You’re about to undergo a hair transplant. You’ve thought long and hard about it, and you’re ready for a new look. But what about the recovery?
Hair transplant surgery is a procedure that involves moving hair follicles from one part of the body to another. It can be used to treat hair loss, or to create fuller and more elaborate styles.
There are many different techniques for performing a hair transplant. The type of procedure you choose depends on your needs and the amount of hair you have available.
If you’re a candidate for a hair transplant, you may be wondering what to expect during the recovery period. Before your procedure, it’s important to know what to expect after surgery. Here are some tips that can help you manage your recovery from hair transplant surgery:
1. Exercise Regularly
Exercise is an important part of any healthy lifestyle. It will help you feel more energized, improve your mood and make it easier for you to maintain a healthy weight. Exercise can also reduce stress and help with sleep quality. If you exercise regularly before your procedure, it will make the recovery process easier by reducing swelling and bruising, as well as improving circulation in the scalp area. Exercise can also help control post-operative nausea, which is common after a hair transplant procedure.
2. You May Need To Take Painkillers Following Your Procedure
You may need painkillers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen following your procedure to reduce swelling and inflammation around the area where follicles were transplanted. These drugs can also help prevent headaches and muscle aches caused by surgery-related stress on the body.
3. Avoid too much sunlight
Getting too much sun exposure can lead to an increased risk of skin cancer and other health problems. The areas where your grafts were taken from may be prone to sunburns as well. Therefore, it is recommended that you avoid spending too much time in the sun during the first year after your procedure.
4. Avoid Excessive Pulling Or Tugging On Your Hair
During your first week after surgery, it is very important not to pull on any of your new grafts or pluck your eyebrows. Your scalp may be tender and sore, so avoid pulling at any of your new grafts or plucking your eyebrows until they have completely healed up. You should also avoid washing your hair too often during this time period because it can cause irritation on top of irritants that come with having a lot of stitches in an open wound.
5. Stay Hydrated
When you’re recovering from a hair transplant procedure or any type of surgery, drinking plenty of water is an essential part of the healing process. Drinking water helps flush out toxins and reduces swelling, which can both aid in healing and prevent infection. Drink plenty of water throughout the day — at least eight glasses — but try not to drink too much before bedtime so that you don’t have to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom!
6. Your diet matters.
The first thing you should do after a hair transplant is change your diet. Eat foods high in protein and iron, such as lean meat, eggs and leafy green vegetables like spinach and kale. These foods will help you replace the blood lost during surgery. Your doctor may also prescribe iron supplements if you need them.
7. Relax and de-stress.
Stress is the number one cause of health problems these days. When you’re stressed out, your body releases cortisol and other hormones that can make you feel tired and depressed. It also increases inflammation levels in your body which makes it difficult for your immune system to fight off infections. If you want to avoid getting sick during your transplant recovery period, try relaxing with meditation or deep breathing exercises before bedtime every night for 3-4 weeks after your procedure.
8. Hydration is key.
You’ll want to drink a lot of water during and after surgery. The more hydrated you are, the better your body will be able to flush out any toxins or impurities that may have been introduced into your system during surgery (or even before). This will help prevent infection and other issues that could arise from not drinking enough water after surgery.
9. Avoid touching the area with dirty hands.
Avoid getting your head wet for at least one week after surgery. Do not massage or rub the area where you had your surgery for 1 week after surgery. Avoid sleeping on your stomach until your wounds have completely healed. Take painkillers as prescribed by your doctor if you experience pain or discomfort from surgery or anesthesia.
10. Follow the Instructions of your Surgeon
The first thing that you should do after getting back home from the hospital is follow all the instructions given by your surgeon very carefully. This way, you will be able to avoid infections as well as other complications. You should also avoid taking over-the-counter medications without consulting with your doctor first since this might lead to serious side effects such as dizziness or nausea.
11. Take care of your anxiety.
After the procedure, you may feel anxious or worried about how the surgery went and whether it will work or not. You may also be anxious that the donor area will be covered with scars or marks after the surgery. This anxiety can cause stress and make it harder for your body to heal properly from the surgery. Take deep breaths and try meditating if you think this might help you relax and calm down.
12. Wash your hair gently.
While washing your hair, use a shampoo that is gentle and mild. Do not scrub or rub too hard as this can lead to infections and swelling in your scalp. Wash your hair every day but do not rub it too hard as this may cause unnecessary stress on your new grafts. Also avoid using conditioners or hair masks as they may damage the roots of your transplanted hairs.
13. Quit Smoking
The best way to get your body back in shape after a hair transplant is to quit smoking. This may be one of the hardest things you have ever tried to do, but it’s worth it in the end. Not only will you feel better physically but mentally as well. The best thing about quitting smoking is that you don’t have to give up anything other than cigarettes!
14. Avoid Alcohol
Alcohol consumption may cause complications such as low blood pressure and dizziness, which can affect your ability to recover after the surgery. If you plan on drinking alcohol during your recovery, make sure you have a friend or family member present who can monitor your condition.
15. Control Swelling
After a hair transplant procedure, swelling is common. Some people experience severe swelling while others experience mild swelling. The swelling can be controlled by following certain precautions. You should avoid strenuous activity for around 2 weeks after the surgery and keep your head elevated when sitting or lying down. You should also refrain from blowing your nose or sneezing during this time because it can cause nosebleeds which will increase the amount of blood loss and aggravate bleeding from other parts of the body.
16. Watch for Surgical Complications
Hair transplants can be performed in several different ways, but they all share an important risk factor: The surgeon must cut into your scalp to remove donor hair follicles from one part of your head and implant them into another part. If there are any complications during this process, it can lead to infection or other problems that may require additional surgery or antibiotic treatment. Ask your doctor about the potential complications related to his or her preferred procedure so that you know what to watch out for during recovery.
17. Keeping the Head Elevated
While you’re recovering from a hair transplant procedure, it is important that you keep your head elevated above the heart. This will help blood flow more easily through the body and allow your scalp to heal properly without swelling or inflammation. You can use pillows or other props under your head while you sleep at night or sit up in bed during the day. You may also want to use a recliner if possible so that you don’t have to hold your head up yourself all of the time.
18. Keep the Grafts Clean and Moist
You should keep your grafts clean and moist until they have time to heal completely. This will also prevent infection in case any bacteria enters through your skin. You should avoid touching them with your hands as much as possible until they have healed completely. You can use a towel or tissue paper instead of touching them directly. If there are any signs of infection, such as redness, swelling or pus formation around them, consult your surgeon immediately so that they do not spread to other parts of your body too quickly.
19. Have a partner to help you
A partner or family member can be helpful during this time, especially if you experience nausea or vomiting after surgery. If you live alone or don’t have someone who can stay with you after your procedure, ask your doctor if he or she knows of any nearby hotels where they might be able to recommend accommodations for patients who need assistance with their post-op care.
20. Avoid getting sick
After your procedure, you’ll want to avoid getting sick as much as possible. That’s because colds, flu and other illnesses can make you feel worse and delay healing. If you do get sick, call your doctor right away. You may need medicine or other treatment to help you recover.
21. Take a Break from Caffeine
Caffeine can increase your blood pressure and heart rate, which could complicate the healing process after surgery. It also constricts blood vessels — including those in your scalp — which may slow down blood flow to your new grafts, causing them to become sluggish or die off altogether. It’s best if you can avoid consuming caffeine completely during recovery but if that’s not possible, limit yourself to one cup per day until at least two weeks after your surgery date has passed.
22. Massage And Stretch The Grafts After Hair Transplant Surgery
Massaging and stretching the grafts after a hair transplant surgery helps in reducing swelling and inflammation. When you massage your scalp gently with your fingers, it helps increase blood flow to the area which promotes healing. Also, massaging helps prevent constriction band syndrome which is caused by excessive traction on donor sites for long periods of time. It also ensures proper drainage of fluid from donor sites post surgery which reduces swelling and inflammation. Massaging also provides relief from pain by increasing circulation around affected areas (grafts).
23. Take vitamins and supplements.
During your recovery period, it’s important to keep up on your vitamin intake so that your body can recover properly from surgery and return to its normal state of health as soon as possible. You should take multivitamins regularly — ideally before eating — so that they are absorbed properly by your body. Ask your doctor which vitamins are best for you before beginning a regimen of supplements; they may recommend vitamin C or E because they help with healing after surgery or stress reduction since it can be stressful when recovering from an operation like this one.
