It is normal to wonder what to expect during your hair transplant recovery period, so you can prepare physically and emotionally for it. And many patients are as nervous about the healing process as they are about the surgery itself.
However, you will be happy to learn that most people recover very quickly after their hair restoration procedure, and any discomfort they experience post-surgery rarely lasts past the first 5-7 days [1][2]. If you commit to your aftercare routine, you will likely be healed and ready to resume most of your regular activities in about 2 weeks post-procedure.
Are you considering a permanent hair transplant but feel unsure about what can happen during your recovery period? This article draws on practical insight from top-tier surgeons to provide a step-by-step breakdown of your healing process. It tells you the main symptoms you can expect to experience from the day of your surgery, up to 14 days after your hair transplant, when most people feel as good as new.
It also provides valuable information about the aftercare needed to increase your graft survival rate and teaches you how to spot the signs of hair transplant side effects and complications.
Key takeaways
Dr Ahmad Moussa is an experienced surgeon with an impressive 15-year-long career in neurosurgery. His skill, expertise and familiarity with the scalp allowed him to smoothly transition to FUT and FUE hair transplants, including combining the two techniques.
Each patient undergoing a hair transplant is different, as are their immune systems and regeneration capacities. So it’s natural for the time needed to recover after a hair restoration surgery to vary as well. However, according to our surgeons, the majority of patients are largely healed within 14 days after their procedure. Here is a visual representation of your hair transplant recovery timeline at a glance:
The first few days after your hair transplant may be a bit taxing, as normal surgical side effects start to emerge. This can make many patients concerned or uneasy. However, our experienced Wimpole Clinic surgeon, Dr. Moussa, explains that hair transplant recovery is, in most cases, an uneventful process, where all common side effects are carefully mapped out:
“Hair transplants are quite daunting for patients, who are apprehensive about what will and won’t happen. It’s generally very straightforward. They will have a little bit of swelling in the first 2 or 3 days. It peaks usually around day 2 to 3, but it will slowly subside after that.
It looks a little bit raw where we’ve been working on the day of the procedure and to relatives and friends it looks sore, but patients have no pain at all because the anaesthetic’s still on board. We give them paracetamol to take care of any little niggles they have in the first day or two.
As the swelling subsides, they will have little scabs, lots of little red dots over the top of the head. These usually fall off and disappear between 10 and 14 days. At that point, they’ll have stubble from the newly transplanted hair, and then there’ll be stubble where we’ve shaved around it.
This transplant stubble will usually shed in the first month, and that’s usually their first panic point, where they think it’s all gone horribly wrong. We tell them not to worry, it’s all part and parcel of it, the transplanted hair sheds, and then it takes 2 to 3 months for it to start coming back again.”
Here is a detailed breakdown of some of the experiences most patients report as their scalp heals and their grafts are on their way to becoming securely attached.
Once your hair restoration surgery is finished, your surgeon will walk you through your hair transplant aftercare instructions one more time. They will answer any questions and provide helpful advice, such as how often to moisturise your grafts or the kind of medication that will keep you most comfortable during recovery.
Some clinics will even provide their patients with the supplies they need throughout recovery. For example, the Wimpole Clinic offers a complimentary aftercare kit containing the right prophylactic medications and over-the-counter painkillers to keep you comfortable at home. This will allow you to focus exclusively on your healing, without having to worry about trips to the pharmacy.
Some surgeons choose to use a hair transplant bandage to keep the grafts safe right after the procedure, so you may have one applied. If you do, it will be removed at the 24-48 hour post-op checkup [1]. Clients who opt for the Premium or Platinum packages at the Wimpole Clinic receive a complimentary visit by a nurse who will remove their bandage in the comfort of their own home.
As you get home, if you are experiencing post-operation pain, it is a good idea to take an over-the-counter painkiller every 4 hours. Remember to avoid touching your grafts or rubbing your head right after your hair transplant. And be sure to protect your grafts while you sleep using a travel neck pillow that keeps your head elevated at 30-45 degrees [3].
Pro tip: Wimpole Clinic surgeons recommend taking a 4-day course of the corticosteroid Prednisolone to prevent and reduce hair transplant swelling. The first dose should be taken on the day of your surgery. But always check with your doctor before taking any medication.
During the first couple of days after your procedure, all you should be doing is resting and allowing your scalp to recover. All activity should be kept to a bare minimum, and you should not be touching your sensitive grafts for any reason. This is to ensure that they remain safe and their chances of survival are not endangered.
Spraying your grafts with a saline solution several times a day is very important at this time, as it promotes wound healing and keeps your scalp moisturised. Don’t worry, there is no risk of overspraying, so you can feel free to do so as soon as you feel they are getting dry [1][2].
You may notice some minor bleeding or oozing from your wounds, especially if you had a FUT hair transplant. However, your pain level should be gradually subsiding. You may start to experience more itching by the second day, as small scabs will start to form around your new grafts. If this happens, you can take some over-the-counter antihistamines [1][2].
Pro tip: Our patient advisor, Kirsty Egan, swears by chilling the saline solution used to spray your grafts between uses:
“Keep your spray bottle or saline bottle in the fridge. It’s going to act like a soothing effect on the transplanted area and also the donor area and it’s going to help reduce any itching as well”.
By the 3rd-4th day since your surgery, your transplant area should be covered in small scabs where your grafts were implanted. You should no longer feel pain or experience bleeding [1]. However, your swelling may be reaching peak intensity, so don’t be alarmed if you notice it has also extended to the area around your eyes. Avoid bending your head for prolonged periods (e.g. for watching videos on your phone) to help improve this.
The 4th day post-op is also the last day when you need to spray your grafts, as your wounds are mostly healed [4][1]. Around this time, new blood vessels are already starting to nourish your hair grafts, increasing their chances at survival and secure attachment.
It is safe to resume gently washing your hair 4 days post-procedure. Some clinics, including the Wimpole Clinic, offer professional hair washes and head massages with their premium packages. However, if you need to perform this step yourself, our experienced surgical team recommends following these steps the first days you wash your hair after your hair transplant:
The right way to wash your hair after a hair transplant:
Pat your hair very gently with a soft towel and let it air dry (do not blow dry it!).
Pro tip: If you are not feeling confident washing your own hair on the 4th day, you can always schedule an appointment with your clinic. They will wash it professionally, and the surgical team will explain and demonstrate the right moves to use safely at home.
Most of your remaining discomfort (such as itching) should be subsiding around this time, and your hair transplant scabs should start to fall off. There should be no further need for any medication to keep you comfortable.
Washing your hair every day can help reduce the risk of hair transplant infection and help the crusts on your scalp soften and come loose. It is also recommended to start very gently massaging your transplant area, to increase blood flow and help with scab removal [2].
Pro tip: Scabbing does not necessarily interfere with graft survival rates, but if crusts persist for longer than 6-7 days, they may affect the way your hair grows and the natural aspect of the result. So it is best to gently start helping loosen them up around this time [1].
A week to 10 days after your surgery, your grafts should have become securely attached in their new location. Your wounds will likely be healed, most of your scabs will have fallen off, and you should be feeling good as new [2][4]. Wimpole Clinic patient advisor Caj Shuseenthiran reassures patients that by this time, the challenging aspects of recovery are behind them:
“In terms of recovery, by day 10, you should look like you’ve just had a short haircut with a bit of a red tinge underneath the scalp, but that tends to fade away as time progresses as well.”
Since you are rested and mostly recovered, you can now safely resume work, provided you don’t have to perform intense physical labour. It is also safe to start wearing a hat again after your hair transplant, in case you want to keep your procedure discreet. Most surgeons agree you can also benefit from resuming your topical Minoxidil treatment a week after your procedure, to support your hair growth [2].
Pro tip: If your scabs persist up to day 10, you can try spraying them with 0.75% hydrogen peroxide solution or applying some emollient oil to them for 5-10 minutes to soften them before washing your hair [5]. However, if that doesn’t work, you may need to go to the clinic and have the crusts professionally removed.
Around this time, you can consider your hair transplant healing process complete and should be able to resume most of your normal, non-strenuous daily activities and routines.
If you had an FUT surgery, your surgeon may ask you to come in to remove your sutures (unless they’re dissolvable) and check your donor area scar [1]. Don’t worry, suture removal is not normally painful; you usually experience a mild tugging sensation.
About 14 days after your hair transplant, you may notice that the hair on your recipient area is starting to fall out. This is a normal, temporary phenomenon called hair transplant shock loss, which affects 95% of patients [1]. It does not harm your grafts, and you will start seeing new, permanent hair growth in 3-4 months.
Pro tip: If you are unsure whether your job, exercise regimen or any other activity may be too physically demanding to resume at the 14-day mark, it is best to ask your surgeon. Explain the exact actions you would need to perform, and they will either clear you or recommend that you wait a few days or weeks longer.
Mild bleeding or slight discomfort can be a normal part of post-op recovery. But how can you tell whether your symptoms are part of the healing process or your hair transplant has gone wrong? Here are the tell-tell signs of complications to look out for [4][1][3]:
After your FUT hair transplant, you can see a fine, linear scar on your donor area.
After your FUE hair transplant, your donor area still has enough hair density left.
There are two popular hair transplant techniques that yield similarly good results [1]. Follicular unit transplantation (FUT) involves harvesting a thin strip of hair from the back of your head, cutting it up into hair grafts, then implanting them in your transplant area.
Follicular unit extraction (FUE), however, is performed by harvesting each hair graft individually, using a small tool called a punch [3].
The main difference between FUE and FUT recovery is that FUT leaves a larger wound in your donor area that needs suturing (resulting in a fine scar). This makes the healing process slightly longer and can somewhat increase the discomfort experienced during the first few days post-op [1]. So, while FUE surgery takes longer to perform (as it is more labour intensive), it leads to somewhat faster and more comfortable healing than FUT.
However, as Dr. Moussa explains to his concerned patients, the differences in hair transplant recovery duration and comfort between FUE and FUT are normally very small, often insignificant.
After your hair transplant, it’s normal to be eager to heal and return to your regular activities and habits as soon as possible. Dr. Moussa confirms that most of his patients ask when resuming activities such as returning to their job, washing their hair or working out after their hair transplant. This infographic should help provide answers to some of the most frequent questions regarding the recommended activity-resuming timeline [1][3][2]:
Post-hair transplant follow-up schedules can vary among clinics and are usually discussed individually with each patient. However, in most cases, you can expect to be offered multiple follow-up consultations at key points in your recovery [1].
Here, at the Wimpole Clinic, we ask our patients to upload daily photos of their scalp for the first 10 days after their hair transplant. This allows our surgeons to closely monitor their evolution and catch any sign of complications early on. During this time, our team is always available to answer questions and provide guidance regarding the healing process (such as tips on washing their hair, removing stubborn scabs, and home care for minor discomfort.). This careful monitoring and availability for recommendations helps keep our patients relaxed and focused on their recovery, preventing any unnecessary concerns.
In-person follow-up reviews are also scheduled after 6 and 12 months post-op, to ensure their recovery is going well. It is a good idea to schedule and attend all of the follow-up meetings to ensure your scalp is healing well and that your progress is according to expectations. If you cannot be physically present, you can ask your surgeon for an online consultation.
If you had surgery out of town or are planning to take a trip to keep your hair transplant discreet, it is best to wait at least 48 hours before departure (3-4 days would be ideal). During the first 1-2 days since your surgery, you should be off your feet and resting (preferably lying down, to reduce swelling). Moreover, travelling with open wounds can increase your risk of infection.
Different transportation means have specific advantages and disadvantages that you should consider. Here are the most important.
Plane rides are the fastest option to reach a faraway destination. However, you have to consider aspects such as variations in cabin pressure and long wait times at the airport:
Trains are often more comfortable and quicker to board than planes. However, they are slower, which can increase your risk of infection (longer exposure to contaminated surfaces):
Travelling by car can be an excellent choice, especially if you’re not the (only) driver. It is cleaner and allows for breaks and stops at your discretion. However, the trips are longer than by plane or train, and your medication may impair your driving abilities.
If you are travelling by train or plane, you may have some further arrangements to make for a car to take you from the airport/station to the clinic and back. Depending on the duration of your stay, you may opt for taking a taxi (or a ride-sharing service) or renting a vehicle.
However, if you’d rather not have to worry about further logistical hassle, some clinics can take care of this entire process for you. At the Wimpole Clinic, we offer our patients who opt for Premium or Platinum packages complimentary chauffeur pickup and drop-off services. Moreover, to spare you the trouble of searching for suitable accommodation, we also include a 5-star hotel stay and assorted amenities. Please contact us for the complete list of services we can provide.
Regardless of your choice of transportation, the following tips can make your post-surgery trip safer and more comfortable:
After your grafts have healed, there are several things you can do after your hair transplant to stimulate your hair follicles for growth and achieve optimal results. Here are some of the most effective.
Oral Finasteride does not need to be paused when preparing for your hair transplant or after surgery. And according to one study, 100% of surgeons recommend that you keep taking this medication if you have male pattern baldness or female pattern baldness [2]. It is effective in preventing further hair loss around your transplant area.
Studies show that PRP may improve hair transplant results in different ways: getting this therapy during your hair restoration surgery may reduce the time it takes to see results and increase hair shaft length and thickness [9]. Moreover, getting PRP after your hair transplant may help stimulate graft healing and increase their survival rates [10][11][12].
When used after hair restoration surgery, red light therapy for hair growth can help reduce scalp inflammation, support graft healing and survival and speed up hair regrowth after the shedding period [13].
Even if your surgeon tells you it is safe to resume these activities at some point after your hair transplant, they can still damage your scalp and hair in the long run. So, in order to get the best hair transplant results possible, it is best to cut back on the following or avoid them entirely:
If your surgery is successful and you are diligent about your long-term hair transplant maintenance, you have every chance to enjoy an excellent outcome that lasts forever. Most people see incipient hair growth 3-4 months after surgery, and achieve their final hair transplant results about a year post-procedure. Check out our hair transplant timeline growth chart to discover what kind of progress you can expect each month post-procedure.
68.2% of patients are fully satisfied with their surgery results from the start, requiring no further interventions. However, 28.6% of patients opt for a second hair transplant to achieve better coverage. Only 3.3% of people who have surgical hair restoration require over 3 surgeries to achieve their desired results [21].
Once the recovery period goes well and the expected hair growth is achieved, most hair transplants last forever. However, you should know that, according to research, some patients can experience a slight reduction in hair density 4 years after their surgery [22]. One of the reasons this happens is that while the transplanted hair follicles can last for a very long time, the original (non-transplanted) hairs in the area can become thinner and fall out due to the alopecia. This is especially true if no hair growth treatments are used to prevent hair loss after your hair transplant.
Open and honest communication with your surgeon is vital for an optimal hair transplant recovery. Part of the reason the Wimpole Clinic was awarded Hair Transplant Clinic of the Year from 2021 to 2024 rests in our excellent relationship with our patients. Book a free hair transplant consultation with any of our top-tier surgeons, and they will provide you with a clear, comprehensive and personalised overview of your entire recovery process.
Our surgical team will make sure no question goes unanswered and that you know exactly how to best care for your grafts at home. Since hair transplants last forever, our shared goal is to get you the most amazing results possible. That is why we are always just a phone call away, and you can count on our full support at every step of your recovery journey.
If you would like to find out more about your hair transplant recovery process, you can find extra insight among the answers to these frequently asked questions:
You can start styling your hair normally, using a hair brush and gentle styling products (e.g. hair gel or wax), as soon as 14 days after your hair transplant (especially if you had a long hair FUE transplant).
However, Wimpole Clinic surgeons recommend that you wait at least 4 weeks before cutting, dyeing, bleaching, perming, chemically relaxing or heat styling your hair. These treatments can be harsh and damage your sensitive grafts.
In most cases, hair transplant redness resolves completely 10-14 days after your surgery. However, some patients’ scalp takes longer to return to its normal colour. Rarely, this process can take weeks, especially in people with a light skin tone [1].
To help prevent excessive or persistent redness, be sure to protect your scalp from the sun, to avoid strenuous physical activities for the recommended amount of time and touch your scalp gently during the recovery period.
Normally, after your hair transplant shedding, you can expect to start seeing regrowth within 3-4 months [1]. However, this is a statistical average, not a set amount of time. Some patients take longer than others to start growing hair again in their transplant area. So if your surgery was 3 months ago, it is a good idea to give it 1-2 more months before worrying.
If you are still not seeing any hair growth 4-5 months after your surgery, contact your surgeon and let them know. They may schedule a follow-up appointment to check your progress.
Hair transplants don’t normally hurt while you are getting them. However, some patients experience mild pain and discomfort for 1-3 days after their surgery [1]. The pain should be low in intensity and subside with over-the-counter painkillers for at least a few hours. It should also diminish progressively after the first 24 hours since your surgery.
Patients who have had FUT surgery report slightly higher and longer-lasting pain during recovery than those who have FUE procedures [1]. That is because they also have a larger, sutured wound on their donor area. However, the differences in pain levels are minor, often insignificant.
Wimpole Clinic Services:
Hair Transplants, Beard Transplants & Eyebrow Transplants.
Talk to a specialist
Dr Ahmad Moussa is an experienced surgeon. His qualifications include a Master of Science degree in General Surgery, Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, Doctorate degree in Neurosurgery and Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons in Neurosurgery. He is a member of the British Medical Association and the Society of British Neurological Surgeons. Dr Moussa has over 15 years’ experience working in neurosurgery and is a GMC and Royal College of Surgeons certified Neurosurgeon.
His training and subsequent work as a consultant neurosurgeon in the NHS has included performing intricate brain surgery while patients are fully awake to be able to safely resect complex brain tumours. This level of skill, expertise and familiarity with the scalp has allowed Dr Moussa to successfully step into the rewarding world of hair transplant surgery.
Dr Moussa is trained in FUT and FUE hair transplant techniques including combining the two techniques together when required to achieve the appropriate number of grafts without overharvesting. He successfully carries out hair transplant surgery for both scalp and beard hair loss. Registered Number: 6065705
