Healing Time After Hair Transplant

Hair Transplant Recovery

Timeline For Healing After Getting A Hair Transplant

Most patients fully heal 14 days after a hair restoration surgery. The first few days can be slightly painful because of follicular unit extraction, but the entire recovery process isn’t that complicated. However, some patients may experience post-operative side effects.

The Day Of Surgery

After the surgery, your medical team will cover your donor area(s) with some bandage and give you some medications. Our transfer service takes you to the hotel to take enough rest and sleep after your big day. You should start sleeping as it is instructed to you to protect your hair.

The First Day

You need to pay a visit to the clinic for your first wash and post-op check by the medical team. The medical team will take off the bandage and check your scalp for any signs of possible complications.

After washing is done and special treatments are done to the donor area, you will wear the black band. You can start wearing a fishing hat to protect your hair from the sun and particles in the air.

2 TO 4 Days

After the surgery is over, transplanted hair can cause a few unpleasant side effects, such as scabbing in the scalp’s area that received new hair. Some patients also experience swelling of the forehead or discomfort in the donor area.

If the patient doesn’t have physically heavy work, they can return to work 3 days after their hair transplant.

6 TO 8 Days

In rare cases, swelling can continue until the 7th day. The donor area and recipient area continue to crust, and you should take care not to touch them while washing. Slight touches of the transplanted hair won’t be problematic 7 days after the hair transplant.

Taking walks for daily activities (like shopping) is okay from the 7th day, and you are free to sleep normally as you did before the hair transplant surgery. We don’t recommend it but if you insist, smoking cigarettes is okay from the 7th day. You can also drink alcoholic drinks 30 days after the surgery (take it easy, please!).

9 TO 11 Days

You can start scab removal from the 10th day, which can take 2 to 3 days. On the 10th day, you are free to wear a cap. On the 10th day (or after the 7th wash), you need to send your first post-op update photos to us.

It is okay to have sexual intercourse by the 10th day. You can start having hair cuts in the donor area only by scissors now.

12 TO 14 Days

You should finish scab removal by the 13th day, and that’s when you finish using special foam on your scalp. Now you can start using our recommended organic shampoo for washing your transplanted hair.

14 DAYS 16 Days

15 days after the surgery, you can expect the shedding stage’s start. Shedding and shock loss can last until the 2nd month after the hair transplant day. In some cases, it takes a year for the donor area to recover completely and start seeing the final looks.

1 Month

30 days after the surgery, you can start heavy physical activities. You can freely get out as it is okay to be exposed to the sun. However, take care of your hair and scalp not to get sunburnt. One month after the hair transplant surgery, you can live without a hat.

It’s time to share the send second update photos with the clinic for the follow-up procedure 1 month after the surgery. If you want, you can use an air blower to dry your hair. Hair cuts with scissors are allowed for the recipient areas one month after a hair transplant.

1 TO 2 Months

Hair shedding or shock loss shouldn’t bother you, as it is normal to be experienced until two months after the surgery. Continue having cuts only by scissors only.

3 Months

3 months after a hair transplant surgery is an important benchmark. It is the expected date for transplanted hair to start growing. You need to send your third update photos 3 months after the surgery.

6 Months

You can expect 40 to 50 percent of your final results by the 6th month after the surgery. It’s the due date to share your fourth update photos now! Feel free to get regular haircuts 6 months after your hair transplant.

9 Months: Recovery Is Wrapping Up

9 months after your hair transplant, when you can expect 60 to 70 percent of your final results, send your fifth group of update images to the clinic.

If your baldness needed a very large coverage and two operations, now is the time for the second session.

Hair Transplant Healing: A Year And Beyond

When you are updating the clinic for the sixth time one year after your hair transplant, you can observe 80 to 90 percent of the final result. Until three months later, the fifteenth month after the hair transplantation, you can expect the final steps of growth and the final results to appear.

The Dos And Don’ts After Getting A Hair Transplantation Surgery

As you can see, the road to complete recovery takes a lot of time. You must stick to these tips during the first year to ensure that your donor’s hair is strong and healthy.

Washing

You have to wash your hair regularly to remove blood, oil and gradually remove the scabs. Shampoo your hair in detail, but don’t rub your fingers against your transplanted hair to avoid dislodging the graft.
Make sure that both the recipient and donor areas are moist, as that helps hair growth. Use Emu Oil, Aloe Vera gel, and similar products to improve the healing time.

Ithing

You will feel an urge to scratch your head all the time. Scratching the donor area should not be a problem, and it’s even a good thing because you’ll remove scabs and debris.

However, steer clear away from the recipient area, as scratching can lead to bleeding, infection, and other complications within the first week after the procedure. Keep the area moist, and control yourself from touching the recipient area.

Things To Avoid

You should avoid all physical activities and don’t wear a hat for at least one-day post-op. That means no sports, no sauna, swimming pools, and similar activities. Also, avoid drinking alcohol and dying your hair to ensure the best results.

We Will Guide You Through Recovery

The recovery process can sometimes be very uncomfortable, and some patients may even experience unwanted side effects. Whatever happens, Dr. Emrah Cinik and the rest of his staff will be more than happy to accompany you through the entire recovery period until your hair follicles are strong and healthy.