We know that hair transplants can offer a permanent solution, but also we know that it requires time. Consider that after a hair transplant, you won’t have full hair immediately, some time should pass to see excellent results.
Taking care of hair transplantation is very important. First, you shouldn’t touch and rub the area with anything. The better protected the zone, the better the recovery process will be. Keep reading to know how transplanted hair should look day by day.
Normal symptoms after a hair transplant surgery
A little swelling
If you look in a mirror and you look a little bloated, don’t worry! It’s perfectly normal. Your forehead, eyes, and cheeks might look a size that isn’t normal for you, but it’s okay, it’s part of the healing process. After a few hours, your face should return to normal. You can put ice on your face if you want to reduce the symptom.
Slight bleeding
It’s possible for the donor site’s extraction points to bleed, but it’s normal. Don’t be afraid and follow the recommendations of your doctor.
Transplanted hair: day by day
It’s important that you know the hair transplant timeline because if you know exactly what to expect after a hair transplant procedure, you feel more confident and secure in the process.
Day 0
It’s the day of the surgical procedure. Following a hair transplant, the patient has a bandage on the head. The priority of this day is to rest, eat healthily and sleep in the correct position. In our blog post “How to sleep after a hair transplant” we give you some recommendations to sleep well without damage to the newly transplanted hair. You have to keep your body hydrated and avoid alcohol and cigarettes.
Days: 1–3
On the first day, it’s possible for little crusts on the new hair growth to show. You should take your medicines, keep hydrated and sleep without touching the zone. The donor site should heal quickly and doesn’t need caring methods. Don’t wash your hair.
Day: 4
On this day, you can wash your hair very carefully. You can use a neutral pH soap. Remember, you shouldn’t rub the zone, you can use a sponge with water and soap and squeeze it out on the scalp hair. Do not dip your head directly into the water to rinse.
Days: 5-9
On these days, there will be a lot of crusts in the area, which will be falling apart. The exact day that it will happen depends on the healing of each scalp. You can keep washing your hair with care and sleep without touching it.
Day: 10
In this day, the hair follicles are secure, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t have to take care of them. You should keep taking care and avoid putting on a helmet, swimming, or doing intense exercise. Avoid sweat and exposure to the sun.
Some patients experience itching in the zone, it’s because of the healing process. It is not cause for alarm. There are ointments and medications prescribed by your doctor that might help.
In the second week, you can sleep in a normal position and when you bathe, you can gently massage the area.
For some patients, the new hair growth falls in the third or fourth week. If you experienced this, don’t worry, it’s part of the process. We explain in the next paragraph. The crusts will disappear.
First and the second month
The crusts and the new hair (not the follicle’s hair) begin to fall. Hair loss is part of the postoperative process. The scalp has been adapting to the new hair follicles, this process is called Shock loss, and it’s a secondary effect of transplanted hair follicles.
After this, rigorous care is not necessary.
Third and fourth month
In these months is when the hair grows again! The patient begins to see positive results of the hair transplant. This hair won’t break off!
You have to be patient. Hair transplant recovery takes time. It’s a slow process and progressive, the “quick” results depend on each patient. First, the hair will be finer with lower density, and later will be thicker and denser.
In some time, it will look like native hair, and you will say: it was worth the wait!
Fifth and sixth month
It is on these months when we can appreciate the real results. The hair growth cycle, density, and volume are evident. The alopecia has disappeared, and the hair on the scalp feels dense. The hair continues growing, and the best part is that it won’t break off! The hair restoration is almost complete. Keep waiting a little more to see the complete results.
General recommendations
- Don’t shave your hair
- Don’t drink alcohol and don’t smoke
- Eat healthily and keep hydrated
- Avoid the sun
- Don’t exercise a lot
- Wash your hair and sleep carefully
- Take your medications and use the ointments prescribed by your specialist
Having doubts and feeling afraid is normal. You might think that a hair transplant is a painful procedure, but the truth is with the appropriate care and in the correct clinic, this is far from reality.
In Capilea, we have experts in hair transplants who can clarify all your questions and make you feel confident before your procedure.
We perform fue hair transplants in our two clinics in Monterrey and Tijuana. Schedule your appointment online!
