Hair Transplant Recovery Information

Now that the hard part is over, it's time to start looking forward to a full head of beautiful hair. Hair transplant surgery is an invasive procedure that involves skin grafting (either micrografts or follicular units) to replace balding areas with areas that actively grow hair. Although the grafts are sewn in with sutures, it takes about ten days for the grafts to permanently attach to the scalp. Thus, it's extremely important that you take good care of your scalp following your surgery. Hair transplant recovery time tends to be on the lengthy side, but proper care of your scalp post-surgery will result in a faster recovery and transplants that are less noticeable.

After grafting your new hair onto your scalp, the surgeon thoroughly cleaned the area of scabbing. More scabs may have formed since you've been home and can lead to infection and disruption in the healing process, so it's important to maintain a clean scalp.

Don't remove the bandage from your head or wash your hair immediately after your hair transplant surgery. The sutures may be too fresh, and you won't need to wash the area yet since your surgeon just cleaned it. You may wash the area the next morning in the shower with lukewarm water. Allow the water to spray over your scalp. You can gently lift the hair so that the water can better reach the sutures. If the direct water pressure is too painful, you can use your hand to scoop palmfuls of water onto your scalp instead of being in the direct flow of the showerhead.

Most hair transplant surgeons provide a special shampoo like GraftCyte for post-operation use. They may have given you a sponge to use with it, but you can use your hands as well. Deposit a small amount of the shampoo into your hands or the sponge and then employ a gentle patting or rolling motion across the scalp. Never rub your scalp. Rinse with the same method you used to wet your hair. If you still feel some scabbing or roughness on your head, don't worry about it. All of the crusting may not come off during your first shampoo. If you find that the GraphCyte shampoo is too drying to your scalp, consult your surgeon. He or she may recommend baby shampoo for extra moisture. Ask your surgeon how many times you should wash your hair that day. Most recommend three total shampoos throughout the first day. After ten days, your grafts are permanently attached to your scalp. If there are any remaining crusts you may soak them with water to soften them, and then rub them off.

Hair Transplant Recovery Dos and Don'ts

Don't rub. It is impertinent that for the ten days following your hair transplant surgery, you do not rub, pick, poke, or scratch your scalp. Doing so may result in dislodged grafts and a much more complicated recovery. It might be hard to keep your hands off, but just remember that a few days of self-restraint will soon equal a lifetime of hair.

Do expect to shed. Shedding is normal and will occur immediately after your hair transplant surgery and even for up to a year afterward. Since this is your natural hair growing in, shedding is just a part of the hair growth cycle.

Don't use regular shampoo for the first ten days. Most surgeons provide a special shampoo called GraftCyte for post-transplant surgery use. This shampoo is specially formulated to cleanse without interfering with the healing process. Regular shampoo may sting and cause infection.

Do be prepared to wait. Hair transplant surgery doesn't have a quick recovery time. Even though your grafts may feel like a part of your scalp in a week, it takes a long time for hair to grow in evenly and to your desired length. Expect to wait weeks or months for the hair to start growing in.

Don't participate in any strenuous activity. As with many surgeries, exercise and sports pose a dangerous threat to the healing process. Hair transplant surgery in particular leaves the scalp vulnerable, so lay low for a few days after your surgery.

Don't spend too much time in the shower following your hair transplant surgery. If you soak the grafts for too long, they may rise above the surface of the rest of your scalp and look like little white bumps. They'll go down after they've dried, but it's a sign that you've soaked your grafts for too long.

Scheduling Your Hair Transplant Surgery

The recovery time may be lengthy, but hair transplant surgery will give you a full head of your own natural hair in a few months. If you'd like to learn more about hair transplant surgery, contact us and we'll schedule you an appointment with a hair transplant specialist in your area.