What to Expect After Surgery

The First Post-Operative Week
If you have swelling, it usually occurs by the second or third day, and usually resolves by the fifth day.

Scabs are present around the transplanted hairs and we do not want you to disturb them until one week after surgery. Usually they will separate on their own, but if they do not, you can scrub them after one week. When the scab separates, you may have a little pinkness, like a sunburn. This does not occur in all patients, but if it does, it should resolve within a week or two. Although rare, this pinkness may last longer.

Sutures are removed in the office between the seventh and tenth post-operative day.

The First Month
The transplanted hairs begin to grow and they usually fall out by two to four weeks. This is completely normal and is to be expected. The hairs lie dormant for approximately three to five months before they begin growing again. They will grow approximately one-half inch per month.

Post-operative discomfort and numbness should resolve within the first month. You should restrict your activities for the first two weeks, and then you can resume all normal activities and all your pre-operative hair routines.

The First Year
You should see the doctor at the five-month and ten-month post-operative periods to review your progress.

The majority of your new hair should be growing by the end of the first year, but individuals vary and you may continue to get new hairs even beyond a year. The hair may be coarse, but between the first and second year, the hair softens and changes character, becoming more matched to the surrounding hair.