The hair transplant healing process is a major consideration for prospective hair transplant patients. For one thing, a slow healing process can make it more difficult to get a hair transplant without anyone knowing.
As long as you work with a high-quality clinic, hair transplant recovery time is probably faster than you think.
For most people, your hair transplant will heal less than two weeks after your procedure, though healing time depends on how many hair grafts and which type of hair transplant procedure you’ve had.
While hair transplant healing is relatively quick, it takes much longer than this to see new hair growth. Let’s find out more about how long a hair transplant takes to heal, and what you can expect from the hair transplant recovery process.
Immediately after your hair transplant, your scalp will be tender, with lots of tiny wounds where the transplanted hair follicles have been implanted. This video shows the process of implanting hair grafts:
These wounds are so small that they often start to scab over within a day or two. However, if you’ve had a large number of hair grafts, you may find it takes a little longer for all your cuts to scab over.
Around 7 days after your hair transplant, your scabs should be fully dried, though the scabs may still be visible:
After a further week or two, your scabs will start to fall off. This will leave your scalp almost completely healed, with just some lingering redness. Try not to pick at your scabs, as this can lead to scarring or recurring scabs on the scalp.
If you’ve had FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) surgery, the extraction wounds will also heal quickly, normally within a few days. FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) often takes longer to heal, as the strip of skin removed requires stitches at the back of your head.
Even when your scalp is healed, it’s going to take much longer for your new grafts to start growing. For a short while, your hair will look the same as its pre-transplant state. But don’t worry — eventually your hair grafts will start to grow, adding density and shape to your hairline.
FUE hair transplants generally heal more quickly than FUT, thanks to the less invasive hair graft extraction method.
Since each graft is removed individually, you’re left with hundreds of tiny extraction wounds. With FUT, meanwhile, you’ll have a larger wound, as the surgeon removes a strip of skin which is then dissected into individual hair grafts. The smaller cuts associated with FUE tend to heal much more quickly than strip surgery.
There isn’t usually any difference in healing time in the recipient area (i.e. the area where your grafts have been implanted).
Most FUE patients find that their hair transplant heals within five to seven days. However, it may take longer than this, especially if you’ve had a large number of hair grafts.
FUT takes longer to heal than FUE. For most FUT patients, your hair transplant will have healed within seven to 14 days. See what to expect from your hair transplant after ten days.
As with any cut or wound, it always takes at least a few days for your hair transplant to heal. However, there are a few ways you can promote healing and encourage your hair transplant to scab over more quickly.
After your procedure, you’ll be given instructions for taking care of your hair transplant. By following this hair transplant aftercare advice to the letter, you can prevent infection and avoid dislodging your grafts, which will help reduce any delays in the healing process.
Common aftercare advice includes:
The right level of moisture has been shown to promote healing and minimise scar formation [1]. Spraying your hair grafts with a saline solution in the early stages of healing will keep them moist and clean.
Take advantage of follow-up appointments to ensure your hair transplant is on track for success. You may also be able to get your hair washed by a professional, keeping your scalp and hair clean without risking any graft dislodgement.
Hair transplants can be itchy during the healing process, but it’s important to avoid scratching or picking at your scalps wherever possible. Taking an antihistamine may help reduce itchiness, which can make it less tempting to scratch your scalp.
While you can usually return to work as soon as you feel comfortable, it’s a good idea to take at least a few days off. Resting is an important part of the healing process, so try to take it easy in the first few days after your surgery.
If you have a FUT hair transplant, you’ll be left with a small hair transplant scar at the back or side of your head, where the strip of skin was removed.
Your scar may be red or pink for a few months after your procedure, but it will eventually fade and blend in with your skin tone. Surgical scars can take up to two years to fade, but you’ll usually notice some improvement after a few months [2].
Growing your hair longer can help hide the scar. That’s why FUT is often a popular female hair transplant procedure.
The hair transplant healing process is usually quick, assuming you’ve managed to avoid any major hair transplant complications. Most people can go back to work within a week.
However, the overall hair transplant recovery timeline is much longer. In general, it takes around four to six months to see initial hair regrowth, with full results visible 12 to 18 months after your procedure.
After your hair transplant has healed, you may experience some post-transplant hair shedding (also known as shock hair loss). This often happens around one month after a hair transplant.
Shock loss can be unnerving, but it’s a totally normal part of the recovery process. When your shock loss stops, you can look forward to your new grafts growing in.
Are you considering hair transplantation? It’s important to learn about the recovery process prior to surgery, so you know what to expect after your hair transplant.
These articles will help you better understand the hair transplant timeline:
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