Undergoing hair transplant surgery is a serious investment of time and money, and you want to do everything in your power to maximize the effectiveness of the procedure.

You’ve probably heard that you’ll want to avoid intense exercise, swimming, sex, and other strenuous activity when recovering from a hair transplant, but what about the sun? It may seem smart to avoid excess exposure to the sun as you let your head heal, but should you completely stay in the shade? What about wearing a hat?

These are all legitimate questions that we will get into right now!

 

How the Sun Can Hurt Your Progress

To determine how sun exposure affects hair transplant recovery, first recognize that the process of grafting hair is no small feat. 

Even advanced methods such as Follicular Unit Excision require attentive aftercare. Tiny incisions are made in the scalp and the hairs are placed with surgical precision in the desired area. This causes distress to the system and recovery takes a while. In addition, you now have hundreds or thousands of follicles that have been moved to the recipient area, and these need to be treated with the utmost care.

Ultraviolet rays from the sun can be healthy in small doses, but only for skin that is already fully healed and ready to take on some additional stress. While those small cuts in your head are healing from surgery and follicles are becoming entrenched in their new homes, UV rays are only going to slow healing and cause problems.

Even a small amount of exposure to the sun can cause the affected area to become inflamed, leading to scratching and irritation that could ruin your progress altogether. 

You may lose a bit of that summer tan or have to put that beach vacation on pause, but reducing sun exposure is a non-negotiable part of the aftercare protocol. Overexposure to the sun in the healing phase can also lead to discoloration of the newly grafted hair or the scalp itself.

From a visual standpoint, you want your hair and head to look completely natural, and staying out of the sun is one of the key factors to achieve this. 

 

The Best Way to Stay Protected

Knowing that too much sun can roll back the clock on your results, you want to keep those valuable new follicles from getting baked by UV rays!

We always recommend wearing a loose-fitting hat or a light headscarf if you have to navigate a sunny area. No tight baseball caps or snug winter caps.

You want the recipient area to be able to “breathe” and allow fresh air to circulate in a way that promotes healthy and even recovery. Too much restriction on the scalp can limit blood flow and block the body’s natural ability to heal.

Whenever possible, stick to the shade. You won’t have to wear a covering and the transplant area can more easily heal on its own.

If you do choose to apply sunscreen to the scalp during aftercare, make sure it is a relatively light and absorbent product, rather than a thick mineral lotion. When applying the sunscreen, also make sure to proceed with caution and to not disrupt the grafts in any way. A light spray sunscreen may be a better way to go in this situation.

Depending on what other medications you may be prescribed, the sun may be off-limits completely, so be prepared to communicate your full medical needs to your doctor.

The best surgeons will have a full understanding of how various meds interact with the healing process, and will give you direct guidance on how to move forward.

 

When is Sun Exposure OK Again?

Now we know the basics about how sunlight can impact the success of your hair transplant, and you have some key coverage techniques to make sure you don’t sizzle in the sun.

The question remains: how long do you need to stay in the shade?

15 days is the bare minimum recommended for hair transplant patients to avoid direct sunlight. Other surgeons suggest that a three-week timeframe is a safer bet, especially for those with fair complexions or in the case of more delicate surgeries.

Yes, we know, it seems like a big sacrifice to remain in the shade for that long, but as we stated earlier, it is a crucial component of maximizing your hair transplant success.

These procedures can be pricey and painful, so you want to make the most of your investment and stick to the protocol laid out by your medical professionals.

Remember, if you have questions or concerns about sun exposure following a transplant, never hesitate to get in touch with your doctors and get your information straight from the source.

 

Sweat Isn’t Ideal Either

Living life in the shade may seem like an easy alternative to sunbathing and outdoor adventures, but you also need to be aware of how you sweat, indoors and out.

It seems counterintuitive because we’ve been told by every public service announcement to be more active, but too much sweat and strain can be detrimental to recovering from a hair transplant in the early recovery stage. In the context of hair transplant aftercare, the sweat itself isn’t that big of an issue, it is the unwanted accumulation of moisture and the crystallization of salts on your scalp.

Sweat is the body’s way of staying cool. It’s perfectly natural, but you do not want to skip the shower after the gym during the post-op stage (though you should be avoiding strenuous exercise in the first place!).

When bacteria and salts build up in your hair, your natural instinct is to get scratching! As you already know, this is one of the most harmful things that can be done to your grafts. Many unfortunate patients have indulged in too much scratching during the post-op period, and have ended up back in surgery a few months later due to disrupted follicles.

In the weeks following your procedure, you want to minimize the buildup of unwanted sweat, keep the area clean at all times, and eliminate the urge to itch–this will help keep infection at bay.

Ask your doctor if they can recommend any specific healing shampoos, moisturizers, or other hypoallergenic products that can help you navigate this tricky stage more easily.

Just be sure to clean your scalp gently. No heavy scrubbing or rubbing, no excessive hot water, just a light, quick wash is necessary to get clean and go about your day.

 

Conclusion

The more you understand the science behind the hair transplant process and how the body recovers, the smarter your aftercare protocol will be, and the better your overall results!

Being extra cautious about sun exposure following surgery is just one way you can ensure optimal outcomes for your transplant to avoid future problems. Keep in mind how to combat sweat and bacteria buildup with the right techniques, and be prepared to combat minor burns if you find yourself exposed to sunlight for too long.

With the right knowledge and a few tools at your disposal, you’ll be set for success!

Make sure you visit the Daily Journal of Hair Loss Information on our website to stay up to date on the most important industry trends and info! Good luck!

 

Sources:

1. https://www.este-grande.com/en/why-should-one-avoid-sun-exposure-after-hair-transplant/ 
2. http://www.malesco.net/why-sun-must-be-avoided-after-hair-transplant/
3. https://www.qunomedical.com/en/blog/after-the-hair-transplant 

 

You may be 100% mentally prepared to undergo a hair transplant, but many folks don’t know what to expect in the days, weeks, and months following the procedure.

Nearly everyone who chooses to have a hair transplant will experience some degree of redness in the affected area, and in most cases, this is simply a reality that can’t be avoided.

With that in mind, there are a few things you should know about post-op redness, including how long it tends to last, how to deal with potential discomfort, and the best ways to ensure the proper healing of your skin and hair.

A bit of redness is nothing to fear, and with the right information, you can navigate any problems with ease. 

Let’s get to it!

 

All a Part of the Process

The first thing you need to understand about hair transplant redness is that it’s completely normal and something you should expect as you recover from the procedure.

What is the exact cause of this redness though? How severe will the color be, and are there ways to decrease the intensity of the red flare?

There are actually a few potential causes of redness following a hair transplant, but the most common and normal culprit is simply inflammation resulting from the unusual and somewhat invasive process of grafting hair into various areas on the scalp.

Since follicular units are physically implanted at a rapid rate (sometimes thousands in a single session), it can be expected that the body will respond with a bit of pushback to the situation.

That is the role of inflammation, which actually serves to protect the body at large by increasing the level of active immune cells around the affected area.

We’ve all been scratched, bug-bitten, or have hit our head before. While we may find it inconvenient to see swelling and bruises, our systems are just responding appropriately by raising the skin and focusing its repairative efforts on precisely the correct location.

For hair transplants in particular, according to Treatment Rooms London, the inflammation following a hair transplant does have a few distinct qualities that put it in a different category from regular inflammation. 

Since there are many small cuts in one area, instead of one larger incision, the resulting inflammation is a bit more visible and sensitive. 

This particular type of inflamed condition is known as erythema and is actually a signal that the body is responding to the hair transplant by healing, rather than rejecting the grafts.

So if you are frustrated with the redness or irritation on your scalp in the days or weeks following surgery, just be glad your body is making progress instead of going backward.

 

The Proper Precautions

If you stick to the game plan laid out by your surgeon and follow the tips we give you here on the site, you can reduce the majority of unwanted redness in under 14 days.

According to a comprehensive aftercare list from Ape to Gentleman, people are generally satisfied with the color contrast between their hair and scalp after a month.

Here are a few quick things to keep in mind to minimize redness and reduce inflammation:

• Wear a loose-fitting hat or headscarf to prevent overexposure to the sun. Ultraviolet rays can cause micro-burns, which can set back the clock on recovery.
• Aloe vera gel, witch hazel, and other soothing treatments can be found over the counter, and can help cool and soothe your scalp. Avoid products with alcohol.
• Make sure you wash the affected area consistently in the shower or bath, but avoid aggressive scrubbing, which can harm the follicles.
• Ask your doctor for recommendations about specific shampoos and soaps that can help keep the area clean and avoid causing damage to the new grafts.
• Speaking of showers, Cosmedica reminds patients to never put the water at a very high temperature, as this may disrupt the grafts.
• Though we recommend against it, scratching the donor area is not the end of the world, just do it lightly and sparingly.
• Scratching the recipient area is a BIG NO. Again, soothing products like aloe vera gel can go a long way in helping you with irritation or discomfort. 

While most doctors will give you a similar protocol, it is important to ask about any other tips for reducing redness specific to your case. 

Different procedures will yield different results, and whether you undergo FUT or FUE could make a difference on your level of swelling and inflammation.

Don’t hesitate to ask questions, and be sure to follow up shortly after your surgery to ensure your recovery is on the right track.

 

Possible Signs of Complication

Usually, the post-op process is smooth-sailing, and any residual redness should disappear before long, but you should be aware of some signals that things are going south.

First of all, you’ll want to look and feel around for anything unusual under the skin in the recipient area. This means tiny pimples (typically red with some yellow pus), or small cysts that feel like lumps under the skin, which is very common after hair transplants. 

While the treatments for these are relatively simple and quick, you want to address them early on so they don’t turn into bigger long term problems.

Cellulitis is something to look out for as well, although this condition is rare. You will notice the redness spreads quickly beyond the recipient area, and other symptoms like fever may occur. If this happens, make sure to contact your doctor right away and figure out an antibiotic treatment that can kill the infection and allow you to resume normal recovery.

Finally, in an absolute worst-case scenario, some folks experience skin necrosis, identified by deep black scabs in patches across the head. This will usually set you back significantly and requires additional surgery. Make sure to address this issue immediately, or the outcome will be far worse off the longer you wait.

If you select a quality surgeon and follow your post-op protocol, necrosis or cellulitis should not be a concern, but it is good to be aware of all possible danger signs just to be safe.

 

Consider Some Color

There is a small chance you will experience some ongoing redness on your scalp beyond the expected first few weeks. While the area may not give you discomfort or scratchiness, it’s a possibility that some red spots may remain, which is where a bit of hair coloring can be an asset for your look. Of course, you should wait until your scalp is fully healed and inflammation is seriously reduced before you look into ways to color your hair and reduce contrast. 

Scalp MicroPigmentation is another potential avenue for reducing redness in the donor area, and it can pair nicely with proper hair coloring to provide a full, complete look.

You’ll want to wait until you get the green light from your surgeon, of course, before considering another procedure after you have just recovered from a transplant.

 

Conclusion

Just by following instructions and using some common sense, you will be on track for a smooth recovery, and redness should not be a persistent nuisance for more than a month.

Remember that if anything seems unusual or extra aggravating, it’s your responsibility to get in touch with your doctor and take action to fix it ASAP. Prepare for all contingencies, be ready to communicate and enjoy your results!

If you have more questions or concerns about redness or any other subject surrounding post-op care after a hair transplant, you can click here to get to our expansive resources on the topic!

 

Sources:

1. https://www.treatmentroomslondon.com/redness-after-hair-transplant/ 
2. https://www.apetogentleman.com/hair-transplant-downtime-explained/ 
3. https://www.cosmedica.com/everything-about-the-redness-after-your-hair-transplant/  

Nowadays, with all the new techniques and technologies, hair restoration procedures are more and more successful than ever before. Hair transplant procedures are generally a painless and safe cosmetic procedure that can last a lifetime. With hair transplant surgery, you can look more youthful, feel more confident, and change your life for the better.

 

How Should You Sleep After a Hair Transplant?

A hair transplant is a minimally-invasive medical procedure, so it’s generally easy to recover from it. There isn’t much to heal because it isn’t exactly like a regular surgery where large incisions are made or muscle tissues are cut through.

Still, it is important to know what to do and what to avoid in the first days, and sometimes weeks, after your hair restoration surgery to make sure you achieve optimal results. 

Sleeping positions are something you should take into consideration because, at first, the hair grafts are fresh, and this makes the operated area a little more delicate than usual.

Proper sleeping positions can help support the recovery process while also keeping all of the hair grafts intact.

 

Sleep on Clean Pillows and Sheets

Sleeping on clean and freshly-washed sheets and pillowcases will help keep potential infections at bay, and will also lead to a more comfortable and restful sleep. You should make sure that your detergent doesn’t contain allergens because these compounds might irritate the scalp, which is in the healing process for the first few weeks.

 

Keep Your Head Elevated

Although this procedure is minimally-invasive, some swelling can occur in the first couple of days. Mild swelling is usually no cause for alarm, but sleeping in a reclining position is one of the best things you can do to keep the swelling to a minimum. Neck pillows can help, too!

 

Use a Towel over Your Pillowcases

Many patients could experience a little leakage from their scalp both from the donor area or recipient area after hair transplantation. So, placing a towel over the pillow is wise if you want to avoid staining the pillowcases. Choose a dark-colored towel that’s made of a soft fabric. You will rest easy without worrying about staining your bed.

 

Don’t Sleep on Your Stomach

Another thing the doctor will probably say to you is to avoid sleeping on your stomach because it can lead to increased swelling. Those of you who normally like to sleep on their stomach should probably change your sleeping position until the scalp heals to ensure undisturbed hair transplant results. 

 

Avoid Hitting the Headboard with Your Scalp

During recovery, protect your scalp as much as possible, and this includes not accidentally hitting it on the bed’s headboard. This could be an issue, especially if your bed structure is made of wood or metal. As a precautionary measure, you could always place a small pillow right between the headboard and your scalp. This can seem like a small thing, but it will definitely make a huge difference.

 

Develop a Healthy Sleep Pattern

After any kind of surgery, getting plenty of rest is always beneficial. During sleep, the body recovers quicker, and it recharges with the energy it needs to heal. Go to sleep early for at least one week after the surgery and prepare everything that will help you achieve a good rest.

 

Additional Aftercare Tips

Besides the way you sleep, how you wash your scalp and hair is also extremely important. The first thing to do is to avoid washing your head in the next days following your procedure, then, after you’ve healed a bit, you can start following our recommendation for washing your hair. 

Your doctor will usually provide post-operative instructions and guidelines about your specific timeline for resuming normal activity. 

The Proper Way to Wash Your Hair

Here’s what you must do:

• On the third day after the surgery, you can wash your hair for the first time since the procedure
• Only make gentle moves with your hands and avoid scrubbing the scalp because you might dislodge the grafts. This must be strictly followed during the first 5 days after the surgery to keep the transplanted grafts intact. 
• Don’t place your head right under the shower to avoid a possible powerful water punch that comes out of the showerhead. If you have a rainfall showerhead, that would be perfect for the job!
• Put a little shampoo on your head and gently apply it all over your scalp. If you feel a little itchiness after you wash your head, that’s generally normal for the first few days after the hair transplant. A small amount of conditioner could help solve that issue because it usually helps to relieve the itching.
• If, after one week, you still have some scabs left on your scalp, you should apply some more conditioner, but only on the recipient site, which is the area in which the surgeon implanted the new hairs.

Another important thing you must do is drink a lot of water to keep your body well-hydrated. This helps to speed up your scalp’s recovery. Drink only water and refrain from consuming alcohol for at least a couple of days after the procedure. Alcohol might interfere with the blood circulation that occurs around your scalp and head area.

Avoiding direct sunlight and working out are also some other essential aftercare tips. Don’t worry, though, because the recovery process is generally short and painless. As long as you apply the guidelines provided by your surgeon, you will return to your normal activities in no time.

 

So, How Many Days After Hair Transplant Can I Sleep Normally?

Typically, in just 10 days, you will be able to go back to your normal daily activities, moderate workouts, regular hair washing routine, and the sleeping habits and positions that you’re used to. After those 10 days, both the scalp and the grafts should have healed enough to allow you to return to your normal lifestyle.

On the other hand, this period may vary from one patient to another, based on each individual’s lifestyle and the way the body reacts to the procedure. So, make sure to follow all the guidelines that your surgeon provides, and be patient.

 

What To Do After Hair Restoration

Ask a friend or a family member to go with you to the doctor or to wait for you after the surgery and drive you home. Although hair transplants don’t require strong sedation, it is generally best to avoid driving under the influence of any kind of sedative.

If it helps you to keep your head elevated for the first 3 days, consider sleeping with a neck pillow. You can even relax in a recliner and binge-watch movies on Netflix!

Talk to your doctor to find out which meds are safe to take after the procedure. The surgeon may prescribe you with some anti-inflammatory drugs to prevent swelling.

If you want to, you can apply an ice pack right above your eyebrows. This method also helps to prevent swelling, which, in most cases, occurs only within the first 3 to 4 days after the surgery.

As mentioned previously, wash your hair gently at first and avoid placing your head directly under the shower water stream. You can even use a cup to pour water all over your scalp when you rinse. Applying a mild conditioner can help alleviate itching as well.

If you feel like it, you can dye your hair prior to the operation because it typically won’t affect the hair transplant. After the surgery, you must wait for a full month before being able to dye your hair again.

Hydration is important, and you should drink a lot of water both before and after the procedure (and all the time anyway). 

Finally, expect some hair fallout after the surgery. This could last between 2 to 4 weeks post-op. It is a natural step in the hair growth cycle. Don’t worry, none of the newly-transplanted hair follicles are damaged by the hair falling out. New hairs will appear within approximately three months.

 

What Not Do After Hair Restoration

Avoid sleeping on your stomach or your sides. Use pillowcases that are made of soft materials and don’t rub your hairline against them. You might notice some swelling, but that is normal as long as after a couple of days, the scalp’s skin goes back to normal.

Don’t touch the transplanted area with anything, not even ice. You can apply ice, but only to your forehead, next to your hairline, not on the scalp.

After hair transplants, many patients will notice scab formations, but you should do your best to avoid touching or picking at these as much as possible. Scabs are a part of the healing process. So, if they appear on your head, you should leave them alone until they fall off on their own, with the exception of a shower where shampooing may nudge them off.

Don’t wash your head for the first two days after the surgery. You can use a shower cap to protect your scalp. Also, avoid scratching your scalp even though you may feel some itchy sensations at first.

Don’t wear any hats or caps for the first couple of days. Wearing these items may disturb the scabs and the healing process. At the same time, don’t expose your head to direct sunlight during the first couple of weeks. Generally after about three days post-operation, you can start wearing a hat.

Don’t engage in intense workouts in the days following the operation because that might impact your blood pressure and heart rate, which need to remain well-balanced until the swelling subsides.

Finally, don’t drink alcohol for about a week and avoid smoking for a month if you can. 

 

The Bottom Line

As you can see, like with any other surgery, you will have to follow certain rules after a hair transplant procedure. One of those guidelines is the proper sleeping position that you must consider during the first week since the surgery. In only 10 days, you should be able to go back to the way you were normally sleeping, and you might even sleep a little better now that you don’t have to worry about hair loss!

 

Sources:

1. https://www.hairlossdoctors.com/blog/2019/06/06/how-to-sleep-after-fue-198893
2. https://nashvillehairdoctor.com/recovery-after-hair-transplant/tips-on-how-to-sleep-after-a-hair-transplant/
3. https://depts.washington.edu/skinsurg/documents/HairTransplantPostOp.pdf
4. https://www.clinicana.com/blog/sleep-after-fue-hair-transplant/

Hair transplants are effective and long term solutions for those who deal with hair loss. These medical procedures should always be performed by experienced doctors who are trained to restore normal hair growth by inserting new follicles into scalp areas that have been affected by alopecia. (Although the word alopecia has long been associated with a hair disease, is simply means the loss of hair.)

Hair transplants can last a lifetime. Although thin hair or hair loss are both normal aging processes, some younger patients have hair transplant procedures done because of certain scalp traumas or medical conditions.

What Is Hair Transplant?

Surgical hair transplantation is a popular and, nowadays, almost painless surgical technique during which the doctor removes existing hair follicles from a healthy part of the patient’s scalp (referred to as donor hair) and then inserts those follicles into those areas that have been affected by alopecia.

The area where the donor hairs are taken from is called the donor site, while the surface in which the follicles are inserted is called the recipient site. This procedure is mostly used to treat male pattern baldness, but has been used for female pattern hair loss as well. 

Usually, this operation is done by a surgeon specializing in surgical hair restoration. Most of the time, grafts that contain multiple hair follicles are extracted from the back of the head, where normally, individual hairs tend to be thicker. The majority of patients deal with baldness in the front area of the head.

How Does Hair Transplant Work?

Before the procedure, you will have an initial appointment with your surgeon and discuss everything that needs clarification. Also, you will be locally sedated so you won’t feel any pain. A small needle is used to anesthetize and numb your scalp. However, all surgeons will also thoroughly clean the area before beginning the operation, as is typical with most surgeries.

Based on the type of hair transplant that you and your doctor opt for, the procedure is slightly different. One requires a scalpel to remove a narrow strip of skin. The other relies on thousands of small punch incisions.

One session of hair restoration surgery might last around 6 hours or, sometimes, even longer. After 10 days post-surgery for FUT hair transplant patients, the doctor will remove your staples. Many patients will need to have more than one procedure to obtain their desired results. These procedures are scheduled months to years apart, depending on the amount of hair loss the individual is experience and the amount of hair density the patient is trying to achieve. This pause is necessary for the scalp to fully heal.

Note that even though it’s called hair restoration surgery, hair transplants work by moving healthy hair follicles to areas where hair follicles are no longer functioning, thus restoring the presence of healthy hair follicles versus restoring function to the nonfunctional hair follicles. 

 

Main Types of Hair Transplant

There are two main types of hair transplants:

• FUT surgery or FUSS which stands for follicular unit transplant or follicular unit strip surgery;
• FUE procedure which stands for follicular unit excision.

Let’s discuss them in more detail.

 

FUT/Follicular Unit Transplantation

During this procedure, the doctor uses a scalpel to cut a small part of your scalp skin. Usually, surgeons make this incision around the back of your head. The length of the incision is approximately 6 inches. Before going on to the next step of the process, the doctor stitches or staples and closes the incision.

Then, the surgeon will remove and separate small sections from the removed strip using a sharp surgical knife and a microscope/magnifying lens. This way, when inserted into the recipient site, these tiny parts of follicles will help you achieve a natural look, once the hair grows back.

 

FUE/Follicular Unit Extraction

During this type of hair transplant, the surgeon cuts the hair follicles out directly from the back part of the patient’s head by doing thousands of very small punch incisions that are the size of dots.

The doctor uses either a needle or a tiny blade to create holes all over the recipient site. Then, he or she fills those areas with the hairs taken from the donor site. In one single session, an expert could transplant hundreds, if not thousands, of different hairs. 

What Are the Pros and Cons of Both FUT and FUE?

Nowadays, most clinics such as NHI Medical are amazingly equipped, using top-notch technology. So, both hair transplants procedure types are safe and generally painless during the procedure. Some soreness is normal right after the surgery, but that will pass in just a couple of days. The recovery time is quick after hair transplantation. You can return to work after only 2 to 5 days post-operation, with little visible signs that a procedure was performed.

In a couple of weeks after surgery, all the newly-transplanted hair will fall out just to make room for new growth, but you must have a little patience because this entire process will take a 9-12 months to show the full results of your procedure.

 

FUT Pros

• Has a better growth rate compared to the one of FUE
• The stereo-microscopic dissection is so precise that the follicle damage is minimal
•  Patients don’t have to shave their heads before the surgery
• Usually, a FUT procedure is less expensive than FUE surgery.

FUT Cons

• After the operation, patients will be left with a linear scar, but it generally won’t be visible because it will fade away after a while and it will be hidden within the hairline
• If you want to cut your hair very short, the scar will become visible, so you should avoid using the #1 guard of your razor – this generally isn’t a problem because once you enjoy hair regrowth, you won’t want to have very short hair ever again.
• In some cases, FUT can be a little more painful right after the surgery than FUE – both procedures are safe, and they aren’t that painful, but pain is a highly subjective concept, each patient experiences it in a different way.

FUE Pros

• With the FUE hair transplant, patients will avoid linear scars.
• FUE generally has lower postoperative pain than FUT.
• You can wear your hair any way you want, even cut it very short because there won’t be a linear scar showing.
• In some cases, with FUE, the donor site heals a bit quicker than with the FUT procedure.

FUE Cons

• There will be numerous tiny dot scars at the back of your scalp but once your hair grows back, no one, not even you, will typically notice them.
• FUE comes with more transection compared to FUT.
• Because of the transection, the growth rate might be a little slower.
• You will need to shave your head or at least the areas where the doctor will work on before the surgery.

Hair Transplants: FUE vs. FUT

Both types of surgeries are effective for restoring the appearance of a normal hairline and a full head of hair. However, they can have slightly different outcomes, in some cases. 

Some say that FUE requires a more experienced and skilled surgeon, and it also takes longer compared to FUT. Most of the time, doctors take hairs from either the sides or the back of the scalp. These areas are considered donor areas.

When the situation requires it, a hair transplant surgeon could even remove hairs from other body parts such as the back, chin, or chest. After a successful procedure, you will enjoy having much thicker-looking hair, so most don’t mind where the donor hair actually comes from.

Your surgeon will certainly offer some advice regarding the things you should do or avoid after the operation. If you follow those instructions as well as avoid intense workouts for a couple of weeks, you shouldn’t generally encounter any problems.

What Happens After the Procedure?

At first, your scalp could be sore, which is why your doctor could prescribe you some medication that you should take after the hair transplant surgery:

• At minimum, anti-inflammatory drugs to help reduce the swelling
• Pain medication for pain relief
• Antibiotics to help prevent the risk of infection

Most patients are able to start working again after several days, post-procedure. In the first two or three weeks, the transplanted hairs will fall out, but this is totally normal. It’s the body’s way of making room for new hair growth. You will see a head full of “new” hair after at least eight months after the surgery but typically no longer than one year.

The way your new hairs will look varies from one person to the other, based on each patient’s scalp laxity, follicle density, hair quality, hair curl, and hair caliber. It is always important to clarify all these details with your surgeon before the operation to set realistic expectations.

What Can Cause Pattern Baldness? 

There are several different scenarios that can lead to pattern baldness or premature alopecia. 

The first reason, that is also the most common one, is genetics. If your family members have dealt with the same problem, it is likely you will also experience hair loss. 

The hair strands on a person’s head have growth cycles. Once the hair follicles shrink, these cycles get weaker. This further leads to thinner hair and, as soon the cycle ends, the follicle dies and there won’t be any new hair growing in that affected area.

Besides genetics, another reason that explains alopecia is given by a number of health conditions; those kinds of issues also translate into symptoms such as scalp redness, rashes, and hair breakage. 

Stress could also be another factor that causes baldness or hair loss. 

Finally, hormonal imbalance and inappropriate hair treatments paired with aging and poor nutrition are extra possible reasons as well. 

Reasons don’t have to be exclusive either–you could have a combination of these reasons and even other reasons for hair loss. 

 

How Do Hair Transplants Work? The Bottom Line

The first thing you must do is try to prevent hair loss is by being gentle with your hair, combing it slowly, avoiding harsh treatments, protecting the hair from too much direct sunlight, and trying to keep your hair and scalp as healthy as possible. Then, if all these precautionary measures still don’t work, you may need to make an appointment for a hair transplant consult.

Nowadays, hair transplants are safe and effective. All you have to do is find the right doctor and follow all the guidelines the expert provides.

P.S. All the aforementioned activities, such as combing your hair right and avoiding too many styling products, are recommended post-surgery as well to support healthy hair and a healthy scalp. This way, you can enjoy your operation outcome as long as possible!

 

Sources:

1. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327229
2. https://www.healthline.com/health/hair-transplant
3. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hair-loss/symptoms-causes/syc-20372926
4. https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/men-hair-loss-17/hair-transplants