Hair Transplant Recovery Timeline: Week-by-Week Guide

When you are planning to consider a hair transplantation procedure to tackle hair loss, it is natural for you to have concerns about the timeline required for complete healing. It is essential to know that the period of healing might vary from one person to another. Learning more about what to expect while healing would help you stay free from anxiety while experiencing changes. Keep reading while we take you through each phase of the recovery timeline, right from the immediate post-surgery phase to the wonderful moment of seeing new baby hair growth. This helpful guide on the recovery timeline for hair transplant would make life easier while you walk towards successful hair growth results. Let’s dig deeper to understand how healing would look every week after your hair transplantation procedure.

Healing and Recovery Timeline after Hair Transplant

Opting for a hair transplant can be an exciting experience, as you will not only regain hair but also get a confidence boost. After your hair transplant, the healing process would generally require about three months, and complete recovery would need between 6 and 12 months. It is essential to remember that during the recovery period, it is natural to face shedding of freshly transplanted hair temporarily, which is referred to as shock loss. Ensure you follow all the post-operative care instructions and stay clear about the recovery timeline to get optimum results. Here’s a complete breakdown of what you can expect week-by-week after a hair transplant.

Day 1 to 3 – Immediate Post-Surgery Phase

Soon after the hair transplantation procedure, your body will naturally initiate the healing process immediately. It is important to notice all the responses triggered by your body in this initial healing phase. During this post-surgery period, it is common to experience tenderness, discomfort, and swelling near your eyes and forehead. Such discomfort might last for a couple of days and would subside gradually in a week. You might feel some odd sensations similar to the squinting effect when standing under the sun for long hours. It is the healing response of your body that is normal during the initial days after the hair transplant.

• 1st and 2nd Day: You might be experiencing tenderness, mild swelling, and redness in the donor as well as transplanted sites in the scalp.
• 3rd Day: After 3 days of hair transplant, you might notice extensive swelling, which would begin to subside after a few hours. You can also start to rinse your scalp using tepid warm water along with a shampoo suggested by your surgeon.

Care Instructions

• Do not try to touch or scratch the scalp.
• Keep your head well-elevated while sleeping or resting to cut down the rate of swelling.
• Do not indulge in strenuous activities that might make you sweat, smoking, alcohol, or direct exposure to the sun.

Day 4 to 14 – Healing, Scabbing & Shedding

During the first and second week after a hair transplant, you will notice the following changes in your scalp. You will have to keep the bandages in the donor site in the scalp intact, where the grafts were extracted, and in the recipient or treatment area for a few days for uniform healing.

4th to 7th Day

• The scalp appears red, along with a slight discomfort in the transplanted area and donor region.
• Mild tingling sensation or pain in the treatment area.
• Formation of crusts and scabs along the site with new grafts.
• The scabs might feel itchy or tight.8th to 14th Day

You will notice that the scabs are falling off naturally, and the transplanted hair is shedding gradually due to shock loss. This is a temporary and normal process of healing.

Care Instructions

• Continue scalp washing using shampoo, but do not scratch it with nails; follow a caressing approach to prevent infection.
• Do not apply any products on the scalp that might contain abrasive beads or a harsh formula to get rid of the scabs.
• Avoid the urge to pick, peel, or scratch the scalp and scabs.
• Practice light activities that will not make you break a sweat.
• Eat a nutritious diet and stay hydrated to promote the healing process.

Week 3 to 4 – Scalp Normalizes

During this period, you will experience a major transition in the healing process. During this timeline, the irritating phase of dealing with unsightly scabs will come to an end, and the anticipation of noticing the growth of tiny baby hairs will begin to build. You will also notice that:

• Scabs have almost disappeared after the 3rd week.
• The redness of the scalp and swelling has diminished.

Care Instructions

• Maintain gentle scalp rinsing with cold water while massaging with your fingertips.
• You can keep your scalp moisturized if your surgeon suggests a post-op product.
• Practice moderate exercises that don’t apply pressure on your scalp.
• Do not wear a helmet or cap.
• Avoid going out in the sun.

Month 2 to 3 – Dormant Phase

During this healing period, your scalp would enter the dormant stage because you might not witness any dramatic changes on the scalp surface. However, the healing process would happen under the scalp. Though it can be overwhelming to get a glimpse of your baby hairs, patience should be your ally.

Care Instructions

• Maintain a clean scalp by rinsing and cleansing with a gentle approach.
• Adhere to the aftercare guidelines of your surgeon as you wait for the new hair strands to grow.

Months 4 to 6 – Initial Hair Growth

During this critical stage, you will begin to notice initial hair growth, indicating the transplanted follicular units have settled in their new place. The exciting part of fine and wispy baby hair growth will occur once you enter the 3rd month. You might also notice tiny pimples and slight irritation in the transplanted area, which normally occurs when the new hair emerges from the skin. Initially, the new hairs would be very soft and fine due to the start of their growth cycle. Lower your expectations as the hair strands might not be thicker, but delicate, spreading across the scalp landscape. When compared to your existing hair, they might vary in terms of texture and colour.

Care Instructions

• Your surgeon might prescribe a soothing lotion or cream to calm down the scalp irritation.
• Maintain your scalp clean using mild cleansing products.
• Be cautious when stepping out in the sun and avoid long hours of travel in the sun.
• You can wear a hat with a wide brim to protect those baby hairs while their roots strengthen when stepping out.

Month 6 to 12 – Full Results & Hair Maturity

During this healing timeline, the transformation of your scalp towards achieving full hair growth comes to an end. You will notice various transformative changes like the maturity of hair, its density, strand thickness, and appearance. Your patience will be paid off with this evident progress, and you will be free from all kinds of discomfort that you had to endure so far. The growth of your hair would be about half an inch per month, and by the 6th month, you would have fuller and denser hair. The aesthetic appeal of your hair would help in elevating your confidence levels. After 12 months of your hair transplant, you will see about 90% of hair growth, and you will begin to appreciate your self-image. However, it is important to understand that factors like genetics, age, and health conditions can affect the density and rate of hair growth. Having realistic expectations about hair transplantation results would help you enjoy the healing journey.

Tips for a Smooth Recovery

• Take aftercare instructions seriously and implement them effectively every day for a positive healing outcome.
• Do not rinse or wash the scalp until 3 days after the hair transplant, as it might disturb the new graft from settling.
• Handle your scalp rinse delicately, as a strong touch can also disturb the follicular units.
• Avoid sun exposure as UV rays can penetrate scalp skin and hinder the healing process.
• Avoid tight headgear or a cap to prevent skin irritation.
• Nourish your body with a nutrient-rich diet for strengthening follicles and kindle hair regrowth.
• Don’t forget to stay hydrated.
• Avoid alcohol and smoking to hasten your healing and recovery time.

Wrapping Up

Adhering to post-surgery aftercare instructions and recovery tips after a hair transplant will help in quickening the healing and recovery timeline. However, it is essential to realize that scheduling aftercare consultations with your surgeon at Akruti every week will help in tracking your progress.