After You Hair Transplant
A hair transplant involves a surgeon transporting hair from other areas of the body that have denser hair growth to the balding sections of the head. In most cases, it’s a very simple surgery with a low recovery timeline that provides the person with confidence.
However, like any surgery, there are some steps you can take to make sure the surgery, as well as the recovery period, is quick and painless. At the end of the day, you probably want to show off your new head of hair as soon as possible.
What Should I Expect After the Surgery?
While recovery time depends on a variety of factors, from severity of surgery to scalp reaction, most people are able to return to work after a couple of days. However, for the first few days after the procedure, your scalp will likely be very tender, and you will want to take pain medication or prescribed antibiotics. The surgeon will also recommend that you wear bandages over your scalp for two or three days.
Within a few weeks, you may notice your transplanted hair falling out. This is completely normal. Your new hair should start growing over the next few months, with most patients seeing 60% of their new hair growth in the first six to nine months.
How Can I Ensure a Smooth Recovery Process?
In addition to taking pain medication and making sure your scalp remains bandaged, there are a few additional actions you can take to ensure a smooth recovery process.
- Sleep with your head elevated for the first few days after the procedure.
- Apply ice to your new hairline to lessen swelling.
- Don’t wash your hair until the third day after the procedure. Even then, you should be very careful to limit scrubbing.
- Leave any scabbing alone.
Could There be any Complications?
No surgery is perfect, and your hair transplant could have some less-than-pleasant side effects, including bleeding and infection. Additionally, the surgery could go cosmetically wrong and leave you with a hairline that is scarred and unnatural. When the hair transplants start falling out, some people also see inflammation within their new hair follicles – called folliculitis. These infections usually disappear with time and antibiotics.
As with any cosmetic surgery, you should speak with a doctor like Dr. Robin Unger before making the appointment. Having these conversations allow you to understand potential risks and firmly decide if a hair transplant is right for you.