Many people feel self-conscious and insecure when they begin to lose their hair. This is often why people who suffer from female or male pattern baldness choose to go ahead with a hair transplant. In an ideal world, they would go to work after their hair transplant and proudly show off their new hair growth that they are so pleased with.
However, the reality is that the insecurity and anxiety related to hair loss will extend to admitting that they have invested in new hair. The confidence you have in coming clean about hair restoration will impact the best return-to-work plan for you as an individual.
So what’s the best way to get back to the office after hair transplant surgery?
If you are feeling well then there is no medical reason that you can’t go back to work within a couple of days after the procedure. Assuming you have a job that isn’t physically demanding to allow your hair grafts to become secured, you can return to work when you feel well enough.
That said, we recommend you take at least a week off work following your hair transplant procedure. Resting immediately after the surgery will assist in the healing process. The donor and recipient areas can also look unappealing, especially if you’ve undergone a FUT procedure. So postponing work for a week or so can help avoid too many probing questions.
If your job is strenuous and requires heavy lifting or manual labour then it is best to remain off work for at least two weeks.
Exercise after a hair transplant can dislodge your newly implanted grafts, so taking time off helps avoid any overexertion and allows the newly implanted hairs to take a firm hold on your scalp.
Both FUT and FUE hair transplants result in some immediate obvious signs such as scabbing, redness, and swelling. However, FUT transplants are more invasive than FUE transplants, so scarring and swelling from a FUT procedure can be visible for longer.
If you’re concerned about concealing your hair transplant scar when you go back to work, it may be worth opting for an FUE transplant instead. FUE recovery is usually faster, so you may also be able to return to work sooner.
There are a few things you can do to avoid your co-workers finding out about your hair transplant. Immediately after the procedure, there will be some visible red spots and scabbing. If you are able to wear a head covering at work then you can potentially return to work much more quickly. This may require a discreet conversation with your line manager whereby you let them know about the hair transplant procedure and request permission to wear a loose-fitting hat or head covering at work for the next few days.
Some people worry that wearing a hat can cause hair loss but this is rarely the case. Just make sure that avoid wearing a tight-fitting hat as this can dislodge the transplanted follicles and cause complications post-hair transplant. Loose zip-up hoodies are great to hide your scalp when out and can also provide protection against harsh direct sunlight. Find out how soon you can wear a hat after your hair transplant.
Alternatively, you may just wish to commit to taking a week or two off work until your head is looking better. It depends on your skin type and how quickly your head is healing. However, most patients find that any visible signs of surgery should have healed after around a week.
In some procedures, the donor site will be shaved very close to your head. This means that you are going to have short hair for some time. Many men opt for a buzz cut after their hair transplant anyway, so their new hair regrows at the same rate as their existing hair.
If you have long hair and want to minimise the chances of colleagues commenting on the length of your hair when you return, aim to start cutting your hair shorter in the weeks leading up to the operation.
The historical stigma around getting a hair transplant can prevent you from being open about your procedure. While the stigma still exists to an extent, hair transplants are growing in popularity, so there’s no real reason to keep your surgery a secret.
If you are happy to be open about your treatment, as many people are, you may help someone else who is wondering what to do about their hair issues, maybe even another colleague who is struggling with female or male pattern baldness.
Heading back to the workplace after hair transplant surgery can be worrying. To make the experience as stress-free as possible, here are some tips to follow:
Our hair loss consultants understand that having a hair transplant can be a difficult decision, especially considering the lingering stigma.
If you want to talk through your concerns with a professional, we offer a free no-obligation hair transplant consultation, where we’ll discuss your eligibility and the recovery process in detail.
In the meantime, check out our hair transplant clinic reviews and before and after hair transplant photos to see the real-world results you can get from the Wimpole Clinic.
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