Considerations After A Hair Transplant

Hair transplants are an extremely safe procedure and boast impressive, successful results. Yet, like with all medical treatments, you should adhere to the aftercare instructions outlined by a doctor, in order to protect against infections and to benefit from the best possible results for you. Hair transplants have quite a low maintenance recovery process, which is one of the reasons they are so popular, but things that could dislodge or interfere with the scalp or transplant area should be avoided. These include some basic habits or could be part of your routine, such as going to the gym.

The first 14 days after a hair transplant are critical for a successful result. The experienced transplant surgeons at Harley Street Hair Clinic will implant harvested follicles to replicate the appearance of natural hairs, but organic-looking regrowth requires the patient to not knock or move the delicate area.

Personalised treatment plans and aftercare regimes will be prescribed to all patients. The medical staff will also explain activities and habits to avoid immediately after the procedure. This resource can be used as a reference point or to make sure you are booking your hair transplant at an opportune time that causes minimal disruption to your plans.

It is recommended that patients do not drink alcohol 7 – 14 days after drinking alcohol. This is to help the healing process and ensure the skin is hydrated and can heal as fast as possible. We also require patients to avoid alcohol 7 days prior to the procedure.  This is also to help the healing process and ensure any bleeding is minimal.

Alcohol has a thinning effect on the blood which impacts your ability to clot. As the surgeon will be making hundreds of precise micro incisions into the scalp or target area, it is crucial that the blood can clot to prevent severe blood loss.

Furthermore, we require patients to stop drinking alcohol for a time after an FUE hair transplant because you will have been prescribed an antibiotic course for a minimum of 4 days. This is to prevent inflammation and infection. Antibiotics and alcohol can have adverse effects on the body that impact recovery when mixed together.

Sleeping after a hair transplant seems to be a concern for a lot of prospective patients. It’s not that different to sleeping normally, it’s just advised that you move a little more cautiously, for example, avoid tossing and turning too much.

The first few nights after your hair transplant, it is recommended that you prop your pillows up to around a 45 degree angle. This position will help to moderate the blood flow to the head, which can help to mitigate any natural swelling which might impair the recovery process. Many doctors also suggest you place a towel over the pillows to protect them against some natural leakage. It’s crucial that everything that does come into contact with the area is as clean as possible to maintain good hygiene around the vulnerable area. Sleeping after your FUE hair transplant is important because it accelerates the recovery process.

Naturally, sex increases blood pressure within the body. Advice from doctors within the immediate period after a hair transplant is to avoid doing anything stressful or that raises blood pressure because it can increase the risk of bleeding from the incisions.

In turn, sex after hair transplants is not recommended because of potential accidents that could occur. Unknowingly, patients or their partners could knock or touch the fragile areas of the head, causing bleeding and ruining the implanted follicles. It is recommended that normal sexual activity is not resumed until 2 weeks after the transplant date.

Direct exposure to sunlight and tanning is prohibited immediately after a hair transplant. It should be restricted for the first 2 weeks to 1 month after a hair transplant, but throughout the entire regrowth process, it is recommended that excessive or unnecessary exposure is minimised wherever possible.

Tanning and sunlight are a risk after a hair transplant due to the temperature, but also the potential damage caused by UV rays. The cells on the head will already have been interfered with by the transplant procedure, ensuring that there is no further damage caused by the sun can help to keep the recovery period on track. The skin cells on the scalp need time to successfully heal. At the same time, it is critical to avoid sweating, which can also interfere with the recovery process. It’s critical to avoid tanning after hair transplant because the bacteria can infect the sensitive area.

Immediately following a hair transplant, you should only use the specialist shampoo that is given to you and use as instructed. This will be a softer, gentler formula, comparable to a specialist baby shampoo, to protect the sensitive area. Your doctor will tell you to use this alternative shampoo for a set period of time (typically 2 -4 weeks). Once you resume using your normal products, you are likely to also be able to resume using your normal hair styling routine. However, it is critical that you also avoid heat treatments for as long as possible after hair transplants. Using heat products can damage any hair.

It is recommended that you avoid doing anything that could cause you to sweat after a hair transplant. This is because the bacteria and dirt can interfere and disrupt the hair follicles. In turn, heavy lifting can cause blood vessels to burst and the blood pressure to rise. This should be avoided for at least 2 weeks after transplant.

There are a lot of things to consider after a hair transplant, but it is actually quite a simple and easy set of instructions to follow. Yet, it’s important to bear in mind these are general guidelines, your doctor will prescribe tailored advice to follow depending on individual cases. This can be anything from your hair type to where the hair transplant was.

If you are considering a hair transplant but have a lot of questions, book an appointment with our specialists. This is no obligation, but doctors will be able to assess the donor area, provide information and answer any questions you might have.