A big question we hear from people considering hair transplant surgery involves what the recovery process will be like.
The answer varies a bit depending on what kind of hair transplant procedure you choose, of course.
And yes, your choice of who performs your hair transplant can make a big difference in how easy the recovery process will be.
But when you choose North Atlanta Hair Restoration for your hair restoration, you can expect a low-impact, predictable, and relatively short hair transplant recovery period.
Why? Because at our hair restoration clinic, your surgery will be performed by highly skilled surgeon Dr. Daniel A. Danyo and his veteran surgical team using the latest techniques and state-of-the-art tools.
We specialize in both traditional FUE (follicular unit extraction) surgery, which requires shaving, Shave-Less FUE, also known as No-Shave FUE or Long Hair FUE hair transplantation.
The aftercare and recovery process for both procedures is similar – although Shave-Less FUE is less noticeable – and it is much less intense than for older procedures like FUT (follicular unit transplantation, aka strip hair transplantation).
And because our surgical team has finely honed our hair transplantation techniques, recovery can be a lot easier for our patients.
How Long Does Recovery Take After a FUE Hair Transplant Procedure?
It usually takes about 7 days for the hair grafts to fully attach after a FUE transplant at our clinic.
Because of this, you’ll need to closely follow some simple aftercare instructions and limit your activity during this period to avoid disturbing the healing grafts.
If you had a Shave-Less hair transplant, the good news is that your graft and donor sites won’t look very different after the procedure, and you can probably go about your regular daily activities without the need for a hat to conceal the site.
However, if you do want to wear a hat – either after Shaved or No-Shave FUE – you are free to do so, as long as it’s not a fitted style.
FUE Hair Transplant Aftercare
The post-op care instructions for a hair transplant at North Atlanta Hair Restoration are relatively simple, and you can even wash your hair the same day as the procedure.
In fact, Dr. Danyo recommends that you do wash your hair that night in order to ensure good hygiene and proper healing.
How to Wash Your Hair After Your Procedure
On the night of your procedure, carefully wash the graft and donor hair sites.
Using the special shampoo you’ll be given by our team, create a lather in your hand, then pat the bubbles into the graft area—don’t rub it.
Then, gently rinse the site, taking care not to disturb the grafts too much. Don’t use a powerful (jet, pulse) setting on your shower head or hold your head too close to a high-pressure stream while rinsing.
You can gently wash the hair at the donor site using the same motion you normally would, but do not be aggressive.
For the next 4 days, you will need to wash your hair twice a day using mild shampoo and this technique.
After each shower, it’s important to carefully blow dry the transplanted hair follicles and the hair around them so that it does not dry flat against the grafts and stick.
Sleeping Position After Your Hair Restoration Procedure
Good sleep is very important for smooth recovery a hair transplant.
Thankfully, you will not need to sleep in a recliner or prop your head up with pillows – you can lay in a flat position to sleep as you normally do.
Great care was already taken during your surgery to minimize swelling using careful surgical technique, and this should eliminate any need to elevate your head during sleep.
What to Expect In the Week After Your Procedure
You may experience some mild discomfort as you heal, but it shouldn’t be anything that over the counter pain medications can’t handle and it shouldn’t disrupt your daily routine.
You’ll have easy access to our team, including Dr. Danyo, if you should have any questions or concerns.
The recovery process for FUE hair transplants performed at our practice is usually fairly easy. But there are some restrictions you’ll need to follow to ensure the best results.
Attending properly to all aftercare recommendations will help you have less itching, less scabbing, and a better recovery time after your procedure.
Activity
Limit physical activity for the first 4 days after your hair transplantation surgery.
You don’t have to stay home and do nothing, but limit strenuous activity so you don’t exert yourself.
On day 4 after your hair transplant, you can – and should – start doing some light exercise to stay active.
Things like light workouts with weights, getting your heart rate up a bit, long walks, etc. are acceptable at this stage.
But avoid heavy lifting, cardio workouts, playing sports and the like.
By day 7 post-procedure, you can resume your normal activities, including regular workouts.
Your grafts should be fully attached at this point, so you don’t need to worry about them pulling out or disturbing the healing process.
Wearing Hats or Head Coverings
With Shaved FUE, your hair will be cut short and the grafts will be a bit more visible – so you may want to wear a hat to cover them up.
If you want to wear a baseball-style hat or other structured hat (fedora, cowboy) while your grafts are healing, you can do so, but be careful when putting it on.
Get the hat over the back of your head first, then pull it carefully over the graft site in order to disturb the area as little as possible.
Do not wear a knit hat, beanie, do-rag or bandana, as the new grafts can get caught on these and pulled out.
Scabbing
You will experience some scabbing as your hair transplant sites heal – this is completely normal.
Do not touch the site or disturb the scabs, as they are essential to proper healing.
By day 10, they should be ready to fall out on their own.
We recommend a special technique to facilitate this process on the 10th day after your surgery:
- Put some gentle hair conditioner on the site and let it sit for 3 or 4 minutes. This will soften up the scabs.
- Then, hold your head under the shower and gently massage the site to loosen the scabs and wash them away.
- Don’t pick at any scabs that may remain, however – they will fall out on their own in due time.
Once the scabs are off, you’re through the recovery period and your hair transplant site is ready to start regrowing hair.
How Soon Will I See Hair Growth After a Hair Transplant?
It’ll take 3 months for the grafted area to really start growing.
Don’t be alarmed if you notice shedding at the graft site during that period either – this is a completely normal part of the hair growth cycle and a sign of healthy grafts.
You can rest assured knowing that by your 6-month follow up appointment, you should really be seeing significant growth.
Ready to Start Growing Healthy, Natural-Looking Hair?
Now that you know what to expect after a hair restoration procedure, there’s no reason to hesitate.
Call us at 678-845-7521 or book online to schedule your virtual or in-person consultation.
We can walk you through all your hair restoration options, answer any questions you may have, and let you know exactly what to expect.
Don’t wait to take the next step toward feeling more like a younger version of yourself with a fuller, thicker head of hair.
