Hair transplant aftercare

Your written instructions come first

The details of aftercare depend on the method used, the recipient area and how you heal. That is why, after the procedure, we give you written aftercare instructions and explain which products to use and how to use them.

The information on this page is general. If you notice a difference between your instructions and this page, follow your instructions. Ask us about anything you are not sure of.

The first few days

In the first few days, you may notice redness, mild swelling and scabbing in the recipient area, and the donor area may feel tender. The swelling sometimes moves down to the forehead and around the eyes; it often eases within a few days. You may also feel numbness or itching in both areas for a while. How quickly you heal varies from person to person.

During this period, we generally ask you to do the following:

• Do not touch, scratch or rub the recipient area.
• Do not wear a tight hat, beanie or helmet that would rub against the recipient area. We state in your instructions when you can wear headwear, and what kind.
• Avoid bending forward, lifting heavy objects and strenuous activities.
• Take the medicines you have been given as instructed. If you are going to take any other medicine or supplement, ask us first.
• Smoking and alcohol can have a negative effect on healing; follow your doctor’s advice on this.

Sleeping position

For the first few nights, we ask you to sleep on your back with your head slightly raised. This position can help reduce swelling. A neck pillow can also help stop your head from turning to the side while you sleep and the recipient area from rubbing against the pillow.

If the transplant is in the crown area, the sleeping position may be different. We state in your instructions which position suits you and when you can go back to sleeping on your side or front.

The first wash

We state clearly in your written instructions when and how to do the first wash. You may see different timings elsewhere; follow your own instructions.

When washing, generally keep the following in mind:

• Use lukewarm water and the shampoo we recommend for you.
• Apply the lather to the recipient area by dabbing it on gently with your fingertips; do not rub, press or use your nails.
• Do not point a strong shower jet directly at the recipient area; rinse by pouring the water over it slowly.
• Do not rub the recipient area with a towel; let it dry on its own or only dab it lightly with the towel. Do not use hot air from a hair dryer.

Scabs

Small scabs form around the grafts; this is a normal part of healing. Do not pick or scratch off the scabs. With regular, gentle washing as described in your instructions, the scabs soften over time and come off on their own.

Some short hairs may also come away with the scabs; in most cases, this does not mean that the graft has been lost. If the scabs stay for a long time or bother you, ask us.

Sun, exercise, swimming and hair products

We state in your instructions when you can return to normal for each of these. The general picture is as follows:

Sun

In the first few weeks, protect the recipient area from direct sun; sun on healing skin can make redness last longer. If you need to be outside for a long time, stay in the shade or wear a loose hat that we have told you is suitable. Ask us before applying sunscreen to the recipient area.

Exercise

You can usually return to light activity such as walking after the first few days. For heavy exercise, sports that make you sweat a lot and contact sports, you need to wait longer: strenuous effort can lead to bleeding and more swelling, and an impact can damage the grafts.

Pool, sea, sauna and Turkish bath

We ask you to put off swimming in a pool or the sea and going into a sauna or Turkish bath until the recipient area has healed. Pool water and seawater can irritate healing skin and increase the risk of infection; the heat and steam of a sauna or Turkish bath can also increase swelling.

Hair products, coloring and haircuts

In the first few weeks, use only the products we recommend on your hair and the recipient area. Take a break from styling products such as gel, spray and cream, and from chemical treatments such as hair dye, until your doctor says they are suitable. Before getting a haircut, check with us, especially if clippers will be used on the recipient area.

Shock loss

In the weeks after the procedure, some of the transplanted hair or the hair around it may fall out temporarily. This is called shock loss. When it happens and to what extent varies from person to person.

Even if a transplanted hair falls out, its root usually stays in the skin. However, some of the surrounding hairs that had already become thin may not grow back. If you have any questions, ask us at your follow-up appointment.

When does new hair grow?

It takes months for new hair to grow; the first hairs to appear are usually fine and sparse. It takes longer for the hair to thicken and for the result to become clear. Both this period and the density achieved vary from person to person.

In the first months, it is common for hair to grow at different rates and for the appearance to be uneven. It is still too early to judge the result during this period.

A transplant does not stop the loss of your own hair in areas that were not transplanted; this hair loss may progress over time. We also review the overall condition of your hair together at follow-up appointments.

We cover shock loss in detail in our article shock loss after a hair transplant, how new hair develops over the months in hair transplant growth timeline, and returning to sport and swimming in exercise and swimming after a hair transplant.

Follow-up, and when to contact us straight away

We review your healing and the growth of new hair together at follow-up appointments. Follow-up takes place both in person at the clinic and by message. We plan the timing of these appointments with you, and we follow the growth of your hair together throughout the first year after the procedure.

If you notice any of the following, contact us without waiting for your follow-up appointment:

• Increasing pain, redness or swelling
• Discharge, pus or a bad smell in the recipient area or the donor area
• Fever
• Bleeding that does not stop or keeps coming back
• Painful or growing pimple-like bumps in the recipient area

Our opening hours are every day, 09:00–18:00. In an emergency, or if you cannot reach us outside these hours, go to the nearest healthcare facility without delay.

Frequently asked questions