What to Expect During the Hair Transplant Recovery Process

Whether you’ve just had a hair transplant or only considering having one done, it’s important to understand what occurs during recovery. For those who are unfamiliar with hair transplant surgery, it involves the removal of certain hair-bearing grafts from a donor site and then moving them to an area where a patient is experiencing thinning or baldness.

What to Expect Directly After Surgery

The complexity and extent of the surgery will determine how you feel after the surgery is complete. However, your surgeon will prescribe you pain medication for any excess throbbing, tightness, or aching you experience.

If bandages were used for the procedure, these will often be removed within a day of the surgery taking place. After two days, you can gently wash your hair for the first time.

For the stitches, most surgeons will remove them in between seven to 10 days. Remember that every hair transplant is different, so it’s essential to ask the surgeon about the possibility of drainage, bruising, and swelling.

Getting Started with Strenuous Activity After Surgery

Many are ready to get up and go right after surgery, but it’s best to take things slow. When you engage in strenuous activity, it increases blood flow to the scalp. This can lead to bleeding from the incisions or transplants.

In most cases, your surgeon will instruct you to avoid contact sports and vigorous exercise for three weeks or more. Some surgeons will also recommend abstaining from sexual activity for at least 10 days after the surgery has been done.

During the first month after hair transplant surgery, you will see your surgeon several times. This is so he or she can ensure your incisions are healing the way they should be. It’s essential to follow all of the advice you receive at these visits.

Moving Back to a Normal Life

After hair transplant surgery, most people want to get back to their normal lives as soon as possible. How soon you can do so depends on the type, length, and complexity of the surgery you had done.

However, in many cases, patients feel free to return to work and do light normal activities within just a few days.

Another thing to be aware of is that after you have had hair transplant surgery, the new hair will fall out within two months afterward. However, this is entirely normal and not something to be concerned about. Once the hair falls out, new hair will grow within about five to six weeks. On average, you will see one-half inch of growth every month.

Wrapping Up

In some cases, a touch-up procedure may be needed after your incisions are entirely healed. This can involve blending, which is a filling-in of the hairline using slit grafts, micro-grafts, or mini grafts. Those who had a flap procedure may experience a dog ear that is visible on the scalp. This can be corrected after healing.

Not everyone will need this additional procedure, but it’s best to assume you will. Speak with your surgeon to find out more about how likely you are to need follow-up surgery.