What to Expect During Hair Transplant Recovery: A 4-Month Post-Procedure Guide

Date 23 May 2024  

Hair transplant in Hyderabad is a potent treatment for hair thinning, hair loss, or balding. It provides permanent, natural hair restoration and a considerable upliftment of self-esteem and confidence. It is a cosmetic surgery offered at Eternelle Aesthetics that has a transformative improvement in the hair loss sufferer’s overall life quality. However, it is not an immediate option for reversing hair loss. The desired surgery outcome is noticeable in over a year as new hair growth takes time.

What is hair transplantation?

Hair transplant surgery involves moving healthy hair follicles from the back or side of the scalp to the hair loss-affected areas. The operation can be performed using different techniques like Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and Advanced Follicular Unit Extraction (Advanced FUE). After hair transplant surgery, it is crucial to be patient for results and strictly follow the post-surgery instructions provided by the surgeon.

This article sets out a detailed timeline of what growth to expect in 4 months and what care instructions to follow after having a hair transplant. Adherence to proper recovery guidelines is crucial for a successful hair transplant.

Hair Transplant Timeline: Recovery and What to Expect

A week after a hair transplant

What to expect: Following hair transplant in Hyderabad, the donor and recipient sites are bandaged and these areas are allowed to go through a natural healing process. During the first week of recovery, it's normal to feel slight pain or discomfort and then itching as the scab forms on the wounded sites and falls off. Newly transplanted hair follicles establish enough blood supply and receive oxygen and nutrients for hair growth.

Aftercare instructions:

• Take pain-relieving medication to get relief from post-operative pain or discomfort and have better sleep.
• Cover and protect the head from environmental factors whenever going outdoors.
• Typically for five days, avoid taking a head bath, rubbing the operated areas, scratching the scalp, and getting engaged in any physical activities that heat the body and cause sweating.

2 weeks after a hair transplant

What to expect: The healing of the donor and recipient areas is underway. The post-procedural swelling is expected to subside in 2 weeks but still, there is some itching and redness as the scabs naturally fall off. Around this time, the transplanted hair starts to shed from the recipient zone which is a normal part of the hair growth cycle. New hair begins to form in the hair follicles and will start to grow eventually.

Aftercare instructions:

• No restrictions on sleeping position. Sleep in any position without feeling much discomfort.
• Resume routine activities and engage in light physical activities as there is a reduced risk of  scalp irritation.
• Soak your head while having a bath to allow the scabs to wash away. Avoid picking the scabs.

A month after a hair transplant

What to expect: Most of the transplanted hair by this time will enter the telogen (resting phase of the hair growth cycle) and then in the exogen (shedding phase of the hair growth cycle). As every hair follicle in the recipient area is under different phases of the hair growth cycle at a particular instant, the area may look patchy in hair growth after a month of hair transplant. However, by this time, the donor area gets fully covered with new hair.

Aftercare instructions:

• Avoid heavy weight lifting as it can impede the natural healing process.
• Avoid strenuous workouts including swimming, gym workout, running, cycling, and others.
• Keep hands clean and avoid touching the scalp with dirty hands.
• Inform the surgeon if experiencing any signs of persistent inflammation like very red and hot skin.
• Wash hair with mild shampoo and ordinary clean water.

2 months after a hair transplant

What to expect: After 2 months of undergoing a hair transplant, the shedding of transplanted hair continues. Most of the hair have already fallen out and new hair have begun to root. The speed at which the transplanted hair falls out and gets replaced with new hair varies from one patient to another. It depends on factors such as the surgery technique used, genetics, general health status of the patient, and post-surgical care.

Aftercare instructions:

• Continue following post-operative instructions provided by the surgeon for 4 weeks after hair transplant.
• Gently wash the head and avoid any activities that would damage the transplanted hair.

3 months after a hair transplant

What to expect: By this time, new hair can be seen sprouting out in areas where hair grafts have been implanted. These new hairs called vellus hairs are likely to be thin and almost colourless and look wispy because of their lack of maturity. With time, these hairs may become stronger and thicker as the transplanted hair follicles are active and healthy.

Aftercare instructions:

• Do not panic on seeing new hair slowly emerging in the recipient area. Be patient to see the desired hair growth.
• Gently care for the scalp and new hair.
• Avoid the use of any harsh, chemical-based hair products and aggressive hair styling that could damage the existing and newly growing hair.
• Protect the scalp and hair from direct sunlight.

4 months after a hair transplant

What to expect: By month 4, more hair comes in the anagen- growth phase of the hair growth cycle, and there is a noticeable increased length of new hair. At first, the new hair growth appears patchy, and later on, it gets uniform. Swelling and redness are no longer noticeable in the donor and recipient areas and the scalp appears closer to its normal texture and colour. Any scabs or crusts have disappeared. However, some patients may report having mild irritation, itching, or redness.

What is the aftercare after a hair transplant?

Manage expectations from the surgery outcome to be satisfied with hair transplant.
To preserve achieved results, ongoing maintenance is required by following the right hair care products and having a healthy lifestyle.   
Take prescribed medications to support the healing process and encourage hair growth.
Do not miss on follow-up appointments with the surgeon. The surgeon will monitor the natural healing of the operated areas and will make any necessary adjustments or interventions. At this time, the surgeon provides guidance and even reassurance to the patient.
Proper scalp and hair cleaning, shampooing, and protection from sunlight are all critical.  
Maintain a healthy diet plan to ensure good general health including scalp and hair health.
Avoid taking stress and keep your body well-hydrated by drinking plenty of water daily.
If the surgeon allows, do a scalp massage to improve blood circulation to the hair roots and promote hair growth.

One who follows the hair transplant guidelines will achieve the best outcomes. It is also important to have a healthy diet following the treatment for the best results. For effective results and the best surgical outcomes for hair transplantation, meet the best hair transplant surgeon in Hyderabad at Eternelle Aesthetics.