Hair Transplant 1 Week Post-Op

SWELLING is to be expected after surgery. Typically, it is not noticeable until 2-4 days after surgery and will affect your forehead, bridge of your nose and occasionally your eyelids. Rest assured that swelling is part of the healing process and will not adversely affect the outcome of your hair restoration procedure. You can minimize swelling by performing frequent forehead massages and avoiding vigorous exercise for the first 5 days.

CRUSTS (scabbing) will form on each transplanted follicle and will naturally begin to fall off about a week after surgery. Picking or scratching crusts will damage the graft and may cause a scalp infection. Following the post-surgical hair washing instructions will protect the grafts and encourage the crusts to come off as soon as they are ready. As the crusts fall off, they may have a hair attached. Don’t be alarmed – you didn’t lose a graft; the follicle root is intact in your scalp.

NUMBNESS and/or altered sensitivity in the donor and transplanted areas of your scalp is normal. This usually resolves in the first 4-6 months after surgery.

SUTURES should be removed 10-14 days after your procedure unless otherwise directed by Dr. Darling. An appointment will be scheduled for you. Apply antibiotic ointment to the suture line after each hair wash until your suture removal appointment. Continue to apply antibiotic ointment to the area daily for another month.

Hair Transplant 4 Weeks Post-Op

SHEDDING of transplanted hairs as well as some of the surrounding non-transplanted hair is to be expected in the first month. This post-operative shedding phase will resolve and hair will begin to grow back in the next few months.

ITCHING & NUMBNESS will continue to slowly improve as the surface nerve endings of your scalp heal from the surgery.

REDNESS of the scalp in the transplant areas is a healing response and will gradually fade in the next few weeks as the grafted follicles become established.

SHAMPOO AND CONDITION your hair as often as you normally did prior to your procedure. Dr. Darling recommends using products that contain copper peptide, which promotes a very robust microcirculation around the transplanted hair follicles. The healing phase of your hair restoration lasts 8-10 months.

MINOXIDIL and laser caps/helmets should be restarted 2 weeks after your surgery. Continued regular use will help minimize post-operative shedding.

Hair Transplant 4 Months Post-Op

SCHEDULE a follow-up visit with Dr. Darling to assess your progress and answer your questions.

NEW HAIR is emerging daily. Roughly 25-30% of the transplanted hair is growing by now. Your new hair will continue to fill in over the next 6-8 months.

SHEDDING has stopped a couple of weeks ago and new hairs are beginning to grow from the dormant transplanted and non-transplanted hair follicles.

RED BUMPS and/or pimples may form where new hair is trying to penetrate the scalp. Do not pick or squeeze them as this can damage the hair follicle and may cause an infection. These will resolve with twice-daily applications of warm moist compresses and gentle scalp massage when you shampoo and condition during your shower. Notify Dr. Darling if your scalp does not respond to these measures.