More and more people are choosing long hair transplant surgery over older hair restoration methods like regular FUE or FUT strip transplantation.
Why? Because long hair FUE is a no-shave hair transplant method that is way more discreet, highly aesthetic and effective — and it has a short and easy recovery process.
Unlike traditional or shaved FUE, also known as follicular unit extraction, long hair FUE does not require shaving or cutting the hair at the donor or graft recipient sites.
That means no weird haircut, no need to conceal surgery sites, and no missed work or social gatherings.
What’s more, this Shave-Less FUE technique has a high follicle viability rate and produces the most natural-looking results for patients.
And you can see what those results will look like, more or less, right when you walk out of the office. Surgeons actually call this procedure Preview Long Hair FUE, because you get to pre-view your final results!
All of which is to say that there’s a whole lot to like about this new and improved hair restoration technique.
What Recovery Is Like After a Long Hair FUE Hair Transplant
Most patients are able to return to work and most regular activities the day after their long hair transplant surgery at North Atlanta Hair Restoration.
This quick return is possible because the surgery is very precise, requiring much less cutting and insult to the scalp than older methods like FUT.
In addition, at North Atlanta Hair Restoration, your surgery is performed by highly skilled surgeon Dr. Daniel A. Danyo and his veteran surgical team—not by a physician’s assistant, surgical tech, or robot.
Dr. Danyo’s skill and experience working closely with his team allow them to greatly minimize swelling with careful surgical technique, leading to less discomfort, recovery time, and scarring.
And because the hair isn’t cut during the transplant process, you get to walk out of our office looking much as you did when you walked in.
All of this adds up to the most discreet and least disruptive hair transplant process possible.
Long Hair Transplant After Care: A Timeline
Hair Washing
On the night of your procedure, we tell patients to carefully wash the graft and donor hair sites with baby shampoo we provide.
You’ll need to lather the soap in your hand, then gently pat it on and rub very softly, followed by a gentle rinse under low-pressure (no jet or pulse settings) water.
For the next 4 days, you will need to wash your hair twice a day using this careful technique.
After each shower, it’s important to carefully blow dry the transplanted hair follicles and the hairs around them so that hair does not dry flat against your grafts and stick.
Sleep Position and Head Coverings
Because we take measures to minimize swelling during the surgery, you will not need to sleep in an elevated position to prevent it.
You can also choose to wear a hat if you want to, just be careful not to pull at the grafts when putting it on or taking it off.
However, knit hats, beanies, and do-rags fit can disturb the healing grafts and should be avoided for the first few weeks.
Of course, with a long hair transplant, you may not even feel the need to wear a head covering, since your hair will remain the same length and effectively conceal the new grafts.
Activity
Days 1-3
You’ll need to limit physical activity for the first 4 days after your hair transplantation surgery.
You don’t have to stay home and do nothing, but avoid strenuous activities where you exert yourself.
Day 4
On day 4 after your hair transplant, you can – and should – start doing light exercise to stay active.
Things like low-impact workouts with weights, getting your heart rate up a bit, long walks, etc. are advisable at this stage.
Just be sure to continue to avoid heavy lifting, cardio workouts, playing sports and the like at this stage.
Day 7
By day 7 post-procedure, you can resume normal activities, including your regular workouts.
Your grafts should be fully attached at this point, so you don’t need to worry about pulling them out or disturbing the healing process with regular hair care.
How Will I Feel After My Long Hair Transplant?
Pain and Swelling
The good news is that most of our patients report minimal pain after the procedure and barely noticeable swelling or tenderness.
Symptoms can be managed with over the counter pain relief medications, but many don’t need analgesics at all.
Post-surgical complications after a Shave-Less FUE long hair transplant are quite rare, but Dr. Danyo is always easily reachable should you have any concerns or questions after your procedure.
Scabbing
Scabbing is part of the normal healing process and nothing to worry about.
Don’t disturb the scabs — by day 10, they should be ready to fall out on their own.
You can facilitate their release on the tenth day by letting conditioner sit on the site for a few minutes, then gently massage under running water to wash them away.
When Can I Expect to See New Growth After My Long Hair Transplant?
It’ll take about 3 months for the grafted area to really start growing.
You may notice hair shedding at the graft site during that initial period, too—don’t be alarmed, as this is normal and a sign of healthy grafts.
And by your 6-month follow up appointment, you should be seeing lots of healthy thickness and new growth.
Thinking About a Long Hair Transplant?
Don’t wait to take the next step toward a more confident new you.
Call us at 678-679-0291 or book online to schedule your virtual or in-person consultation.
We can’t wait to help you achieve your hair growth goals.
FAQ About Long Hair Transplants
What are the advantages of a long hair/Shave-Less FUE transplant?
Advantages of a long hair transplant include:
- Superior concealment — no weird haircut or exposed new grafts.
- Immediate results — no waiting for shaved hair to grow in.
- More natural-looking results— extracting the hair while it’s long lets the surgeon see its natural growth pattern and place grafts more precisely.
How long does recovery take?
You should be feeling good enough to work by the very next day, but you’ll need to limit strenuous activities for the first 7 days.
By day 10, everything should be pretty well healed and your healing scabs should be ready to wash out.
Who is allowed to perform a long hair transplant procedure?
According to the ISHRS, only a properly trained and licensed physician should perform a hair restoration surgery, and that includes long hair transplant procedures.
Although many clinics offer hair restoration surgeries performed solely by surgical techs or physicians’ assistants, these procedures are not recommended, and they are illegal in some jurisdictions.
