Recommendations for patients
following hair transplantation

Mild pain can be present for a couple of days after the hair transplant procedure. Some people report difficulty sleeping the first days post-op. It is common to have more pain in the donor area than the recipient area after the operation. Some patients also report soreness in the donor area on the second healing week, this is completely normal as the tissue is recovering. Post-op hair transplant pain can be relieved with over the counter pain killers. You will get a pack of those at the clinic. If the pain feels very strong or unusual in anu way, please do not hesitate to contact us for quick advise.

When it comes to hair transplantation that is performed using DHI or Sapphire FUE methods, swelling is quite rare. It occurs more often for larger hair transplant operations and transplants where a lot of work was done to the hairline. Swelling can affect the forehead and the area around the eyes and may last two to five days, being maximal on the fourth day. A drug called Dexamethasone is given to reduce these symptoms.

Itching is a very common feeling after the hair transplant. It may occur all over the scalp 7-14 days after the operation. The itchiness in most cases indicates that the tissue is recovering. In cases when it becomes very strong, antihistamine pill can be used. In very rare cases itchiness can be caused by skin infection, if you notice pimples with white peaks in the implant area, please contact us with pictures, so that the exact diagnosis can be confirmed. Even if there is an infection, in most cases it can be easily handled with topical antibiotic creams.

It is important to touch the recipient areas as little as possible during the first week after the hair operation. We ask that patients sleep on their back, with the head elevated on a few pillows. By raising your head during the night, the pillows decrease any swelling that can occur after the hair transplant. Patients can also use a towel and wrap it around the neck in order to limit the head movement at night. Alternatively, a travel pillow can be used for around 9 days post-op. Correct sleeping position is crucial for the end results.

After any hair transplantation that is performed using Sapphire FUE or Choi Implanter Pens (DHI method) the healing is rapid. Most patients feel fine within a day or two following surgery, although some numbness and mild soreness in the scalp can be expected for several days following surgery. There will be punctate red scabs at the bottom of the transplanted hair shafts on the recipient site and donor sites, which will be visible for about 7-10 days. Usually the patient gains his/her normal appearance within 10-15 days post-op. Only slight redness might be visible after this period. Patients who have very light complexion might experience redness for prolonged periods after the treatment, whereas those who have darker hair and skin, tend to recover faster. All in all, recovery after a hair transplant is a very individual process that also depends on the patient's age, lifestyle, diet and even climate.

At our clinic we use beard (throat area) as donor site quite often. In such cases beard donor site can be shaven a week after the operation as long as there are no more scabs.

Recipient area can be shaven 1 month after the transplant. Donor areas can be shaven already 1-week post-op as long as the scabs in the donor site have cleared out.

Usually, shock loss starts within the first 2-4 weeks after the transplant. In some cases, implanted hairs fall out together with the scabs. After 3rd to 5th month the lost grafts slowly start to re-grow. At the end of 5th month, re-growth rate should be around 30% and within 7th month re-growth rate should be around 60%. The end results of the operation should be evaluated 12 months post-op.

You will get a bandana at the clinic which you should be using whenever outside or during your trip home. This headwear will protect your scalp from the dust, sun and other environmental factors. Please wear this hat for 7 days post-op, after that you can wear any other hat of your choice. While choosing a headwear for the post-operational period it is important to pick a hat that will not sit too tight on the recipient areas nor will pull on the newly transplanted grafts. Please wear headwear for up to 2 weeks when outside or as long as the scabs are not present anymore. It is also important to keep your headwear clean, so that it does not cause any infections to the sensitive scalp areas.

Immediately after hair transplantation, you can start to go for a short walk or do physical exercises that do not make you sweat too much. You can already start actively exercising 7-9 days post-op. It is recommended to take a shower shortly after the workouts in order to minimise any risk of infections. When the scabs are off, there are no limitations to your physical activity, as long as the scalp does not get traumatised.

One should wait for 3 months after surgery for any kind of manipulation on the scalp. If SMP treatment has been performed before the hair transplant, it is not an obstacle for the operation.

Consuming alcohol will increase the healing time of wounds after the hair transplant. It will be better to wait for 1 week post-op.

It is important to stay away from direct sunlight the first 2 weeks after the operation. For the first 6 months after the transplant, we recommend to wear headwear when in the sun. The scalp remains sensitive to the sun for months after the transplant, patient can burn faster than usual.