Here is a short version of our post-operational advice for patients with hair transplants in Turkey. Please note that these are the general guidelines and some points might differ after a hair transplant with the doctor.
What’s a Hair Transplant?
A hair transplant is a type of surgery that moves hair you have to fill an area with thin or no hair. Doctors have been doing these transplants in the world since the 1940s. But methods have changed a lot in recent years.
What Happens After Hair Transplant?
Hair transplants before after and after processes are highly curious by patients. In this blog, we have compiled what you may face in the post-operation process for you and the remedies. For detailed information on pre-processes, you can read our article titled “What Should I Do Before Hair Transplant?“
Your scalp may be very sensitive after the operation. You may need to take a painkiller for a few days. Your doctor will have you wear bandages over your scalp for at least a day. They may also prescribe an antibiotic drug for you to take for a few days. Most people can return to work 4 to 6 days after the procedure.
Within 2 to 4 weeks after the operation, the transplanted hair will fall out. But you should start to notice new growth within several months. Most people will see 70% of new hair growth after 9 to 12 months. Some doctors prescribe hair-growing drugs to improve hair growth after the operation.
Post-Operative Instructions After Hair Transplant
At Erdem Clinic, OK, we are proud to offer hair transplants because we believe people of every age should be proud of their head of hair. However, you must know what to avoid once you come home from the process.
1-Driving
A hair transplant is performed under strong anesthesia. Do not drive for the first day after hair transplant, if you have been given a sedative. Make sure you have a friend to drive you to and from your appointment.
2-Correct Sleeping
To decrease the risk of swelling, you must sleep with your head elevated for the first night after the procedure. You have to sleep like this for five days after that. Some clients find they only need to sleep with their heads elevated for several days. However, not everyone experiences swelling after hair implants. There is no reason why you can’t sleep as normal if you don’t feel a slight pressure around your forehead.
3-Hair Wash
Hair washing is one of the most important things that can affect the result of a hair transplant. And at the clinic, every patient is taught how to wash their hair correctly.
Shampooing should be done daily to remove the crusts. 7 days after hair transplantation there should be no more traces of dried scabs on your scalp. You may start washing your hair the normal way no sooner than 2 weeks after the hair transplant. If needed one can also wash the hair more than once a day post-operative. You need to keep using the special shampoo until the bottle is empty.
4- Pain Medications
Some pain can be present for a couple of days after the operation. Many patient report difficulty sleeping on the first day. It is common to have more pain in the donor area than the recipient area post-operation period. Post-op process plans can be relieved with over-the-counter pain medications. You will get a pack of those at the center.
5-Swelling After Hair Transplant
When it comes to the process that is performed using modern techniques, swelling is quite rare. It occurs more often for larger this processes where a lot of work was done to the hairline. Swelling can affect the forehead and may last 4 to 6 days. Some drugs are given to reduce these symptoms.
6-Itching
Itching is a very feeling after the operation. It may occur all over the scalp for 2 weeks in the postoperative period. The itchiness usually indicates that the tissue is recovering. Antihistamine pills can be used, if when it becomes very strong.
7-Healing and Recovery Process
After any operation that is performed using modern techniques, the healing is rapid. Most people feel fine within a day or 3 following the operation. Some numbness and mild soreness in the scalp can be expected for a few days. There will be punctate red scabs at the bottom of the transplanted hair shafts on the recipient site. Which will be visible for about 8-12 days.
Usually, the patient gains his/her normal appearance within 2 weeks after the operation. Slight redness might be visible post-op period. Patients who have very light complexion might experience redness for prolonged periods. Whereas those who have darker hair and skin, tend to recover faster. Recovery after an operation is a very individual procedure that also depends on the patient’s age, diet, and even climate.
8-Shaving
For many patients, after a hair transplant care is crucial. Especially when it’s about shaving. The recipient area can be shaven 30 days after the operation. Donor sites can be shaven 7 days post-op as long as the scabs in the donor area have cleared out.
9-Shock Loss
Shock loss starts within the first 2-5 weeks post-op period. After the 4th to 6th month, the lost grafts slowly start to re-grow. At the end of the 6th month, the re-growth rate should be around 50%. And within the 9th month, the re-growth rate should be around 70%. The results of the operation should be evaluated once a year after the operation.
10-Physical Activity
Immediately in the post-op period, you can start to go for a short walk. And you can start going to physical exercises that don’t make you sweat too much. You can already start actively exercising 2 weeks post-op. We recommended taking a shower shortly after sport to minimize any risk of infections.
Supplements to Avoid After Hair Transplant
Supplements that contain vitamins B, C, E, and A are the best to take after this operation. Because they all support to support the body’s natural hair growth enzymes whilst also helping the recovery process post-op period. Other than that, it’s recommended to stay away from certain nutrients and vitamins, which will have a blood-watering effect. These are blood-watering nutrients such as garlic, grapes, turmeric, etc.
Such as amino acids and proteins should not be taken within three days after the operation. Otherwise, the hair follicles may weaken and the process may fail.
How Long After Hair Transplant Are Grafts Secure?
Newly transplanted hair grafts are secure between 2 weeks following the operation. In the initial days following your operation, the newly transplanted grafts are vulnerable in their new location. Therefore these early days can be lost. In fact, in the first three or four weeks, shock spills. But that doesn’t mean the transaction ended negatively. It’s a natural process. Later on, a new one grows instead of the hair that falls out.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can you take vitamins after a hair transplant?
You can get vitamins after the operation by consulting your doctor. The recommended time is 30 days after the operation.
When can you touch your hair after a hair transplant?
The top three after treatment are crucial. We urge you not to touch your area during this time of operation. You can touch it gently three days after the operation.
How long does it take for a hair transplant to heal?
The healing process takes exactly 6 to 9 months. The healthy growth of hair begins at the end of this period. So in the years to come, your hair may grow out.
How to sleep after hair transplant?
To decrease the risk of swelling, you must sleep with your head elevated for the first night after the procedure. You have to sleep like this for five days after that. Some clients find they only need to sleep with their head heads elevated for several days. However, not everyone experiences swelling after hair implants. There is no reason why you can’t sleep as normal if you don’t feel a slight pressure around your forehead.