Post Hair Transplant Swelling: Steps to Prevent & Manage

A hair transplant is a fantastic procedure that has already helped thousands of people regrow their hair. Hair transplants have come a long way over the years – where once they produced unnatural-looking results (think hair plugs), nowadays, surgeons are able to graft the tiniest hair follicles to leave minimal scarring.

Even with the incredible evolution of hair transplants, there are still side effects that patients must deal with. One of the most common is swelling, which usually occurs during the first few days post-surgery. In this article, learn all you need to know about post hair transplant swelling, including helpful steps on preventing and managing it.

What is Post Hair Transplant Swelling?

First, what is post hair transplant swelling? Simply put, it’s a type of swelling that occurs directly following a hair transplant and is one of the most common symptoms of hair transplant swelling. It usually affects the forehead, but sometimes – in very rare cases – the swelling can affect the eyelids. The swelling begins around two days after the surgery and lasts up to four days, at which point it should disappear altogether.

Is Post Hair Transplant Swelling Dangerous?

No – hair transplant swelling that occurs a few days after the procedure is a normal part of the healing process after a surgical procedure and is typically not a sign of anything dangerous. The main risk with hair transplant is infection, but this is very rare, and signs of this include a burning pain, excessive itchiness, excess fluid, oozing puss, and abscesses.

However, swelling that occurs directly following a hair transplant is a different story and may be due to an allergic reaction. This is extremely rare, but if you have swelling immediately after the surgery, seek medical attention immediately.

How to Prevent and Manage Post Hair Transplant Swelling

Even though swelling after hair transplant is normal, you still want to prevent and manage it as much as you can, as it can get in the way of your daily life. Here are some helpful ways to prevent swelling from occurring and treat it when it does:

Elevate Your Head

The goal here is to help the fluid drain more easily. So, when sleeping, keep your head propped up at around a forty-five-degree angle. It might not be the usual way you sleep, but it will help prevent swelling after hair transplant surgery from occurring.

Stay Hydrated

Another helpful way to flush out the excessive liquid that leads to swelling is to stay hydrated. You don’t need to guzzle endless water, but keep a water bottle near you throughout the day and take regular sips. A little habit like this can make a lot of difference.

Don’t Consume Too Much Salt

Speaking of hydration, avoid consuming too much salt. A high salt intake will lead to excessive water retention, which boosts swelling, which naturally you want to avoid. So, following the hair transplant, plan meals that are low in the stuff, at least for a few days.

Use Ice Packs

 

Following your hair loss treatment, use ice packs to minimise swelling. This is best used when the swelling has already occurred. Ice packs are useful for reducing swelling as they decrease the blood flow to the area. As a bonus, ice packs can also help reduce inflammation and pain. If you don’t have an ice pack or cold compress lying around, you can always use something like frozen peas!

Take Anti Inflammatory Pain Medication

Directly following hair restoration surgery, you will likely want to take some form of pain medication for the discomfort. It can work in two ways – if you take an anti-inflammatory pain medication, it will also help to reduce swelling. Ibuprofen is helpful for this purpose.

Wear a Headband

To prevent the swelling from occurring around your eyes and the rest of your face, wear a headband around your forehead. This will stop the fluid from building up around this area. It’s an easy post-procedure task to do and makes a huge difference.

Avoid Exercise

You probably won’t want to exercise directly following a hair transplant, but it’s worth mentioning anyway. The reason for this is that sweating too much can exacerbate the swelling, making it worse. You should also avoid swimming for at least a few weeks.

Do Not Smoke or Drink Alcohol

Smoking and drinking alcohol following a hair transplant is a bad idea, as both of these habits can affect blood circulation. Wait at least a week following the transplant if you are a drinker or a smoker.

What Other Side Effects Can You Expect?

Swelling is one of the most common and noticeable side effects following a hair transplant. Thankfully, the only real problem with the swelling is the appearance and the discomfort – it’s not typically a sign of anything dangerous. So, what other side effects can you expect? These are some more common side effects that aren’t anything to worry about:

Pain: After surgery, it’s normal to feel pain in the area. You won’t have felt pain during the procedure due to the local anaesthetic, but you will feel some once this wears off. You can use pain medications to treat this.

Scabbing: Scabbing around the area of the transplant site is normal. These scabs should be small and will go away before too long.

Scarring: Most hair transplant patients will experience some scarring around their scalp. While a small amount of scarring may stick around, it will be covered up by the new hair growth, so it isn’t anything to worry about.

Bruising: Bruising often coincides with swelling. Bruising can occur around the transplant area as well as on the face. To prevent bruising as much as possible, follow the same advice for preventing swelling.

Numbness: One of the most common symptoms following a hair transplant is numbness around the transplant area. This symptom should go away within eighteen weeks.

Redness: You may notice some redness around the donor and transplanted area. This is normal and should disappear before too long. The red area may also feel warm.

Is a Hair Transplant Still Worth It?

After learning about the post operative oedema – along with all the other side effects – you may wonder, is a hair transplant still worth it? For many, the answer is undoubtedly yes. Here are some reasons this hair loss treatment is so popular:

It’s Not Too Invasive

Hair transplants are one of the most minimally invasive types of cosmetic surgeries. The surgical part doesn’t cut deep – it’s a very small incision and leaves minimal scarring. In fact, it can all be performed under local anaesthetic and you can leave the clinic the same day.

It’s Long Lasting

When you get a hair transplant one time, that means you don’t have to go back time and time again. While some people like to get a second hair transplant (depending on their extent of hair loss), most people can get a single procedure and then enjoy the results for a lifetime!

It Boosts Confidence

For many people, losing their hair can be a serious confidence killer. Hair is a big part of a person’s appearance, after all. A hair transplant is an opportunity to regain that lost confidence along with the full head of hair – check out the patients gallery to see how big of an effect it can have.

It’s Not Too Risky

While every surgery comes with its risks, hair transplants are very safe. Compared to many other cosmetic surgeries, the chances of experiencing a serious side effect are very low.

It Gives Real, Natural Results

The main reason so many people get a hair transplant is that it gives real, natural results. The success rate is very high, with the survival rate of hair grafts being 90% and upwards. [1] When a person walks into a hair transplant clinic, they know they will have a full head of hair within the year. That’s pretty incredible, and it means not having to fuss with topical hair loss solutions that might not make a difference. On top of that, the results are natural – after all, the procedure uses the patient’s own hair!

Are You Interested in a Hair Transplant?

A hair transplant is a life-changing procedure, transforming your look and giving you back the confidence you had lost. If you are interested in getting a hair transplant, the team here at Harley Street Hair Clinic are here to help. We are leaders in the hair transplant industry – our top surgeons have already performed many procedures and given patients the results they’ve been looking for. To get in touch with our surgeons and track your hair restoration journey, download our hair track app.

Hair Transplant Swelling: In Summary

Hair transplants are a confidence-boosting procedure that produces natural results. However, there are some side effects involved, including some swelling after a hair transplant. The good news is that the swelling should not last more than a couple of days. Plus, there are several ways to prevent and reduce swelling, including using ice packs, keeping your head elevated, drinking plenty of water, and avoiding exercise. All of this is more than worth it, as the slightly unpleasant side effect can lead to a lifetime of full hair growth.

Sources:

1. https://onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/hair-transplant.html#:~:text=Some%20research%20shows%20that%20the,been%20taken%20from%20the%20body.