How long does a hair transplant take to heal? Day-by-Day [2024]

International Clinics
165
22 November 2024

Complete recovery from a hair transplant is an extremely important phase for the treating physician and the patient. This phase depends on various factors, including the number of grafts used, the health condition of the scalp, the type of hair, the operating physician, and the technique used.

Although the duration of hair transplant recovery is short for most people, in some cases, it may take longer for new hair to appear, which causes concern for some individuals.

In this article, we clarify for you: How long does a hair transplant take to heal? What do we expect in the hair restoration healing process? What are the hair transplant recovery tips? So, keep reading to learn more.

Day-by-day Healing stages of hair transplant
10 key factors that determine hair transplant healing time
Hair transplant aftercare tips
hair transplant side effects and healing
- Infection
- Patchy growth
How long does swelling last after hair transplant in different techniques?
patient testimonials of hair transplant healing
The bottom line:
FAQs

Day-by-day Healing stages of hair transplant

Your surgeon will advise you on how to care for your graft. You should be given some assistant medical drugs to increase recovery and hair growth. We can provide you with that in our medical supplies bag. Contact us to learn more.

The treating doctor often clarifies some important points and how to adapt during the recovery phase after a hair transplant, among these instructions:

You need 1 to 2 weeks of resting time following a hair transplant, and be very careful with your transplanted hair for the first 2 weeks following your operation.
You may be advised to minimize exercise for the first month because it can lead to scarring.

From day 2–5: Any bandages can be removed, but you should avoid touching the grafts.
On day 6, you will generally be able to gently shampoo your hair by hand.
From days 10 to 14, any non-dissolvable stitches can often be removed.
The transplanted hair may fall out in a few weeks and start growing again.
Within 4 months, new hair should start to grow
Within 10 to 18 months, full effects should be visible.

Ten key factors that determine hair transplant healing time

There are the factors affecting hair transplant recovery, which include:

Individual Health: The medical history varies from one individual to another, and accordingly, the treatment path used by the doctor and the therapeutic techniques employed also differ.
Age: Younger patients typically have better blood circulation and skin elasticity. Thus, they should be able to heal more quickly than older patients.
Type of Hair Transplant: Each hair transplant technique differs from the others, but in general, we find that the FUE technique allows the person to recover quickly compared to the FUT technique, which requires a larger surgical intervention in the back of the scalp.
Post-Operative Care: Adhering to medical instructions after the transplant, particularly regarding scalp care, stimulates and accelerates recovery.
Smoking and Alcohol Consumption: Smoking and excessive intake of alcohol hinder blood flow and interfere negatively with recovery.
Diet and Nutrition: A balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals assists and speeds up healing.
Stress Levels: The recovery process will also be prevented if a patient faces exceptional stress, which may be diminished by proper stress management.
Scalp sensitivity depends on the individual scalp sensitivity and skin type, which would influence the particular area's healing rate.
Infection Risk: Make sure that any post-surgical infection significantly prolongs healing.
Physical Activity: Strenuous activities initiated too soon after the operation will hamper and delay the process of recovery.

Hair transplant aftercare tips

If you ask yourself (how to speed up hair transplant healing), just by following these medical guidelines, you can speed up the recovery phase after a hair transplant.

That is because among the factors for completing the recovery phase is full adherence to the medical instructions the treating physician provides. Here are some of them:

Keep the Area Clean: To prevent infection, gently wash your scalp using a mild shampoo as directed by your surgeon.
Avoid Touching the Grafts: Do not touch or scratch the transplanted area to guarantee that the grafts stay intact.
Sleep Elevated: For the first few nights, sleep with your head elevated on extra pillows, which will help reduce any swelling. It is also recommended that you use a headband to prevent swelling from reaching the face.
Be hydrated: One should drink plenty of water, which assists with general health and healing.
Avoid Strenuous Activity: To help avoid scalp stress, avoid heavy lifting and strenuous workouts for at least one week.
Medication: Take painkillers and antibiotics according to the doctor's prescription.
Avoid Sun Exposure: After the operated-on area heals, protect your scalp from direct sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
Follow-up Care: As advised, return for follow-up care with the surgeon to check on your healing process.
Be Patient. Patience is one of the most important aspects of the recovery phase after a hair transplant, and hair growth takes time.
Healthy Diet: A diet comprising all the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals is essential for hair growth and healing in general.

It is worth mentioning that all the previous supportive medical tools are available with us in a medical bag provided by InternationalClinics for those undergoing hair transplant surgery, along with regular follow-ups after the procedure to ensure the completion of the healing process. Contact us to learn more.

It should be noted that not following these medical guidelines exposes the person to a longer recovery period and also to numerous health risks.

hair transplant side effects and healing

Hair transplantation can clear various complications, though they are rare. Which include:

Infection

Scabbing is one common problem that may arise if the postoperative care is not good, while scabbing is the normal process of recovery. Swelling and erythema may also occur in the donor and recipient sites in some patients.

Patchy growth

There is a less common appearance of hair or numbness in the area around the transplant site.

How long does swelling last after hair transplant using different techniques?

The recovery phase varies depending on the technique used in hair transplantation, and the following is an explanation for that:

Technique name	Recovery time
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)	7 to 10 days for the initial recovery
Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)	10 to 14 days
Direct Hair Implantation (DHI)	7 to 10 days
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)	Some days

patient testimonials of hair transplant healing

Various patients shared their stories of recovery post-hair transplantation, which were largely positive. Many testified that recovery was easy; the discomfort and swelling were manageable for the first days.

Such individuals underline how postoperative care has been important and how following directions given has helped their successful recovery. One of the patients said, "When I saw my new hair growing, it was great; it didn't happen overnight, but it was well worth the wait." Overall, all these testimonials show a newfound confidence and satisfaction when people tend to enjoy themselves with the transformative results of their procedures.

The bottom line:

Finally, to answer the question, (How long does it take for a hair transplant to heal? We can say that the time for hair transplant recovery varies with the technique applied and many individual factors. While most patients can expect initial healing in one or two weeks, complete recovery and ideal hair growth may take many months. For a quick recovery, postoperative care guidelines should be followed. Many receive amazing results with great patience and proper care, which gives confidence and builds up one's appearance.