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Dos and Don’ts of Hair Transplant Aftercare

Following a hair surgery there are several stages to the hair transplant aftercare process. It’s important to follow all the medical advice provided to you by the specialists in order to ensure the best results.

The experts at the clinic will inform you about everything you need to know for a smooth aftercare experience following the transplant. However it’s a good idea to be aware beforehand of the phases of recovery, what to expect and what to avoid.

Summary

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1. Immediately After
2. First 2 Weeks
3. After a Couple of Months
4. How Can Elithair Help with Your Aftercare?

Immediately After

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What to Avoid

So, now that the procedure is complete it’s time to think about the hair transplant aftercare process. How the following weeks and months progress are crucial in having a successful outcome from the hair transplant. 

Right after the procedure, a light bandage will be placed on your donor area where the grafts have been harvested from the FUE hair transplant. Your recipient area will be left exposed to allow the grafts to settle. Nothing should touch this area for at least 3 hours after surgery.

Sun exposure

Staying indoors is advisable during this time as exposure to the sun can cause excess sweating which can disrupt the newly transplanted follicles. In the first 3 hours your recipient area is particularly sensitive as the newly transplanted grafts are dry and loosely attached to the channels. 

Following the initial recovery steps if you do need to go outside it is best to wear a loose fitting hat in order to keep protecting your hair. When indoors keep the area uncovered. There should be no scratching or picking at the wound in order to not interfere with the healing.

Sleeping

You’ll be able to go to sleep about 3 hours after the procedure. It’s important to rest in an upright position, on your back and keep your head elevated in order to ensure that the transplant area is not disturbed. You should maintain this for about 7 to 10 days after the transplant to prevent any risk of swelling although recovery times can vary.

If there is no pressure around the forehead area which can be a side effect from the procedure then you should be able to sleep as normal. It may be easier to sleep on a recliner rather than on a stack of pillows. 

First 2 Weeks

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Day to Day Routine

As soon as the day after the procedure you’ll be able to return to normal activities such as returning to work. You’ll be allowed to travel if you wish although some people choose to stay longer in order to recover and explore Istanbul. As long as saunas or any strenuous activities are avoided you’re free to experience what Turkey has to offer.

The visible red marks at the recipient and donor areas will only be visible for between 7 to 10 days. The colour should fade after this although it may persist which can depend on your hair colour or complexion. If there is any irritation you can relieve itching or discomfort with a hair serum after hair transplant.

Exercise can commence again about 5 days after the transplant but post operational activities should be limited to light workouts which don’t cause excess sweating or elevation of heart rate and blood pressure.

Washing Your Hair

You shouldn’t use a shampoo after hair transplant, unless applied by your specialist, until the 4th day following the procedure. You’ll need to start by gently touching the transplanted area, applying a lotion and letting it sit for 10 minutes followed by applying shampoo over it. You should use low pressure, lukewarm water. Then you need to let the affected area air dry as heat styling tools like a blow dryer should be avoided.

You should continue to wash your hair once or twice a day as part of your hair restoration aftercare until the scabs have come loose. This may take up to two weeks to occur. After the third week you can resume your normal hair care routine. If there are any scabs left after this time they need to fall off naturally so don’t try to remove them yourself.

Removing the crusts

After a Couple of Months

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Appearance of Results

You should start to see results between 6 and 12 months after the procedure. While some of the hair loss may occur in the first 2-4 weeks as part of the hair transplant aftercare, the hair will start to regrow in the third month and there should be new, healthy hair growth at the 6 month mark. After 12-18 months you can start to fully enjoy the final result.

You’ll be able to get a haircut after 3 months using scissors but razors cannot be used until after 6 months. When trying to style your hair you should comb gently so as not to disturb the roots. The use of dyes are discouraged until the area has been completely healed as the chemicals can be toxic to the vulnerable hair follicles.

Resuming Activities

It's important to keep out of direct sunlight for at least the first 2 weeks after the operation and when outside head-wear is recommended for the first 6 months. The most vulnerable times to be out are between 10am and 2pm. During this time it's important to protect the recipient area from any potential sunburn. While exercise can resume shortly after the procedure it's important to shower soon after any workouts. This is in order to minimise any risk of infection.

How Can Elithair Help With Your Aftercare?

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Following your procedure Elithair will provide a free recovery kit with hair transplant aftercare products to enable an ideal recovery so you can enjoy the long term results of your transplant. As part of the hair transplant surgery, we offer a free PRP treatment. With this we are able to enrich the recipient area with platelet rich blood from your body in order to promote regrowth of the hair grafts. 

If you need anything else you can find our range of specially designed hair care products in our online shop which can be easily incorporated into your hair routine. We’re on hand throughout the recovery process and can be contacted quickly for any queries you might have about how to take care of your hair.