Almost all hair restoration surgery patients experience some hair transplant side effects, whether it’s soreness and scabbing after a hair transplant, or complications like infection. Serious complications are rare, as hair transplants are generally very safe.
However, some studies have found that swelling after a hair transplant is one of the most common side effects of the surgical procedure, with approximately 50% of patients experiencing post-transplant swelling [1-2].
Swelling (also known as oedema) can be unsightly, especially if you want to get back to work quickly after your hair transplant. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent and reduce swelling.
Are you concerned about hair transplant swelling? In this article, you’ll learn what causes swelling after hair transplant surgery; the potential risks of swelling; how to prevent or minimise swelling after a hair transplant procedure; when to be concerned about post-op swelling; and the common mistakes that can make post-op swelling worse.
Key takeaways
Here, Wimpole Clinic hair transplant surgeon Dr Kieran Dayah shares his insights and experiences with hair transplant swelling.
Swelling after hair transplant surgery usually starts 2 or 3 days after your procedure and lasts around 3 to 4 days.
Most of the swelling occurs around your forehead and eyelids. For some people, swelling is mild and won’t interfere with their daily routine. For others, the effects are much more severe. One research study categorised swelling severity into 5 grades [1]:
If swelling reaches stages 3 or 4, you may be unable to open your eyes. However, even in severe cases, the swelling is self-limiting and will eventually go down by itself [3].
James Walton, a Wimpole Clinic patient, had grade 2-3 swelling around his forehead and eyes following his FUE hair transplant procedure. Fortunately, the swelling quickly went down, leaving him with no visible signs of inflammation (and a fantastic head of hair to boot).
Find out more about James’s hair transplant journey in our hair transplant clinic reviews.
Swelling after hair transplant surgery is often caused by a build-up of fluid in or around cells and tissues in the body [3]. Post-surgery inflammation is the most common cause of swelling.
When you have an injury, your blood vessels around the wound dilate so that more red and white blood cells can reach the area, fighting infection and promoting healing [4]. This helps your hair transplant heal more quickly, but in the short term, the area may be red and puffy.
Another minor cause of swelling is local anaesthetic, although this effect is usually small and brief. Hair transplant surgeons inject a local anaesthetic into the scalp to reduce pain.
While this is usually administered via a needle, needle-free hair transplants may be offered to some patients. As this anaesthetic drains away after the procedure, it can cause mild swelling around the forehead and face.
Swelling is a very common side effect of any kind of surgery, so it’s unsurprising that it affects so many hair transplant patients. Factors like loose skin, your age, and the length of the procedure can also contribute to excessive swelling [5].
Patient advisor Adam discusses post-transplant swelling: when it happens and what you can do about it.
Find out what medicines you’ll be given to help minimise swelling from our surgeon, Dr Kieran.
Patient advisor Kristy shares her best advice for recovery, including postural changes that can help reduce swelling.
Swelling is rarely harmful. It usually clears up by itself after a few days with no lingering effects. However, there are circumstances in which swelling can cause problems.
If you’re unable to open your eyes due to swelling, driving and operating heavy machinery is dangerous to you and to others. Avoid these activities until the swelling goes down and you can see normally.
Excessive or long-term swelling might also be a sign of a hair transplant infection, especially if it’s accompanied by pus, pain, or itchiness. Alert your consultant if the swelling continues beyond 1-2 weeks.
If swelling happens quickly or immediately after your surgeon administers the anaesthetic, this can be a sign of anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a rare but life-threatening allergic reaction and needs urgent medical attention.
All reputable UK hair transplant clinics will carry EpiPens to treat anaphylaxis and have trained staff who can use them. Outside the UK, there have been some reported hair transplant deaths due to anaphylaxis. If you’ve experienced anaphylaxis before, make sure you tell your hair transplant surgeon about this in advance.
Excessive swelling and inflammation can also lead to hair loss in your donor area [4]. While this can be distressing, donor effluvium (the shedding of hair follicles in the donor area) is normally temporary, and your hair will start to grow back within a few weeks.
Swelling is among the most common side effects of both FUE and FUT hair transplantation. In one study, 55% of patients developed swelling — the remaining 45% avoided this thanks to steroid treatment [1]. Other research found that post-operative oedema was the most common side effect of hair transplant surgery, with 42% of patients experiencing swelling [2].
So if you don’t take any preventative measures, there’s a good chance you’ll develop swelling. But if you do, swelling is usually mild and most of it should have gone down by the time you head back to work.
According to Dr Kieran Dayah, the lead surgeon at our Mayfair hair clinic, you often notice more swelling if you have a larger procedure. The location also plays a role; for example, when the frontal hairline is treated, fluid can track down into your face and make swelling appear more noticeable.
Fortunately, there are ways to prevent swelling after a hair transplant. From frozen peas to steroid injections, there are many recommendations for how to prevent post-surgical swelling.
Steroids are the most effective way to prevent swelling from hair transplants. These can be administered during, before, and/or after surgery. Research shows that steroids like prednisolone, methylprednisolone, and triamcinolone can prevent and reduce transplant swelling [1-2].
Steroids can be taken as tablets before and after your procedure. They can also be injected or combined with the local anaesthetic. Dr Dayah shares that at the Wimpole Clinic, “typically we give 40 mg prednisolone on the day of surgery and follow up with a 4 day reducing regime (gradually lowering the dose) postoperatively.”
Dr Dayah shares his insights on the use of steroid medication in hair transplant recovery:
“We often recommend a short reducing regime of steroids to help mitigate swelling post hair transplant procedure. It is not mandatory and often for athletes, to ensure compliance to their regulatory bodies, or contraindications to other medications for example, we often omit without any detrimental impact to recovery or results.
We do not recommend an alternative [medication] if steroids are contraindicated, as the alternative NSAIDs can impair healing time due to effects on coagulation.”
Other non-steroidal methods for swelling prevention include:
These methods are usually less effective than steroids [1] but may improve symptoms for some patients. Unfortunately, steroid treatment is not suitable for everyone, as some people are at a higher risk of side effects or complications. People who should avoid steroids include those who [6]:
Steroids may also be risky if you have a history of stomach ulcers, heart failure, or poorly controlled infections. In these cases, your doctor will weigh up the risks and benefits before prescribing them. Many people with these conditions will not be good candidates for a hair transplant in the first place.
Mild swelling is normal and usually nothing to worry about. However, in some cases, it’s worth getting it checked out. Contact your clinic straight away if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside swelling:
These may be signs of an infection or another complication that needs treatment. In the rare event that you experience difficulty breathing or swallowing alongside swelling, seek emergency medical treatment.
Dr Dayah adds, “We would be concerned if swelling subsided and then started to re-emerge, signifying a new cause to the swelling rather than from the initial inflammatory response from the procedure. In this case we would investigate to identify the new cause and treat accordingly.”
There are no clinical studies that directly compare post-op swelling for FUE vs FUT. However, FUE is a less invasive procedure, has a shorter recovery time [7], and swelling at the donor area is less likely.
This is because of how follicles are harvested in FUE compared to FUT. In FUE, hair grafts are removed from the donor area using a micro-punch tool, leaving minimal scarring and tiny incisions.
With FUT, follicles are harvested in a single strip, leaving a linear hair transplant scar which requires sutures. Because of this, you’re more likely to experience swelling and pain at the donor site with FUT.
Overall swelling may also be increased, meaning it may take slightly longer for swelling to resolve. However, even with FUT, swelling usually still resolves within several days.
The best way to aid in the healing process and reduce post-transplant swelling is to follow your surgeon’s aftercare advice.
Remember that swelling is a short-lived side effect of hair transplant surgery, and should clear up by itself a week or so after your procedure.
If you’re keen to keep swelling to a minimum, there are several mistakes to avoid in the early days post-transplant. These include:
Wondering when it’s safe to return to normal activities after a hair transplant? Learn more about what to expect through the hair transplant recovery process.
Swelling is a normal part of the hair transplant recovery timeline. It’s one of the reasons why we recommend taking some downtime after a hair transplant since it can be shocking if you’re unprepared.
Here’s what to expect over the first couple of weeks:
Learn when you can expect to see new growth in our hair transplant timeline.
If you’re seeing signs of male pattern baldness or female pattern hair loss, it’s time to seek help. We’ve transformed hundreds of hairlines — just take a look at our before and after hair transplant gallery.
We can help you with your hair loss, too. Book a consultation with our team today where you can speak to one of our trichologists and learn more about the treatment options available to you. If you’re a candidate for a natural-looking hair transplant, you’ll have access to some of the best hair transplant surgeons in the UK.
You can rest assured you’ll be in safe hands at the Wimpole Clinic, awarded best hair transplant clinic for four years running. If you would like to get the most out of your visit, read our list of questions you really want to ask about hair transplant surgery.
The most painful time after a hair transplant is the first day or two post-op. At this point, anaesthetic from the surgery will have worn off and you’ll likely have some discomfort around the donor and recipient sites. However, pain from a hair transplant is usually mild and manageable with over-the-counter pain relief.
It’s usually safe to wear a hat 10 days after your hair transplant. So after a full month, there should be no problem with wearing a cap. Waiting at least 10 days to start wearing a cap gives the transplanted follicles time to settle into their new location and reduces the risk of dislodging them.
The most obvious signs of a recent hair transplant — swelling, redness and hair transplant scabs — should all have faded within the first couple of weeks post-transplant. However, it takes 3-4 months for new hair to start growing and 12-18 months for final results to be visible. With careful styling to hide the transplanted areas, it’s possible to look ‘normal’ within two weeks post-transplant.
Damaging your new grafts can lead to a failed hair transplant. Signs of a failed hair transplant include excessive scarring, long-lasting swelling, and symptoms of a hair transplant infection. You may also have an unnatural-looking hairline or poor hair growth.
At reputable clinics, your surgeon will check in with you regularly after your surgery to make sure everything is healing as it should and manage any complications.
Wimpole Clinic Services:
Hair Transplants, Beard Transplants & Eyebrow Transplants.
Talk to a specialist
Dr Meena Zareie (GMC number 7722917) is the first female member of Wimpole Clinic’s Hair Transplant Surgeons team.
Dr Meena started her journey in the hair transplant industry 8 years ago, where she worked closely with leading surgeons to hone her skills, having conducted more than 1,000 FUE hair transplants.
Starting as a technician and nurse while working simultaneously for the NHS, she decided to take her passion for helping patients with hair loss further.
Her qualifications include an MD doctorate from the prestigious Medical University of Warsaw, and a Master’s degree in Drug Toxicology with the institute of cancer therapeutics. She has previously completed a bachelor’s in Biomedical Science, and is qualified in minor aesthetic and dermatological procedures for the face and body. She is a member of the British Medical Association and is a registered doctor on the General Medical Council.
Her passion for perfection and attention to detail is what drew Dr Meena to the aesthetic industry. She has completed additional FUE Hair transplant training with renowned hair transplant doctors in Georgia and Iran, and has developed a fine motor skills which serve to produce outstanding results, as each procedure is carried out with ultimate care and meticulous attention to the detail. Dr Meena’s care for her patients and work shows in her results is a real credit to the hair transplant industry.
