After getting a hair transplant, you’ll normally need a sterile bandage over your donor area. This helps to prevent infection and protect the small wounds on your scalp from being accidentally touched. In most cases, your hair transplant bandage only needs to be worn for 24 hours before it can be safely removed [1].
However, postoperative care practices tend to vary among surgeons, so it is best to follow your doctor’s recommendations [2]. Keep reading this article to find out more about:
After your hair restoration surgery is completed, your surgeon will spread some moisturising and antiseptic ointment on your scalp. Then they will place a bandage made of sterile gauze over your donor area and stick it to the sides of your forehead with medical tape.
In some cases, they might add an elastic headband over it to keep the bandage in place and prevent hair transplant swelling [1]. This headband will go around your head, across your donor area and your forehead, but not on your transplant area. Nothing should touch your grafts the first few days after your hair restoration surgery.
The purpose of the bandage is to protect the small wounds in your donor area from FUE graft harvesting or the FUT incision from dirt and microbes that can cause infection. It also protects your donor area while you sleep and absorbs any blood or other fluids produced that first day.
If the hair grafts are packed very densely, there is a risk that they will become easily dislodged with strain or motion the first day post-surgery. In this case, the surgeon may apply a bandage all over your scalp to protect the grafts and keep them in place [1].
Normally, your bandage should be removed 24 hours after your surgery [1][3]. In some cases, it may be kept on for longer (36 or 48 hours) if your surgeon deems it necessary (e.g. if you are experiencing more bleeding than usual).
You should receive all the necessary information from your surgical team when discussing your aftercare instructions. If you were not told how long to keep your bandage on or are unsure whether you remember correctly, do not hesitate to call your surgeon and ask.
According to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS), hair transplant bandage policy can vary among hair transplant surgeons [4]. Some of them choose not to apply any bandages at all (due to the minor risk of infection with proper aftercare), others opt to keep their patients’ bandages on for longer than 24 hours. The ISHRS recommends you follow your own surgical team’s instructions, as they have your medical information and are the most qualified to determine your optimal aftercare [2].
It is easy to remove your hair transplant bandage, as it is usually only held in place by two pieces of medical tape. In some cases, your surgical team will do this for you during a postoperative checkup. However, you can also do it yourself if you don’t have an appointment scheduled within the first 1-2 days post-surgery.
Remove the tape and slowly peel the gauze away. Since your donor area is usually covered in an ointment post-procedure, it is unlikely for the gauze to stick to your wounds within 24 hours. However, should this happen, be sure to be very gentle when removing it. If necessary, soak it in a little warm water beforehand (just make sure not to get your hair grafts wet as well).
If there is blood or another fluid in your donor area after you remove your bandage, dab it gently with a clean paper towel. You can also apply a little antiseptic solution, such as betadine.
In most cases, the recipient area is not bandaged because the newly implanted hair grafts are very sensitive and any fabric rubbing against them can pull them out. It can take about a week before your hair grafts are secured after your hair transplant.
In the recipient area, the risk of damage to your grafts is higher than the risk of getting a hair transplant infection. Your transplant area will most likely be safe even unbandaged if you follow the aftercare instructions closely. Moreover, be sure to remember that you should also wait 10 days to wear a hat after a hair transplant for the same reasons.
Sometimes, accidents happen and your hair transplant bandage can get wet, dirty or even fall off entirely. If this happens, contact your surgeon. They will provide the best advice, taking into consideration factors such as:
They may ask you to wash your donor area, apply more antiseptic ointment, and/or use sterile gauze to rebandage it at home. Alternatively, they may decide it is safe to leave the bandage off. If necessary, they may ask you to come in for an evaluation.
After your hair restoration procedure, your surgeon will provide you with a detailed list of aftercare instructions for you to follow carefully to increase your chances of hair transplant success. Here are some additional things you may need to do during your first few days post-surgery, besides wearing and then removing your bandage [1][5]:
If you are thinking about getting a natural-looking hair transplant, don’t hesitate to book a free, no-obligation consultation with our world-class surgeons. They will be happy to walk you through the entire procedure, from the preparation stage to post-operative care. They will also provide clear, expert answers to all your questions, so you know exactly what to expect whether you opt for an FUE or FUT surgery.
Choosing the right hair transplant surgeon is one of the most important factors in getting excellent results. The best hair transplant clinics in the UK have an almost 100% success rate and a very low chance of complications. See our results for yourself in our before and after hair transplant gallery.
Some light bleeding or oozing is normal upon removing your hair transplant bandage, as the wounds on your donor area are still fresh. However, if you experience significant bleeding and it doesn’t stop in a few minutes, contact your surgeon (or your healthcare provider) for advice.
It is not advised to leave your hair transplant bandage on for more than 24 hours (or, in exceptional cases, up to 48 hours), as it is unnecessary and potentially harmful. The gauze can stick to your wounds and absorb scalp sweat, blood and dirt which could cause a hair follicle infection (e.g. post-hair transplant folliculitis). Your donor area wounds normally heal quickly once the bandage is off, so you won’t get any additional benefits from wearing it for longer.
Some donor area pain or discomfort is normal after a hair transplant, even though it may seem like the bandage is causing it. On rare occasions, the bandage may be applied too tightly or may have a crease that rubs against your wounds. Sometimes, this is not immediately obvious because of the local anaesthesia you received for the procedure. The discomfort may also be worsened by post-transplant swelling.
If you suspect this may be the case, contact your surgeon and share your symptoms with them. They should be able to provide you with the best advice to keep you safe and comfortable.
Wearing a headband is not mandatory after a hair transplant. However, some surgeons recommend it because it can help reduce swelling and keep the transplant area clean and dry. The best thing to do is to discuss this option with your surgeon and get their personalised recommendation.
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