Having a hair transplant is an exciting decision, however, it’s important to know what to expect from the procedure! Before you undergo the surgery, make sure you research all of the do’s and don’ts to ensure you look after your new hair well and protect your investment. You don’t want to accidentally cause your hair to not heal properly!
Luckily, the steps to healing after hair transplant surgery are easy and simple to follow. We’ve combined our best advice to make sure you’re looking your best and healing comfortably after your procedure!
Table of Contents
Be Gentle When Washing Your Hair
Get a Friend to Drive You Home
You Can Dye Your Hair Pre-surgery
What to Avoid After a Hair Transplant Surgery
Don’t Prevent Scabs From Forming
Refrain From Washing for the First 48 Hours
Refrain From Consuming Alcohol and Smoking
Sleep with Your Head Elevated
You need to be careful how you sleep after the surgery to make sure your head heals well. This means sleeping with your head elevated at approximately a 45-degree angle to reduce swelling. Sleeping with your head elevated also helps you avoid a build-up of pressure. Gather all of the pillows in your house for a comfy night’s rest!
Be Gentle When Washing Your Hair
Washing your hair after a transplant is a good idea as this can help to remove any excess scabs or blood from your hair. But, remember when washing you should be very gentle and avoid rubbing your head too hard or basting water at your scalp as any pressure can adjust the new hairs. This can result in a longer healing time, so always make sure to wash carefully and with the recommended aftercare shampoo.
Get a Friend to Drive You Home
It’s always advised to get a family member or friend to drive you home right after the hair transplant procedure. While the surgery doesn’t always require strong sedatives, sometimes they are used, and you shouldn’t drive under their influence. This is also good practice to ensure you’re comfortable when the healing process starts.
You Can Dye Your Hair Pre-surgery
One thing you can do pre-surgery is dye your hair! This is recommended if you know you’ll want to dye it in the four weeks post-op. Dying hair pre-surgery doesn’t have any effect on the results.
Follow Aftercare Advice
Your doctor will provide a personalized aftercare regime that will include specific instructions for post-transplant life. This is vital to getting the best results from your transplant and having a positive healing process. When you receive this advice, make sure you ask the doctor any questions you have about the new transplant too!
Keep Hydrated and Rest Up!
Staying hydrated before and after the surgery is one of the most important tips! Make sure after the surgery you keep looking after yourself and resting enough to promote an easy healing process. Keeping up a good diet is also important before and after the surgery. A balanced diet with a range of nutrients will promote hair growth and will also keep hair in great condition.
What to Avoid After a Hair Transplant Surgery
To keep the healing process quick and easy, here are a few activities to avoid straight after a hair transplant surgery.
Don’t Prevent Scabs From Forming
After the surgery you can expect scabs to form on your scalp, this is part of the natural healing process, and you should avoid trying to prevent them from forming. Like scabs on any part of your body, you should allow them to fully heal and drop off naturally. Try not to scratch your scarf, if you’re experiencing any itchiness it will pass after the first few days.
Keep Exercise Light
Many surgeons recommend that patients should rest for 14 days after a hair transplant. Light exercise is okay, but any strenuous workouts should be avoided to allow for optimal healing. You want to avoid any activities that cause you to sweat heavily, and you also need your blood pressure and heart rate to stay in a certain range until your swelling has gone down. This is frustrating for some but it’s worth it when your new hair is healed!
Refrain From Washing for the First 48 Hours
Though you can wash your hair post-surgery, it’s recommended that you avoid doing so for the first 48 hours after as this can irritate your head. Remember, after the first 48 hours when you wash your hair, be gentle and take your time!
Avoid Wearing Hats
Once you have had the hair transplant surgery, it’s also advised to avoid hats and baseball caps for the next few days. The scabs that form straight after the surgery usually take three days to heal and they shouldn’t be touched. Hats and any other head accessories can disrupt them, so make sure to leave these behind! Patients should also note that tight clothing can irritate your scalp when pulling it on or off, it’s advised that you wear loose-fitting clothes for a week after the procedure.
Stay Out of Direct Sunlight
When you’re healing from a hair transplant, it’s often advised to avoid direct sunlight exposure for approximately two weeks. Brief exposure is okay, but any extended periods can be damaging. You can cover up with a sunhat, but these can only be worn after the first three days of healing.
Refrain From Consuming Alcohol and Smoking
It’s advised that patients avoid consuming alcohol for five days after the surgery. Alcohol can interfere with your bloody supply to your head, to make sure you’re healing, cut any alcoholic drinks out. The same goes for tobacco products, these should be avoided for a month after surgery. This is because smoking inhibits blood flow, and this is essential for new hair growth.
Avoid Hair Styling Products
For the first two to three months after the procedure patients should avoid using any hair styling products. This is because your scalp is sensitive and certain products will cause inflammation and inhibit healthy healing. Once the time has passed, patients can go back to using products safely, but should still avoid heavy usage on the scalp.
How Can Beautifi Help?
Hair transplant surgery offers a minimally invasive solution to hair loss and results in increased confidence and self-esteem. The healing process is easy to manage, just make sure you thoroughly research the surgery and consult a medical professional to get expert advice. Taking care of yourself while healing creates healthy results and an excellent new look too!