Conditions & Diseases: Hair Loss & Hair Loss Treatment (Surgical & Non-Surgical)

Hair Transplant Post Op Recovery: After Your Procedure

The information below is a generalized hair transplant post op recovery outline compiled together after interviewing several different hair transplant clinics. This information is only meant to be informative to potential hair transplant patients and is intended to give you some idea of what it will be like in the days following your surgery.

Every doctor and hair transplant clinic has their own set of detailed guidelines to follow for your hair transplant recovery and you should always follow their advice.

Immediately after your surgery, your doctor or a nurse will go over the steps you need to take to insure no damage is caused to your newly implanted hair grafts. Following these steps carefully is important because your new hair grafts will be sensitive to external damage for a few days until they heal and "take root" in your scalp. Your clinic will also provide you with prescriptions for pain, fight infection and reduce swelling.

Since most clinics will provide you with a sedative and local anesthia before your surgery, you will not be able to drive yourself home after your surgery. A spouse or friend will have to drive you home from the clinic. Or, if you have taken a flight to reach the hair transplant clinic, the clinic will surely help provide you with transportation back to your hotel or directly to the airport, depending on what arrangements you have made.

Pre Op Hair Transplant Guide

Before you even have your hair transplant surgery, your clinic will likely make several recommendations to you which may include:

1. Don't take aspirin, ibuprofen alcohol or coffee several days before your surgery. These elements cause the blood to thin and may hinder proper blood clotting necessary for healing.
2. Since you will be given a local anesthia, do not drink liquids or eat any food 8 to 12 hours before your surgery.
3. Make sure you have told your doctor of any medications you are taking prior to your surgery.

Post Op Hair Transplant Guide

The newly implanted hair grafts will be highly visible after the surgery and susceptable to infection and external damage. For these reasons, you will definetely want to take a ball cap with you to the clinic before the surgery. However, before putting it on over the grafts, the clinic will most likely recommend loosing the straps on it so that it is not tight on your head. Your hair transplant team wants to keep a good flow of blood circulation to your new grafts and they don't want the cap itself to rub against the grafts. When putting the cap on, press the inside brim against your forehead and carefully bring the back down over your crown. Keep the hat loose on your head at all times when in public.

The medications you will most likely will be prescribed following your surgery include a mild steroid for swelling such as prednisone, vicodin for pain, and Cephalexin for infection. These prescriptions will include instructions on when and how often to take them.

For 24 to 48 hours after your surgery, do not wash your hair with shampoo. During the next two weeks, take great care in washing your hair. Use a cup of warm water and gently pat your head with shampoo. Do not "scrub" the shampoo in like one might usually do. Do not use a blow dryer until after your hair grafts have healed and fallen out. Keep the scabs and grafts clean without disrupting them.

When you get home, avoid direct sun, strenous exercise and contact sports for at least 2 weeks after your surgery.

Some clinics may provide you with a loose fitting surgery cap to wear at night for several days following your surgery. This prevents direct contact with your grafts and pillow when you sleep at night. Sleep in an upright position with several pillows under your neck and shoulders or in your favorite recliner. Sleeping in a slightly upright position will help prevent swelling. You can also use an ice pack pressed against your forehead for several days following your surgery to reduce swelling.

The graft sites will start to scab following your surgery. These scabs mean they are healing properly. Do not Pick or scratch the scabs. Doing so can cause infection and endanger the survival of the grafts. If the scabbing persists after 14 days, you may not be shampooing vigorously enough. The critical period is 14 days after surgery. The scabs will fall out in 7-14 days. As the scabs fall out, you may notice the tiny hair is shed with them. THIS IS NORMAL! DO NOT WORRY!

Approximately 10 days after your surgery, you will have to have the stitches from your donor area removed.

Most clinics advise that you can return to work the day after your surgery. However, until your hair grafts scab, heal and fall out your hair transplant procedure WILL BE VISIBLE to others. Unless you can wear a ball cap to your job during that time, you may want to take some time off and limit your social interaction.

Many patients will agree that the hardest part of hair transplant post op recovery is waiting for the new hair grafts to start growing. Be patient since this can take 3 to 6 and up to 12 months. After your hair grafts scab, heal and fall out, they have gone into the "resting" phase of the normal hair growth cycle and will grow again.

Remember to take your medications as indicated by your doctor and contact him immediately if you have any problems.

Reminder: This post op surgery guide is only meant to be generally informative and should not replace the advice and recommendations of your hair transplant doctor.

Article by Staff
OmniMedicalSearch.com

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