Hair transplant recovery

Recovery from a hair transplant happens in two stages. The first two weeks are about healing: swelling, scabs and protecting the new grafts. After that comes a long, slow wait for growth. The transplanted hairs usually shed within weeks, new hair starts to appear from about the fourth month, and the final result can take 12 to 18 months. This guide sets out what is typical. Your own clinic's instructions come first, because aftercare differs between doctors and between FUE and FUT.

Before surgery: plan your first fortnight

• Arrange for someone to take you home. You will have had local anaesthesia, and your head may be bandaged.
• Plan for a few days to two weeks away from work, depending on your job and how much you mind visible scabs.
• If you normally ride a two-wheeler, plan other transport. A helmet presses on the grafts in the early days, but riding without one is not a safe or legal option.
• Ask the clinic for written aftercare instructions and a phone number that works out of hours.

The first two weeks, day by day

Day of surgery. Most procedures take most of a day and you go home the same day. The donor area is usually bandaged. Numbness wears off over the evening and you may feel sore. Take only the medicines your clinic gave or approved. Many clinics advise sleeping with your head raised on pillows for the first few nights to limit swelling.

Day 1. Many clinics see you the next day to remove the bandage and check the grafts. Do not touch, scratch or rub the grafts. They are fragile and can be dislodged in the first days.

Days 2 to 5. Swelling of the forehead is common and may spread to the eyelids. It usually appears around the second or third day and settles within about three to five days. Tiny scabs form around each graft. The donor area may feel tight and sore, especially after FUT. Clinics differ on when the first gentle wash happens, anywhere from the second day to about the sixth. Follow your clinic's method exactly, which usually means pouring water and lathering gently with the fingertips, never rubbing.

Days 6 to 10. Swelling should have gone. Scabs start to soften and loosen with gentle washing. Itching is common; do not scratch. If you had FUT, stitches are often removed at around 10 to 14 days.

Days 10 to 14. Most scabs have come off by the end of the second week. The scalp may look pink, and the transplanted area may show short stubble. Most people feel presentable by now, although redness can last longer on fair skin. The NHS says to be very careful with the grafts for the first two weeks, because they are not yet secure.

Month by month after that

Weeks 2 to 6: shedding. Most transplanted hairs fall out a few weeks after surgery. This is expected. The roots stay under the skin and go into a resting phase. Some people also get shock loss: temporary shedding of their own existing hair around the transplanted area, usually starting two to six weeks after surgery. It is more common in women and in people whose hair was already thinning. It usually recovers over the following months, but in areas where hair was already very thin some of it may not come back.

Months 1 to 3: the waiting phase. The treated area can look much as it did before surgery, or thinner if you had shock loss. Some people get small pimples as new hairs push through the skin. These usually settle, but tell your clinic if they are painful or spreading.

Months 3 to 4: first growth. New hairs usually start to appear from about the fourth month. They are often fine and uneven at first.

Months 6 to 9: visible change. Growth becomes easier to see as the hairs lengthen and thicken. Indian dermatology guidelines tell patients to expect proper growth at about nine months.

Months 12 to 18: the final result. The NHS says full results can take 10 to 18 months. Hair continues to thicken and change texture during this time, and some areas can take longer than others. This is the point to judge the result with your doctor and discuss whether anything more is needed.

Work, exercise, helmet and sun

Work. The NHS suggests planning for one to two weeks off. People with desk jobs who do not mind visible scabs sometimes return within a few days. Jobs that involve heavy lifting, heat or dust need longer.

Exercise. Avoid anything that raises your blood pressure or makes you sweat heavily in the first days. The NHS says you may be told to cut down on exercise in the first month. Light walking is usually fine early. Heavy weights, running, contact sports and swimming usually wait until your clinic says so.

Caps and helmets. Avoid anything that presses on or rubs the grafts while they settle, which is roughly the first one to two weeks. Clinics often allow a loose, clean cap after the first days. Ask your clinic when you can wear a helmet, and use other transport until then.

Sun. Protect your healing scalp from strong sun, which can burn fresh skin and is linked to poorer growth. Stay in shade and, once your clinic allows, wear a loose hat. Ask before putting sunscreen on the grafts.

Smoking and alcohol. Smoking is linked to poorer healing and graft growth. Ask your doctor about alcohol, which can increase bleeding and swelling in the first days.

Haircuts and colouring. Ask your clinic. Most advise waiting several weeks before a close clipper cut on the donor area and longer before hair dye.

Medicines for hair loss. If you use minoxidil or finasteride, ask when to restart. A transplant does not stop your own hair from continuing to thin, and many doctors advise continuing medical treatment.

When to contact your clinic

Call your clinic, or seek urgent care if you cannot reach it, if you have:

• a fever, or feel unwell
• redness, heat or pain that is spreading or getting worse after the first few days
• yellow or green pus from the donor or recipient area
• bleeding that does not stop after 10 to 15 minutes of firm, steady pressure with clean gauze
• swelling that closes your eyes or keeps getting worse after the fifth day
• many grafts coming out with blood at the base
• severe or worsening pain that your prescribed pain relief does not control
• lumps, cysts or patches of dark or unhealing skin in the weeks after surgery

A little spotting when a graft is knocked in the first days, and fine hairs falling out after two weeks, are usually normal. If you are unsure, ask.

Our safety guide explains which side effects are expected and which are complications. The FUE vs FUT guide explains how donor-area healing differs between methods.

Planning recovery around cost and travel

If you are travelling to another city for surgery, allow for at least the day after surgery and ideally the first wash at the clinic before you travel home. Follow-up visits over the next year are part of good care, so ask whether they are included in the price and how they work if you live far away. The cost per graft guide lists what quotes usually include. You can compare city estimates on the India cost overview, and see clinics listed in cities such as Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore.