although you will be able to return to work no later than 5 days after surgery, your scalp will be very sensitive and tender for the first two or three days. so, at this time, your scalp will wear bandages over the scalp and you will use a hair band around the forehead to avoid the swelling in the face. in addition, as there may be some pain issues, you are very likely to use some pain killers to be relieved. you will also have an antibiotic or an anti-inflammatory drug for several days.
the transplanted hair may fall out two to three weeks after the procedure, but you should notice new growth within a few months. some surgeons prescribe minoxidil to increase hair growth after transplantation, but it is unclear how effective it is.
in addition, you may experience swelling and oedema, itching, and mild pain for a few days after surgery. to relieve these sensations, you can apply cold packs to your head, use soothing creams, or take symptomatic medications prescribed by your doctor.
how do you feel after a hair transplant?
during the first few days after the operation, slight swelling, itching and pain may be felt in both the intake and transplanted area. these symptoms usually heal completely within 1 week. redness and crusts observed after the operation usually disappear at the end of the fifteenth day.
what happens after hair transplant surgery?
after hair transplants, your head may be uncomfortable, and you might want to consume drugs. we know that you wonder when you can work again. so, know that many patients can go back to workplace few days following the operation.
the implanted hair is expected to come out two to three weeks after the treatment. this allows for the growth of new hair. 8 to 12 months following the operation, many patients will notice considerable fresh hair growth.
it normally takes one to one and half years until you can start to see the ultimate results of your operation.
swelling and oedema after hair transplant
swelling or oedema of the forehead or eyelids is a typical side effect of hair transplantation, especially 2-6 days after the procedure.
you may experience swelling of the cheeks and eyes but it should go down a few days after surgery. if you notice any swelling at this time, apply ice to the affected area. no special medication is needed. the swelling will almost always go down after 5 days.
in some cases, the oedema is so severe that the patient cannot open his eyes. in rare cases, there is also ecchymosis of the eyelids, also known as black eyes. this can lead to morbidity as well as a delay in returning to normal life and work. numerous treatments have been suggested to reduce the edema, including both physical measures and steroid injections.
physical techniques include wearing a strong headband, resting down in a semi-lay down position after surgery, placing adhesive tapes below the hairline, and using ice packs or frozen pea bags. steroids can be administered orally, intramuscularly, or by combining them with a local anaesthetic. however, none of these strategies has shown to be completely satisfying.
in conclusion, you will have some small problems after the surgery such as swelling and oedema. nevertheless, they are only a few last steps that you should deal with to reach the victory that you will have in time.
itching
after a hair transplant, you may notice that the donor and recipient sites on your head are very itchy. this is due to the healing process your scalp goes through to recover after hair removal and implantation. the scalp produces chemicals that cause irritation and make you want to scratch as part of the healing process.
this unpleasant feeling, itching, after a hair transplant usually lasts for a week, but in rare cases it can last up to four weeks. you should keep in mind that itching can be especially severe during the first four to five days after your hair transplant if you are unable to wash the top of your head. after you wash this area for the first time, you will notice a significant improvement.
luckily, there are some ways to relieve itching;
- usage of salt water spray: after treatment, you cannot wash your transplanted hair for four to five days. during this time, your clinic should provide you with a salt water spray. this not only conditions the hair, but also removes debris and dry skin, both of which can cause itching. spray as much as you like on your scalp to soothe the transplanted area. be careful not to spray the water in a single stream, as this can cause hair damage.
- taking an anti-histamine: taking an anti-histamine reduces the histamines released in your scalp, making you feel less itchy following a hair transplant.
- medicated shampoo usage: you can use a medicated shampoo, commonly known as ketoconazole shampoo, for further comfort. shampooing your hair twice a week for 2-4 weeks with this medicated shampoo will suffice.
- steroid scalp solution usage: applying the solution for seven days helps to relieve irritation and any leftover inflammation in your scalp.
burning sensation
it is typical to feel a burning sensation, especially in the transplanted area, 4 days following the hair transplant. it is recommended that you just apply the moisturizing lotion to your donor area three or four times each day in this case.
recovery period
first day
the day after the operation, dressings and prp or laser treatment are applied in the clinic. the bandage on the donor area is removed after dressing.
third day
you should begin postoperative hair washing; your first hair wash will most likely be the day after your treatment at the facility which you get the surgery. we will provide you a special shampoo and lotion, as well as instructions on how to wash your hair for the following 15 days, at this follow-up session. washing will aid in the removal of scabs and hasten the healing process.
seventh day
your bandages will be open at this point, and the donor area may be irritating. in such cases, apply gentle pressure to the donor area with your palm. light massage with your fingers to relieve the itching in the donor area will help to relieve the itching.
15 days
by around 15 days, all of your grafts should be securely in place, and you should be able to resume your normal showering and shampooing routine.
one to three months
during this time, it is perfectly normal that you do not notice any changes or, worse, which your hair falls out faster than before. you may notice that your hair appears significantly thinner than before the procedure.
this can be scary, but it is part of the process. your hair follicles will come back to life after being inactive for a short time during the removal and re-implantation process.
three to six month
this is usually where the initial growing period begins. the initial new hairs that appear may be extremely thin and fine, have a lighter hue, or have no color at all—again, this is not cause for concern. the hair that grows after that will be thicker and more solid.
six to nine months
this is usually when you notice a noticeable benefit, as your hair follicles are mostly healed and growth begins to become fuller, thicker, and closer to its normal color.
nine to twelve months
during this time, most patients will see approximately 90% of their fresh regrowth.
twelve to 18 months
new hair may still be growing in for certain patients at this time. furthermore, when your hair follicles adjust to their new rhythm, the texture and color of your hair may continue to alter.
reference:
https://fellermedical.com/what-to-expect-after-a-hair-transplant
