Hair Transplant Recovery

Do not take ASPIRIN or IBUPROFEN or ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES for at least 3 days after your hair transplant procedure. These medications may result in excessive bleeding during recovery. For pain and/or headaches, use a non-aspirin containing medication such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or the medication prescribed to you after your hair transplantation.

Several medications may be given to you following your hair loss procedure.

• Prednisone, 5mg.: Take 6 pills in the am for the first 3 days of hair transplant recovery. Take all six pills at the same time. You MUST take this medication with food. If you had a smaller number of hair grafts inserted, take 5 pills the first day, 4 pills the second day, 3 pills the third day, 2 pills the fourth day, and 1 pill the fifth day of transplantation recovery. This medication is for swelling.
• Vicodin: This medication is prescribed for pain. Alcohol must not be consumed while taking this medication. This could result in excess drowsiness and even coma. DO not drive any vehicle while taking this medication. Take one tablet every 4-6 hours for pain.
• Cephalexin: Take 1 caplet three times per day for 10 days until all gone. This medication is to fight a possible infection during recovery.

1. Hair transplants are like any major surgery, so refrain from exercise such as running, cycling, weight lifting, tennis, golf, baseball soccer, etc., for at least SEVEN days after your surgical procedure. Such activity may result in bleeding, loss of hair grafts, and intense swelling around the eyes and forehead. Lost grafts could result in additional hair transplant repair. All contact sports are to be avoided for 2 weeks after your hair transplantation procedure. However, you can return to work the following day after your surgery if it will not put your hair grafts at risk.
2. Do not bend over at any time or engage in any lifting for at least 48 hours after surgery.
3. Keep your head and upper body elevated above the level of your heart at all times during hair transplant recovery, especially when sleeping. This is to avoid bleeding and excessive swelling.
4. Hair grafts may appear as small elevations or bumps or slits above the skin after surgery. THIS IS NORMAL. and is part of everyone’s recovery process.
5. In occasional circumstances, minor bleeding may occur from one or more of the hair graft implants. This can be alleviated by applying CONSTANT LIGHT FINGER PRESSURE to the area with moist gauze pads or a moist clean cloth for 5-10 minutes..
6. Do not dab the area with your finger or any paper product. Be careful not to disrupt surrounding hair grafts by applying more than LIGHT PRESSURE!
7. Ice packs applied to the FOREHEAD AND HAIR TRANSPLANT DONOR AREA in the back of the head are VERY IMPORTANT for the first 2-3 days of recovery. Apply the ice as often as possible at least 4 times per day for 15 minutes each time. Make sure to use a washcloth between the ice pack and the skin to avoid freezing the skin. DO NOT apply ice packs to the hair grafts.
8. One of the minor cycles of a hair transplant is swelling. If swelling occurs, it usually occurs 48-72 hours after surgery. It is painless and will begin on the forehead and over the bridge of the nose. It may proceed to surround the eyes. If this occurs, do not panic. The swelling will subside spontaneously in 2-3 days of hair transplant recovery. Continue to use ice packs on the swollen areas and relax. Refrain from strenuous activity.
9. Sleep with your head and upper body propped up on 2-3 pillows for the first 3-4 days of recovery. This will assist in preventing swelling. Sleeping in a recliner with your head and upper body elevated is also effective.
10. Do Not Wash or Disrupt the grafts for 48 hours after hair loss surgery. After this time, wash your hair with shampoo in a cup of warm water. Rinse with cool water. Be very careful when you wash your hair. These precautions should be taken daily for 14 days after your surgery. This will significantly decrease scab formations. After 14 days, you may resume normal shampooing. Keep the scans and hair graft sites as clean as possible for several weeks after surgery.
11. Apply Light Pressure on the grafts with a towel or gauze pads after showering. This will absorb any blood that has formed on or around the graft sites.
12. If you use a blow dryer, use COOL SETTING for the first 14 days after hair transplant surgery. Even warm air could cause minor bleeding at the graft sites.
13. The graft sites will scab after the surgery. The scabs will fall out in 7-14 days. As the scabs fall out, you may notice the tiny hair shed with them. THIS IS NORMAL! DO NOT WORRY! In 4-6 months new hair will begin to grow. Have Patience! Do not pick or scratch the scabs. Doing so can cause infection and endanger the survival of the new hair grafts. If the scabbing persists after 14 days, you may not be shampooing vigorously enough. Remember, the critical period is 14 days after surgery.
14. Several weeks after surgery or anytime thereafter, ingrown hair or hairs may appear. This will take on the appearance of a small pimple or bump in either the donor hair transplant or recipient areas. Apply a warm washcloth to the area for 10 minutes 3 times a day. After 3 days, if there is no relief or the area becomes red, swollen, tender, or inflamed, contact the hair transplant clinic.
15. Bathing in water containing chlorine is NOT RECOMMENDED and should be avoided for at least 14 days after surgery.
16. Avoid sun exposure for 3 months after your surgery. Wearing a loose-fitting hat and a sunblock is recommended.
17. You will need to return to the hair transplant clinic for suture removal and checkup on your surgical sites 10 days after surgery. You may go to the hair loss clinic to have this done or consult with your regular doctor who can remove the stitches and easily detect any minor problems which may have occurred. If your private doctor does raise a concern, please contact the hair transplant clinic immediately.
18. The above post-operative, hair transplant recovery instructions are provided and recommended by Kris Johnson, Medical Director, Atlantis Hair Transplant Clinic. He strongly advises that you print this page out and follow the advice given herein precisely.
19. If you have any problem, question, or concern following your surgery, we strongly advise you to contact the hair transplant clinic by telephone IMMEDIATELY!!!
20. One thing to keep in mind is that hair transplants are an investment that grows! Following the expense and time you invested in this procedure, why take risks by putting your investment at risk? Following your hair transplant, your hair transplant surgeon will advise you on these principles of your hair transplant recovery. We also advise you to print this page and refer to it every day, following your procedure.