How to Recover after Hair Transplant
The decision to have a hair transplant is a major decision because this is a major surgery. Even though it is a major surgery, the procedure is not very uncomfortable. Most surgeons will do hair transplant with just oral sedation. The most painful part is the injection of numbing shots (ie lidocaine with epinephrine). The injections are not fun because the surgeon must numb your entire scalp, as well as the donor area. But once the shots take effect and your scalp is numb, you won’t feel any pain during the procedure. If you’re getting a FUT (“strip”) surgery, you will lie down on your face and the surgeon will harvest the strip, hand the hair to the technicians , and then meticulously close the wound. Some surgeons may even do this part with you sitting up. After the wound is closed, you will be repositioned to sitting up. The surgeon will then make the individual slits for the future hair grafts to be inserted. After all the slits are made, then the individual hair grafts are precisely and gently inserted into each slit.
Postoperatively, you should sleep up at about a 30-45 degree angle. Pain is variable, but most patients will feel enough pain that narcotic pain medications should be used (ie Hydrocodone). Fortunately, most people don’t have significant pain that lasts more than a day or two. If pain is tolerable, you can use Tylenol. But you should NOT use nonsteroidal anti inflammatory medications like Motrin or Advil. Remember, you cannot drive or drink alcohol if you’re taking narcotic pain medications or sleeping pills.
You want to clean your donor incision twice a day with hydrogen peroxide if there are scabs. If not, then there is no need to use peroxide. After you clean off the crusts, then apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment like Bacitracin. Do not get the incision wet for three days.
The most important thing immediately after surgery is to not traumatize your newly transplanted grafts. Don’t get the grafts too wet for the first three days. That means no showering with water spraying onto your scalp. However, you may get a spray bottle and gently spray water on the grafts to prevent the crusts from getting too hard. But don’t rub off the crusts. After three days, you can then gently pour water with shampoo over your grafts about two to three times a day. On day 7, you can shower normally and let the water hit your grafts with normal pressure. Don’t rub hair vigorously like before surgery, but you can use your fingers to gently rub the shampoo and water in soft circular motion on the grafts.
You should refrain from strenuous physical activity for about two weeks, then slowly return to your normal exercise regimen. You can swim after 7 days (in swimming pool) or after 10 days (in lake). You should also protect the scalp from sun for two weeks with either a cap/hat or SPF 30-45 sunscreen spray.
Donor site sutures are usually removed around 10 days after surgery. We also recommend you resume Rogaine (minoxidil) and finasteride after 1 week. There is evidence that your hair transplant results will be enhanced if you take minoxidil and or finasteride after transplantation.
Your surgeon will schedule regular follow ups to monitor how the newly transplanted hair grows. Remember, you won’t see any noticeable growth for the first three months after surgery.
For more information about San Antonio hair transplant surgery, please visit our interactive website at www.dryuplasticsurgery.com. Dr. Kenneth Yu Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is a qualified team of experts serving the San Antonio, Texas area. To schedule a consultation, please contact our Concierge Patient Coordinator at (210) 876-6868 or info@dryuplasticsurgery.com.
