What Should You Need to Follow After Hair Transplant Surgery?

The things you should or should not do after hair transplant are listed below.

It is very important that you stick to these rules so that you can ensure healthy hair growth and fast recovery of the donor site.

• SMOKING

Do not smoke for 7 days after the procedure.

• ALCOHOL

Do not drink alcohol for 7 days after the procedure.

• BLOOD THINNING DRUGS

Blood thinners should never be used (you can contact us for a detailed list).

• BATH-SAUNA

Do not go to the bath or sauna for 3 months after the procedure.

• SUN

Do not tan in the sun or do not go to solarium for 3 months after the procedure.

• SWIMMING

Do not swim in the sea or pool for 1 month after the procedure.

• SPORTS

Do not engage in sports activities for 1 month after the procedure.

• WEIGHT LIFTING

You should avoid lifting weights for 1 month after the procedure.

• PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

You can do light-intensity activities right after the procedure.

You can take short walks at moderate pace or do low-intensity aerobic exercise.

The main point you need to be careful about is you should avoid excessive sweating. You can do these activities for a short period of time keeping sweating to a minimum.

• EXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT

You should avoid sunbathing for the at least 3 months. This includes avoiding direct exposure to strong sunlight in your daily life or work life, if not for sunbathing purposes.

It is important that you avoid exposure to direct sunlight for the first 14 days. We recommend that you wear a large, clean hat that is not too tight for your head.

We provide our patients with a suitable hat.

If you live in a hot country where the sun is strong, it would be wise to keep avoiding sunlight up to 2 months followinghair transplant.

• SEXUAL ACTIVITY

Sexual activity is not recommended for 7 days after the operation.

• TOUCHING YOUR HAIR

After hair transplant, you may feel the urge to touch their new hair to check its condition.

You must avoid this, because excessive contact with hands causes infection in hair follicles, called folliculitis.

Small pink-red pimples may occur on your scalp, which often suppurate and drain. It can cause itching skin. You should definitely not touch them, because you may spread the infection to other follicles.

PRODUCTS TO USE

You need to take some medications for 8 days after surgery and use some products to wash your hair for 2 weeks.

• Take the prescribed drugs regularly. You will be given a detailed form listing the prescribed medications and instructions.

• It is important that you use the recommended shampoo for the first 14 days. Instructions are given below.

• It is important that you use the recommended lotion for the first 14 days. Instructions are given below.

• Depending on your doctor’s recommendation, you may need to use a moisturizing spray.

 HOW LONG DO I NEED TO REST AFTER HAIR TRANSPLANTATION?

You need to take some medications for 8 days after surgery and use some products to wash your hair for 2 weeks.

• Take the prescribed drugs regularly. You will be given a detailed form listing the prescribed medications and instructions.

• It is important that you use the recommended shampoo for the first 14 days. Instructions are given below.

• It is important that you use the recommended lotion for the first 14 days. Instructions are given below.

• Depending on your doctor’s recommendation, you may need to use a moisturizing spray.

SLEEP

For the first 3 nights you need to use a high pillow or may be two pillows (to obtain an angle of about 45 degrees), to reduce the swelling in your head.

You can lie on your back or on your side, but you should never lie face down. Make sure that your recipient area does not contact the pillow.

If grafts have been transplanted to the top of your head and if the pillow is likely to contact that area when you lie on your back, then put a rolled towel under the neck to prevent contact.

HEADBAND

The use of a headband will provide protection against swelling in the head. You should start wearing a headband after the first wash. The bandage we put at our clinic will serve the same function until then.

We will do the first hair wash after the surgery at our clinic. We recommend that you wear the headband for at least 4 hours a day for 2 days.

ATTENTION: Never sleep with a headband on your head. Keep the headband clean and wash it regularly. While putting it on and taking it off, you should stretch the headband sideways to make sure it does not pull your hair.

HAT

It is recommended that you wear a hat when you go outdoors. It will provide protection against sun and other outdoor conditions (rain, dust, etc.).

Otherwise, do not wear a hat indoors or if the weather is fine. You can start wearing a hat on the first day after the operation. Put the hat on your head very loosely and make sure it is not too tight.

When you are wearing the hat, gently put it on your head with both hands and remove it by pulling up with both hands. Make sure that it will not rub on the transplanted hair. Keep the hat clean and wash it regularly.

WASHING YOUR HAIR

Day 1: Operation day. No washing. Bandages on the head.

Day 2 or 3 (first wash): The first wash on the second or third day post-operation will be done by our team at the clinic. We will schedule an appointment and let you know about the day and time.

Day 3 or 4 (or day 5): You will not wash your hair during these days.

If the first wash at the clinic is done on day 2, you will not wash your hair on days 3 and 4. If the first wash is done on day 3, do not wash your hair on days 4 and 5.

Day 5 or 6 (first wash at home): After the first wash at the clinic, you will keep it dry for two days and then you will wash your hair at home for the first time.

The water should be neither cold nor hot. It is important that you wash your hair with warm water. Note that the water flow should not be too powerful.

First, gently wet your hair and then put some shampoo in your hand.

Create foam between your hands and gently spread it through the recipient area without rubbing or strong movements. The hand movements while spreading the shampoo should be upward and downward and should be very gentle.

In the donor site of your head, you can apply shampoo gently with your fingertips. Then, rinse the area without using pressurized water (slop some water on your head by using a bowl; do not use the shower).

Do not use towels or a hair drier to dry your hair. Do not rub your hair. You should let it dry naturally. You can use towels to dry regions other than the hair transplant area.

Between days 6 and 13: Lotion application and washing should be done every day during this period. Spread the recommended lotion all over your recipient area by gently tapping your scalp with your fingertips. The hand movements when spreading the lotion should be up and down; do not rub your hair.

Make sure the lotion stays on your scalp for 30 minutes on the first day. Then rinse the lotion with warm water. Repeat the washing procedure as described above. From this day on, you apply lotion every day and increase the time by 10 minutes every day.

By the day 14, the time you leave the lotion on your scalp will have reached about to 2 hours. When it begins to stay on your hair for longer periods, prevent the lotion from drying on your hair by applying more lotion every 30 minutes without washing.

After the day 10, increase blood circulation by gently massaging the recipient area.

Day 14 (the last day of special washing): Spread the lotion all over the recipient area by gently massaging with circular finger movements. Leave it on for 2 hours. In the meantime, do not forget to apply more lotion every 30 minutes so that you moisturize the area thoroughly. Rinse your hair with warm water.

Then wash your hair with shampoo as you did before. After the surgery, you will have scabs on your scalp. The lotion and washes will greatly reduce the scabs.

It is important that the scabs are removed with lotion and washing in this period. This will ensure healthy growth of the transplanted follicles. After the day 10, you can make the massage movements a little harder to get rid of the scabs.

In the last wash, you will get rid of the scabs completely by leaving the lotion on for 2 hours. At this stage, you need to visit our clinic for a photo shoot or send your photos showing that your scalp is now free of scabs so that we can keep you informed about the progress.

Day 15 and after: You do not need to follow any special washing procedure after this moment. You do not have to use the lotion and the shampoo we recommend any further, but if you like, you can continue with the shampoo.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

You have undergone a surgical procedure, so you may experience some discomfort and the following side effects after the surgery:

PAIN

You may fee mild pain for a few days after surgery. In case of pain, you can use the prescribed painkiller.

SWELLING

Swelling or edema is natural and expected to occur after surgery. Swelling may involve the scalp, forehead, and in some cases the areas around eyes. The swelling can last 2 to 5 days. Do not worry about it as the following should prevent or reduce swelling.

• Among the medications we prescribe after the surgery, one of them is intended to reduce any swelling or edema. Instructions on how to use the prescribed medications are included in the aftercare notes.

• Start wearing the “headband” we give you after the first wash. Wearing it for 4 hours a day for 2 days should prevent swelling on the forehead to a great extent.

ITCHING

Itching is perfectly normal after hair transplant and it may occur all over your scalp. Good aftercare, timely washing, and regular use of the recommended lotion can prevent itching.

But some people may experience more severe itching. In such cases, contact our clinic, because you may need to use antihistamine medications.-

PHOTO SHOOT

Before the operation, we will take photos of your hair from various angles at our clinic. We will take photos immediately after the operation and after the first wash at our clinic.

However, in order to monitor the progress, we need to take photos of your hair with regular intervals at day 14, month 1, month 3, month 6 and 12 after the procedure.

We recommend you to visit our clinic, if possible, both for after surgery photos and close examination of the progress. If you cannot come, send us your photos for a better follow-up process.