Hair Transplantation Recovery

Hair transplant surgery allows men and women to address issues with balding without the need for wigs or medications. Patients will get natural, growing hair that blends in seamlessly with their remaining hair. In order to achieve the best results, it's important that you follow our instructions for pre-operative care and post-operative recovery. The team at our Boston and New York hair loss clinics will provide you with detailed information on both, though we'd like to look at the recovery process right now. This will give you a good idea of what to expect from surgery.

Why Following Instructions for Care is So Important

By following the instructions of our hair restoration surgeons in New York and Boston, you will be able to prevent adverse side effects from occurring during your recovery time. You will also ensure that your hair transplants integrate with your natural hair properly.

A Basic Timeline for Recovery

Whether a patient undergoes New York follicular unit transplantation or follicular unit extraction, this timeline should give a basic indication of what to expect. The extent of the surgery will also affect this timeline, so please keep that in mind.

Roughly 24 hours after the hair transplant surgery has been performed, patients will notice small scabs forming over the hair grafts. This is normal and part of the recovery process. Do no scratch these scabs or pick at them. The scabs will fall off on their own after a week to a week and a half.

It's normal for patients to experience soreness or mild discomfort in the area of the hair grafts after the surgery is performed. These sensations should subside after a few days. Most patients should feel completely fine 24 to 48 hours after the grafting has been performed.

Roughly 6 to 15 weeks after the surgery, hair will begin to grow in the area of the grafts. Generally this hair will grow at a rate of 1 centimeter per month. It should be noted that multiple grafting procedures may need to be performed in order to achieve optimal hair restoration.

Side Effects and Complications to Keep in Mind

Apart from mild bleeding, soreness, and itchiness, there are a few other side effects to keep in mind. Patients may also notice numbness in the scalp after hair transplant surgery. This is normal and will subside after a few weeks.

Many patients who undergo follicular unit extraction and follicular unit transplantation will also notice that their remaining hair goes thinner after undergoing surgery. While this may seem strange, it's actually a common side effect. This will subside after a few weeks, at which point your hair growth will return to normal.

Infection of the skin can also occur after surgery, though it is rare.

Learn More About Hair Transplants and Restoration

For more information about hair transplants and other options for treating baldness, we encourage you to contact our hair restoration centers in New York, Boston, and Long Island today. Our team of hair transplant specialists will give you all of the information you need to make an informed decision that best meets your needs.