutrient-rich diet full of protein, vitamins, and zinc, which all help with new hair growth. You should also closely follow your surgeon’s advice about certain medications like Minoxidil, which may be prescribed to encourage growth and Finasteride to halt future loss of native hair.
A hair transplant is only part of the journey. The surgeon’s skill is the initial investment for your future hair, but your continued and undying commitment to the aftercare process is what truly makes the new follicles flourish. It will take several weeks of precaution and several months of patience, but following the specific advice as it applies to your healing process is the best thing you can do for your result. Focus on resting, adhering to the cleansing protocols, protecting the grafts from any possible threat, and helping your body along from the inside. The stringent, no-fun-zone nature of the process will quickly be forgotten once you have begun to see the positive results of your hard work.
