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Home > Hair Loss > Hair Loss Treatment Solution > Hair Transplant Surgery
After Hair Transplant Surgery
Immediately following surgery
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The patient may leave with either no bandage or he may be given a small sweatband to keep pressure on the donor area. The recipient area is left open or lightly covered. This enables the transplanted area to be exposed
to the air for drying and healing.
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The doctor will give you written instructions detailing how to care for your scalp until the next visit.
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You may be given a prescription to fill (usually an analgesic like Tylenol or codeine, or an antibiotic to prevent infection.)
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The grafts are held in place loosely by fibrin (your body’s natural glue) for about 2-3 days following the surgery.
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Some discomfort generally exists in the donor site for a few days after the surgery. Swelling of the forehead is present in some
people between the third and fifth day.
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The hairs that are present in your new grafts usually fall out during the first 2-6 weeks after the procedure. At this time, it is normal for the patient to look just like he did before the transplant. Many patients begin to feel anxious at this time because they wonder if the procedure has taken effect. Just remember that it is a “dormant phase” for the hair follicles, and it is normal for the hair shafts to shed.
In most people, normal hair growth usually starts within 3-4 months after surgery. |
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8 – 12 months following surgery
By 8 months, most people can see the full effect
of the process
By 12 months, the growth and bulk of the hair
will have reached 90% of its total growth.
Hair Maintenance After Hair Transplant Surgery
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Do not shampoo your hair for the first 24 hours following your hair transplant surgery. After this time, regular washing may resume, and despite popular belief, it will not disturb your hair grafts. Regular shampooing is important because it helps remove dirt, blood, oil, and scabs from the recipient area.
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To prevent swelling after the hair transplant surgery, your surgeon may prescribe anti-inflammatory medication. Another good way of decreasing the risk of swelling in the recipient area is sleeping with your head elevated on pillows. You can also use cold compresses to ease the discomfort of swelling or bruising.
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Control the pain of swelling, bruising, and headache with a mild, over-the-counter pain reliever like aspirin.
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Do not scrape off scabs that form at the graft sites. Vigorous rubbing or scratching with the fingernails may dislodge grafts, which may cause mild bleeding or loss of one or more hairs. Keeping the recipient and donor areas moist with a spray-on saline solution promotes their healing, and helps the scabs fall off faster.
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Strenuous activities should be avoided in the first few days after the hair transplant surgery because of the slight chance of the implants being ejected from the scalp during vigorous exercise. Also, exercise stimulates blood flow to the scalp and may lead to bleeding around the transplants.
This special care is needed for about 5-10 days following your hair transplant surgery. After this brief recovery period, no special treatment is needed, and you may resume all normal activities.
