www.drvaibhavshah.net
Hair Transplant AfterCare
American actress and icon Mae West was once quoted as saying
that a man can be short and getting bald, but if he has fire then women will
like him. While this rings true, and the real measure of genuine interest
should always be one’s personality over external features, in today’s world,
baldness is at times a hindrances to a man’s success.
Most people believe bald men are confident, but while that
is also true, there are also bald men who do not prefer to be bald and would
rather have a full head of hair. Unfortunately, hair loss comes with age ,once
they reach a certain age. The good news is there are now many ways to address a
receding hairline and accelerated baldness, one of them is Hair Transplant
Surgey under Dr. Vaibhav Shah.
Hair transplant or surgical hair restoration is a procedure
in which hair follicles from a part of the body, referred to as the ‘donor
site’, is transferred to a bald or balding part of the body called the
‘recipient site’. The procedure has become popular for a lot of men, with 715%
under gone Hair Transplant in 2013 being male.
Given this rise, it is essential that those interested in
getting a hair transplant know what to do after the procedure, especially since
compliance with instructions are critical to a successful hair transplant and
faster return to daily routines. Here are a few important tips to follow from
the moment the operation is done until a couple of weeks later in your quest to
redeem your crowning glory.
DO’s
- DO
have someone drive you home after the procedure. The anesthetic sedative
administered to relieve pain and help you relax during the procedure takes
time to wear off, and it probably has not worn off yet by the time the
surgery is done. So driving yourself home while the sedative is still
kicking is not advisable at it might pose a danger to both you and to
others.
- DO
remember all the instructions given by your surgeon for postoperative hair
transplant care. While there are general guides for most hair transplants,
it is best to adhere to the instructions given by the person who
administered your hair transplant, as that person knows what post-surgery
care is best for your case.
- DO
have the clinic’s contact number saved in your phone and taped to your
fridge so that you or a family member may reach your surgeon in case of
adverse side effects or emergencies.
- DO
keep your scalp dry especially on the first day to allow for the skin to
heal.
- DO
keep the area around your scalp clean throughout recovery. While there may
be soreness and numbness in the grafted area, refrain from putting
anything on your scalp, which has not been approved by your surgeon as it
may only bring negative side effects.
- DO
take care of your scar. As with any surgery, there will be a certain amount
of scarring and itchiness when you get a hair transplant. You can apply
the antibiotic topical cream your surgeon have given you to prevent
infection and reduce scalp irritation and swelling. Otherwise, call the
surgeon for any medication you can use.
- DO
take painkillers if you experience pain and discomfort 3 to 4 hours
post-surgery. This is roughly the time it takes for the anesthesia to wear
off and you may experience minor soreness or swelling.
- DO
sleep in a semi-upright position and use two or more pillows to elevate
your head on the first night home after the procedure. Do the same for
next two nights post-surgery. This position is important to avoid any
excess swelling on your scalp. Try sleeping on a reclining chair if you
can to keep your head elevated. If the grafts were implanted in the lower
crown, or if there is a strip scar, you should sleep on the side on the
first two nights so as not to disrupt hair growth or cause the grafts to
fall off when it gets rubbed against the pillow.
- DO
try to take time off work to rest adequately and allow the bruising around
the hairline to subside.
- DO
return to your surgeon’s clinic two days after the procedure to have the
clinic remove any bandages and for them to wash your hair.
- DO
wash and shampoo your hair a day after the initial wash at the clinic to
remove any more dead skin and to clean the scabs around the grafted hairs.
Cleaning the scabs will prevent them from damaging the hair follicles and
thwarting hair growth.
- DO
ask your surgeon for advice on the shampoo that is best for you. Apply
this on the donor hair, as well as on the grafted parts of the scalp on
the next day.
- DO
hand wash your hair during the first couple of days after surgery instead
of putting your head directly below the showerhead. You can take a
low-pressure shower around 4 days after the procedure. This will help the
scabs to peel off, accelerate the healing process and lessen any signs of
the operation.
- DO
use an ice pack to reduce any bleeding or swelling on the first week.
However, refrain from placing the ice pack directly onto the grafted area.
Place it only on your forehead or on the back part of the head.
DON’Ts
- DON’T
expose yourself to direct sunlight immediately after and even a few days
after the procedure, especially if the scalp is still swollen. If going
outdoors in daytime is unavoidable, wear a hat.
- DON’T
touch or fidget with the newly-grafted scalp. A little itching and some
soreness are normal side effects, so picking at or rubbing the sore scalp
might result to the new grafts falling out before they can have a chance
to grow.
- DON’T
drink alcohol for the first five days after the procedure as it interferes
with the blood supply to the head.
- DON’T
smoke for an entire month after the surgery as doing so can interrupt
blood flow to your hair follicles. Blood flow is crucial for the growth of
new hair, as such, refraining from, or even better, completely giving up
smoking can hasten the growth of your hair. To prevent yourself from going
cold turkey, start reducing your cigarette daily count a few months before
your scheduled hair transplant.
- DON’T
play sports or perform exercise until a week after the surgery. Exercises
with minimal exertion may be resumed around 10 days after the procedure.
Sports with body contact, such as basketball or soccer, is prohibited
until about a month.
- DON’T
engage in activities that would cause excessive sweating. Perspiration
increases the risk of getting an infection to a great extent. It would
also be wise to reschedule that steam bath or sauna appointment until the
next month or so for the same reason.
- DON’T
regularly bend over, lean forward or blow your nose violently on the first
week.
At the end of the day, each surgeon has his own set of
postoperative instructions and it is best to strictly follow that of your
surgeon. Moreover, optimum patient recovery time depends ultimately upon you,
so take all the time you need to fully heal. Remember also that new hair takes
about 3 to 4 months to grow, though in some cases, it might take up to 6
months. So rather than anxiously waiting for that first strand of hair, keep
yourself busy with work or take up a new hobby. And when your hair is ready for
the big reveal, you can live your life more confidently, and more comfortably.
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