Hair Transplant Recovery
The recovery time is usually minimal for hair transplants performed at our Birmingham, Alabama outpatient facility. Our office
will provide you with complete instructions for taking care of yourself after the procedure. Most patients
can return to work and resume most of their normal activities within 2 to 3 days. However, lifting or bending over should
be avoided for at least 3 days, and vigorous physical activities such as weightlifting should be avoided until any non-absorbable
sutures in the donor site are removed in 7 to 12 days.
Patients should not use alcohol or any medications that thin the blood (such as aspirin, ibuprofen, arthritis medications or
vitamins) for 3 days after surgery to avoid excessive bleeding. During this time, acetaminophen
(Tylenol) or your prescribed
pain medication may be used for pain or a headache. If minor bleeding occurs at the transplant sites, apply light pressure
with a moist, clean cloth for 5 to 10 minutes, taking care not to disrupt surrounding transplants.
Swelling that is usually painless may appear on the forehead and around the eyes 2 to 3 days after surgery. This swelling usually
goes away after a few days. To inhibit swelling, apply ice packs to swollen areas for 10 minutes an hour for 3 days. It is also
a good idea to sleep with your head and upper body
elevated with pillows or in a recliner.
The transplanted hair should not be washed for 24 hours, after which you may gently shampoo and rinse with cool water and light
water pressure. If you use a blow dryer, place it on a cool setting. After showering, gently apply a towel or gauze pad to the
scalp to absorb any bleeding that is present. You may shampoo as normal after 5 days.
As healing begins, crusting may develop at the base of the transplants 24 to 72 hours after hair transplant surgery. Patients
should not scratch or pick at any scabs that form to avoid an infection or damaging the hair transplants. Carefully apply
a thick moisturizing conditioner, let it remain on the hair for 5 minutes and gently rinse to decrease crusting.
Next: Hair Transplant Results
Schedule Your Free Consultation for Alabama Hair Replacement
Please contact Hedden Plastic Surgery in Birmingham, Alabama using the easy form below to request a
free consultation with our hair transplant specialists.
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