After a Hair Transplant: Your Complete Aftercare Guide

For the first 7 nights, your sleeping position will directly impact the success of your transplant. Try to maintain a semi-upright position at roughly 45° by propping 2-3 pillows behind your back and use a firm pillow to keep your head straight, preventing it from sinking into the bedding.

During this period, it’s absolutely crucial to avoid sleeping on your stomach or side, as any contact between the grafted area and your bedding could dislodge the newly implanted grafts. To improve your comfort whilst sleeping, a travel neck pillow (similar to those used on flights) works brilliantly.

Read more about how to sleep after a hair transplant

Cleansing your scalp should begin the day after the procedure following a specific protocol. For the first 12 days, use only the special lotion provided by the clinic and follow your surgeon’s instructions precisely.

Apply the product extremely gently, without rubbing or scratching. Leave the foam on for the recommended time before rinsing with lukewarm water – never hot. Avoid direct, powerful shower spray – opt instead for a gentle flow or use a jug to pour the water carefully. Finish by patting gently with a clean towel, never rubbing the treated area.

Find out more about the 1st shampoo

Several activities should be strictly avoided to promote optimal healing:

• Intense physical activity: Put all sports on hold for at least 1 month after the procedure, as sweating and increased blood flow can compromise the anchoring of the grafts.
• Sexual relations: Best avoided for at least 10 days due to the increase in blood pressure and sweating they generate.
• Lengthy walks: Limit walking during the first week to prevent excessive sweating.
• Sun exposure: Off-limits for at least 1 month, as UV rays can damage fragile grafts and disrupt the natural healing process.

• Alcohol: Best avoided for at least 7 days as it causes dilation of blood vessels and increases the risk of bleeding.
• Coffee and caffeinated drinks: Avoid for at least 7 days to prevent excessive stimulation of blood circulation.
• Tobacco: Stop smoking completely for at least 7 days. Ideally, you should continue to abstain afterwards, as nicotine hampers tissue oxygenation and significantly slows down the healing process.
• Aspirin and anti-inflammatories: Steer clear of these for at least 7 days due to their blood-thinning properties, which increase the risk of post-operative bleeding.

The recommended timings for shaving vary according to the areas concerned:

• Donor area: Wait at least 1 month before shaving this area. Even though it heals relatively quickly, a period of caution remains necessary.
• Recipient area: Wait at least 6 months before using a razor on this area, as the grafts must be fully established and the hair sufficiently mature to withstand this mechanical stress.

When you do start shaving again, use an electric trimmer rather than a manual razor to minimise the risk of irritation or follicular trauma.

The regrowth process follows a relatively predictable timeline:

• 1-2 weeks: Natural shedding of the transplanted hair (normal and expected phenomenon)
• 2-3 months: Emergence of the first fine, downy hairs
• 4-6 months: Gradual increase in density and thickness
• 6-9 months: Noticeable improvement in hair density (60-70% of final result)
• 12-15 months: Final result with optimal density and texture

Each patient experiences individual variations in this timeline, influenced by personal factors such as age, the intrinsic quality of the follicles and metabolic profile. Patience is key to success, complemented by monthly photographic documentation of your progress.

The hair taken from the donor area will not grow back. However, the sophisticated extraction technique used by Dr Cinik preserves the natural appearance of this region.

The hair is removed in a sparse and strategic distribution, allowing the adjacent hair to naturally cover the tiny extraction scars. When expertly performed, the extraction maintains a reduction in density that’s imperceptible to the naked eye in the donor area, even with a short haircut.

Finasteride can and generally should be continued after a hair transplant if you were already using it before the procedure. This medical treatment helps to:

• Protect your remaining native hair against the progression of androgenetic alopecia
• Preserve the overall density of your hair
• Maintain the aesthetic harmony between transplanted and native hair
• Potentially reduce the need for future additional procedures

The transplanted hair itself, which is genetically resistant to the action of (DHT), will continue to grow even without finasteride. However, stopping treatment could accelerate the loss of non-transplanted native hair in areas susceptible to baldness.

Always consult your doctor before deciding to continue, stop or change your finasteride treatment.

A follow-up procedure may be considered in several scenarios:

• To increase the hair density achieved during the first procedure
• To treat new areas that have become bald with the natural progression of hair loss
• To optimise or refine the results of a partially satisfactory first transplant

If a second transplant is indicated, a minimum period of 12 months after the first procedure is generally recommended. This period allows for:

• Accurate evaluation of the final results of the first procedure
• Ensuring complete regeneration of the donor area
• Strategic planning of the prioritisation of the areas to be treated

Dr Cinik evaluates each situation individually, taking into consideration the evolution of your hair loss pattern and the availability of grafts in your donor reserve.

A balanced diet plays a significant role in optimising the regrowth process. In particular, prioritise:

• Quality proteins: Fundamental components of keratin, the main hair protein (eggs, fish, lean meats, pulses)
• Iron-rich foods: Essential for optimal oxygenation of follicular tissue (red meat, green vegetables, lentils)
• Zinc sources: Actively supports cell division necessary for hair growth (seafood, pumpkin seeds, nuts)
• B vitamins: Promotes blood circulation to the scalp (whole grains, green vegetables, nutritional yeast)
• Natural antioxidants: Protect follicles against cellular oxidative stress (berries, brightly coloured vegetables, green tea)
• Omega-3 fatty acids: Reduce tissue inflammation and maintain scalp hydration (oily fish, flaxseed, walnuts)

Try to limit ultra-processed foods, refined sugars and alcohol, which promote inflammation and can hamper the natural healing process.

Some nutritional supplements can effectively support hair health and optimise the quality of regrowth:

• Biotin (vitamin B7): Promotes keratin synthesis and strengthens the structural architecture of the hair
• B vitamin complex: Supports the cellular energy metabolism of the follicles
• Zinc and selenium: Essential minerals involved in the hair growth cycle
• MSM (methylsulfonylmethane): Improves the biochemical properties of keratin
• Organic silica: Strengthens the structural matrix of growing hair
• Sulphur-containing amino acids: Essential building blocks of keratin (L-cysteine, L-methionine)
• Saw palmetto extract: May help to naturally inhibit the action of DHT on sensitive native hair

It’s essential that you consult your doctor before starting any supplementation, as some supplements may interact with medications or prove unsuitable for your specific clinical profile.