Male Hair Transplant Recovery: What to Expect

Recovering from a male hair transplant may require up to three months in total to complete the initial healing. Knowing what to expect as you are healing from a male hair transplant can help to approach each stage appropriately to ensure a smooth recovery process.

Immediately Following Post-Op

During the first few days following a male hair transplant surgery, it is common to experience the following:

Redness and Increased Swelling: Visible redness and swelling is common surrounding donor and transplanted skin regions. With a healthy healing process, the redness and swelling should decrease within the first three days.

Discomfort and Mild Pain: It is not uncommon to experience discomfort accompanied by mild pain immediately after surgery. During this stage of recovery, your surgeon or specialist may direct you to take pain medication. Applying and regularly removing bandages from wounds is also necessary for the first one to two days following a hair transplant.

Sleeping Position Adjustments: As your head heals from your hair transplant surgery, you will be directed to sleep in positions that allow your head to remain elevated throughout the night. This will reduce irritation and swelling in the donor and transplanted areas.

During your first week of recovery after your initial male hair transplant, you may experience an increase in scabbing surrounding the areas on the head that received transplanted follicles. Avoid picking or removing scabs, as they will typically heal on their own in 7–10 days, falling off naturally and preventing unnecessary scarring. In terms of self-care, keep the following in mind:

Limiting Physical Activities: Avoid overexerting yourself with unnecessary exercise, sweating, or exposure to the sun while you are still healing after your hair transplant. This will protect your scalp as it heals without causing disturbances or delays in the process.

Hair Washing: Once it's time for you to wash your hair, you will want to do so gently and with solutions recommended to you by your transplant surgeon. Avoid using products that are known to be harsh on the scalp, such as bleach, while you are recovering from your male hair transplant surgery.

After the initial week or two of recovery, the scabbing that may occur should nearly be healed. You may experience the following once your scabs have successfully healed or fallen off:

Increased Itching: It's not uncommon to experience increased intense itching after the scabs on your scalp have fallen off or healed. Using topical anti-itch creams (recommended by your surgeon based on your skin type) can alleviate the urge to scratch your scalp, allowing it to heal faster.

Shedding: Some transplanted hair may fall out during this time. It's important not to worry, as this is often referred to as "shock loss" and will only last temporarily.

After the initial month has passed and your scalp's surface is healed, you may experience some numbness (in both donor and transplanted regions of the body). The numbness is not uncommon and will likely dissipate within three months.

Initial hair growth from transplanted hair follicles will begin to grow and become visible to the naked eye approximately 2–3 months after your initial transplant. The hair that grows may first appear and feel fine but will thicken over time. You can expect new hair to continue to grow continuously for 6–12 months after your initial hair transplant.

Preparing yourself for the recovery process of a male hair transplant will allow you to feel much more comfortable with and confident in your decision to proceed with the surgery. If you're suffering from hair loss, dealing with a genetic condition, or simply interested in changing your look, New Horizons is here to help. 

To learn more about male hair transplants and to determine if the procedure is right for you, schedule an appointment with New Horizons today. Our expert team is ready to guide you through every step of the process, ensuring you achieve the best possible results.