Hair transplant aftercare: what to do, day by day
After a hair transplant the first wash is done at the clinic the next day, crusts come away in 10–14 days, most of the transplanted hairs shed in months 2–4 as shock loss, new growth starts from month 4 and the result completes at 12–18 months.
What happens in the first 72 hours?
The first 72 hours are the period in which the grafts have not yet fully taken. The greatest risks in that window are physical contact, pressure and sweating.
Swelling usually moves down to the forehead on days 2–4 and resolves on its own — which means it will probably peak on the day you fly home. Cold is applied to the upper forehead, not to the transplanted area.
- Sleep on your back with the pillow raised to 45 degrees; the transplanted area must not touch the pillow.
- Do not bend down, lift anything heavy or do anything that raises blood pressure.
- Smoking and alcohol impair tissue perfusion; avoid them for the period your doctor specifies.
- Driving is not advised on the first day; plan the journey back with someone with you.
When and how is the first wash done?
The first wash is done at the clinic the day after the operation and you are taught how to do it. Do not start guessing at it at home.
The wash has three steps: lotion is applied to the transplanted area and left for 20–30 minutes, warm water is poured from a cupped hand at low pressure, foam is applied with the fingertips without pressing and then rinsed. No rubbing, and the shower head is never held directly over the area.
From then on the wash is repeated at home every day. Daily washing softens the crusts steadily; days that are skipped let them harden.
When do the crusts come away?
Crusts come away by themselves in 10–14 days. That can vary by a few days with how regularly you wash and with your skin type.
Itching is expected in that period. Picking a crust off with a fingernail can pull the graft out with it, so crusts are only softened by washing and allowed to fall.
By the end of day 14 there should be no crusts left in the transplanted area. If any remain, do nothing further at home and tell the clinic.
When can I go back to exercise, swimming and shaving?
The intervals below are typical; the written instructions given to you always take precedence.
- Direct sun — avoided for the first 30 days; a hat only of the type your doctor allows, and never one that presses on the area.
- Swimming pools, the sea, steam rooms and saunas — generally not for the first 30 days.
- Heavy exercise and anything that makes you sweat — generally paused for 2–4 weeks; walking is free after the first week.
- Trimming with scissors — possible after day 15.
- Clippers — generally not before month 1 in the donor area and month 6 in the transplanted area.
- Hair dye and chemical treatments — generally not for the first 4–6 weeks.
What is shock loss and when does it happen?
Shock loss is the shedding of the transplanted hairs between months 2 and 4. What sheds is the hair shaft; the follicle stays in place and produces hair again.
It is an expected stage, not a failure of the procedure. Most of the transplanted grafts shed in this period and the hair can temporarily look thinner than it did before the operation.
Shock loss is not accompanied by pain, redness or discharge. If those are present, the picture is not shock loss and the clinic should be told.
In which month is the result visible?
The result settles gradually. Final assessment is at 12–18 months; photographs taken earlier show an intermediate stage.
- Days 0–14 — crusting and shedding, redness reduces.
- Months 2–4 — shock loss. Most of the transplanted shafts shed; the follicle stays.
- Months 4–6 — new growth begins; the first hairs may be fine and colourless.
- Months 6–12 — the hairs thicken and the sense of density settles.
- Months 12–18 — the result completes; final assessment is made in this window.
Which symptoms mean contacting the clinic?
The findings below are not part of normal healing and should be reported without delay. Send photographs with your message; a written clinical opinion normally comes back the same day, and we will say plainly if you need to be seen by a doctor where you live rather than wait.
- Spreading, increasing redness, local warmth or discharge
- Widespread inflamed, spot-like lesions
- A temperature above 38 °C
- Pain or loss of sensation in the donor area persisting beyond the first week
- Hardened crusts that have not come away after day 14
This page is general information and does not replace a clinical examination. The method, dose and timescale that apply to you are decided by a doctor after examining you.
Frequently asked questions
When can I go back to normal shampoo?
When can I fly after the operation?
When can I dye my hair?
When can I go back to work?
Do I have to grow my hair after a transplant?
Pre-assessment
Describe your situation and we will answer with a measurement
Send a photograph or an X-ray. A doctor in the relevant speciality will reply with a graft range, a number of teeth or a dose range in units. If you are not suitable, we say so plainly.