The Day of Your Operation

Today is Day 0, the day of your operation. After 6–7 hours of surgery, you now have a dressing on the back of your head and the grafts are in place on the recipient area. The anaesthetic will keep your head numb for a few hours, so be mindful as you move around—especially when getting into or out of a car or walking through doorways, as the grafts are very fragile and any trauma can dislodge them.

As the anaesthetic wears off, you might experience mild headaches in both the donor and recipient areas. This is completely normal. To manage the discomfort, take two co-dydramol tablets, which you’ll find in your post-op pack, up to four times daily. If needed, you can alternate this with 400mg of ibuprofen three times a day.

When you get home, drink plenty of fluids. In the evening, take your first dose of antibiotics (flucloxacillin, or an alternative if you are allergic to penicillin). Make sure to avoid excessive bending and try to stay upright. When it’s time to sleep, use three or four pillows to keep your head elevated at a 45-degree angle, or use a travel neck pillow to prevent accidental trauma to the recipient area.

Day 1 After Your Hair Transplant

By Day 1, you can remove the dressing and allow the donor area to air dry. There should be no bleeding, but if you notice any minor oozing, gently apply pressure with gauze for five minutes to stop it.

You can wash your face and shower from the neck down, but avoid getting water on the recipient area. After having breakfast, it’s time to start your anti-inflammatory medication, prednisolone. You’ll take six tablets (30mg) each morning for five days. If you experience any pain, continue with your co-dydramol and ibuprofen, but remember that these medications can cause indigestion. If you have a history of heartburn, let us know so we can provide an alternative.

By now, the scabs on the recipient area will begin to form, and you’ll likely feel some itchiness. Resist the urge to scratch. Instead, apply a few sprays of saline solution to the recipient area every couple of hours to relieve the irritation. If needed, you can take an antihistamine like cetirizine or loratadine to help with the itching.

For the first five days, it’s important to stay at home and avoid strenuous activities to reduce the risk of accidental damage to the grafts.

Day 2 and Day 3 After Transplant

On Day 2, continue as you did on Day 1. Take your medications as prescribed, be careful with the recipient area, and stay relaxed.

On Day 3, you’ll start washing the donor area at the back of your head. Mix a capful of baby shampoo in a jug of lukewarm water and pour it over the donor area. Gently clean the area with the palm of your hand and rinse thoroughly with more lukewarm water. Pat the area dry with a towel and then apply a fingertip amount of Savlon cream to the donor area three times a day for three days.

Continue with the medications and saline spray on the recipient area. Avoid vigorous activities and maintain a calm recovery environment.

Day 5 After Transplant

By Day 5, you’ve made it through the most critical period of recovery. Tonight, you can return to sleeping in your normal position without needing the elevated pillow setup.

In the morning, you’ll wash the recipient area for the first time. Use the same baby shampoo and lukewarm water mixture as before. Pour the solution over your head, and while in the shower, use the lightest water setting to rinse away the shampoo. Make sure to give your scalp a good soak for about ten minutes to help soften the scabs. Repeat this wash twice on both Day 5 and Day 6.

Day 7 After Transplant

On Day 7, continue with the same washing routine. In the evening, you can begin gently massaging off the scabs. First, apply oil (baby oil, olive oil, coconut oil—any will work) to the recipient area and let it soak for about 30 minutes. Then, while washing with baby shampoo and lukewarm water, use the pulp of your fingers to gently massage the scabs in circular motions. Don’t scrape at any stubborn scabs—these will come off with repeated washes over the next few days.

Days 8 to 14 After Transplant

By Day 8, most of the scabs should have fallen off. If some remain, continue washing gently and they will soon come off. After all the scabs are gone, you can resume more regular activities, including light exercise. You can also wash your hair normally. I recommend using a mild medicated shampoo, like Nizoral, every other day for the next six weeks to reduce flaking and maintain scalp hygiene.

By the end of two weeks, you can start wearing a baseball cap or soft hat if you prefer to cover your head when going outside.

2 Weeks Post-Transplant Review

At your two-week review, we’ll discuss your progress and what to expect going forward. By this point, the donor area will look almost normal, and the recipient site will resemble a short buzz cut. You might still feel some numbness on the top of your scalp—this is normal and will improve over the next few weeks. The donor site may also feel slightly sensitive, but it won’t be painful.

Between weeks 2 and 4, you may notice some shedding. Don’t be alarmed by this—it’s a normal part of the healing process. The hair shafts are shedding, but the roots of the follicles remain beneath the scalp. 

You will have your first PRP (platelet-rich plasma) treatment after 4 weeks. PRP helps rejuvenate the scalp and supports faster, healthier growth of the transplanted hair. We recommend a session every 4–6 weeks for the first three months.

3 to 12 Months After Transplant

Between months 3 and 4, you’ll start to see new hair growth. The initial hairs may be fine and spiky, but this will improve with time. Growth occurs in stages, and by month 6, you should see significant progress, especially at the front of your scalp. The crown area typically takes longer, so expect more noticeable growth between months 8 and 10.

By month 12, most of the hair follicles (around 80%) will have grown, but full results can take up to 12 to 18 months.

1 Year After Transplant

After a year, you can treat your transplanted hair just like normal hair. You can shampoo, cut, and style it as you wish, and all regular activities, including exercise, are now fully safe. Enjoy your new look!