After-Surgery Tips for Hair Transplant Patients!

Like any other surgery, hair transplantation surgery also needs post-surgery care and precautions. More care needs to be taken in case of FUT than with FUE. This is because in FUT method, a strip of scalp is cut out from the back of the head and the wound is then closed and sutured. Therefore, this requires more stringent post-surgery care.

Moreover, during the first few days some of the transplanted hairs may fall out. This is because some hair follicles may get ‘traumatized’ after relocation to the recipient site. This is called “shock loss”. New hairs will begin to grow from the transplanted follicles in a few months. These hairs will grow like normal hairs and continue to thicken in the next six months and thereafter. Any further hair loss will only come from the untreated areas of the scalp which were already balding. Subsequent transplantation procedure may be resorted to, if required.

Post Surgery Tips

There is a long list of post-surgery care and tips to ensure a high success rate. It is important to follow the post surgery instructions. Taking good care of the grafts is vital among these. There may be an onset of swelling in the scalp, especially in case of FUT. This may last a few days.

In case of the FUT method, taking care of the wound in the donor area is important. The sutures should be kept clean, and are removed after a week. The recipient are is most vulnerable and it should be protected from accidental friction with any other object. Also, this area must be kept dry and free from dust and pollution. It also needs to be protected from direct sunlight.

The patient will be put on antibiotics and painkillers for a few days. Later he may be prescribed topical solution of Minoxidil which is considered good for the blood circulation in the scalp. In some patient Finasteride which acts as a male hormone inhibitor and thus is known to prevent hair loss may also be prescribed.

Semi-permeable dressing is recommended for dressing the donor site wound in case of FUT. Such semi-permeable dressings allow the drainage of blood and tissue fluids. These dressings must be changed at least daily, and if required then more frequently.

It is recommended that the scalp be kept clean. It is required to be washed with antiseptic shampoos. Shampooing can be started from the next day or two days later. Shampooing i required to keep the area around the graft clean. This helps prevent scalps forming around the hair shafts. Scabs adhering to the hair shaft have a tendency to weaken the newly transplanted hair follicles. While shampooing, it must be ensured that the grafts are not disturbed. Shampooing must be continued for at least two weeks to help the hair follicles take roots and grow in the newly transplanted site.

The grafts are kept wet with saline for a few days post-surgery. The grafted follicles may fall out after a few weeks of hair transplant. However, new growth will take place within three to six months after the surgery. The new hairs will gain density and length after some time. These hairs will be more robust and will continue to grow, even as the un-grafted hairs on the surrounding area falls away. The resultant bald spots can again be grafted during future sessions.

How do I protect my natural hairs after a hair transplant?

Nowadays, a lot of people (especially men) are going for a hair transplant due to many problems plaguing our busy and stressful lives. Also, hair transplant has become quite relatively affordable and painless. However, once it is done, it does not stop there.

After you have received that new transplanted crop of hair on the empty part of your scalp, here begins the second round of your hair care. You will need to follow certain rules for the sake of hair’s post-surgery health. If you are too concerned that you may lose your hair and think that you will have to start everything all over again, do not worry, they are quite easy to follow.

Here are some of a few rules you need to follow to protect your natural hairs after a hair transplant.

1. Avoid Harsh Hair Products:Hair washes products such strong shampoos and conditioners are harmful to the hair. Always remember that while washing your head, positively never use those strong shampoos and hair conditioners because of the high presence of chemicals present in them.
2. Don’t Wipe Them Hard:Do not dry your hair with hard towels because the roughness of the fabric is capable enough to loosen the roots in your scalp. This would possibly undo a lot of the work they put into transplanting the hair in your scalp.
3. Heat Is the Enemy:Heat is bad for your natural hair as it can also loosen up the roots of your natural hair and hasten up the process of hair loss. Even while using hair dryers, always set them on a standard non-heat mode. This way you can dry them without using a lot of heat, albeit it will take a bit longer.
4. Don’t Exercise Too Hard:This has nothing to do with blood circulation in your body, but about sweating which is a natural consequence of exercising. Sweating leads to a higher possibility of infection in the operated areas of the scalp. Going by the same reasoning, also avoid sauna treatments because of the sweat causing environment.
5. No Spices. No Booze:The way our body responds to spicy foods, full of seasoning, oil and high amount of salt and alcohol, is not at all favorable to your hair. Your hair stands a good chance of loosening on its roots as a result of consuming such foods. However, going by this information, it becomes important to share what foods are good for your hair.

Eat This To Take Good Care Of Your Hair:

1. Walnuts:They contain biotin, Vitamin E and good fatty acids that are inherently good for your hair.
2. Eggs:While egg whites contain protein, they also provide you with zinc, iron, selenium, and sulfur that help in efficiently carrying oxygen to your hair follicles.
3. Fish:Fish such as salmon and trout (maybe tuna) are rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids, proteins, and Vitamin D, all of which are healthy for your hair.
4. Spinach:Spinach contains, folate, Vitamin-C, and folate which are very vital for maintaining the health of your hair follicle.

Taking care of your natural hair after your hair transplant surgery is easy, but is very important and should not be ignored.