After a hair transplant
The healing process after a hair transplantation is, in most cases, painless and smooth. However, the patient must follow the instructions and advice given by Nordic Hair Clinic. This is so that the result will be as good as possible, and any risks minimized.
Wash
72 hours after the procedure you shall rinse your hair gently. 4 days after your surgery you can start washing your hair with a mild shampoo. Be careful when drying your head. Read more about how to wash the transplant area here.
Hat and cap
After 5 days, it is okay to start using a hat or a cap if it is not tight and if it is only kept on for shorter periods.
Sauna
Avoid bathing in the sauna for up to 4 weeks after the hair transplant. It is very hot inside a sauna and the heat can damage the newly transplanted hair follicles.
Bath
Pool, jacuzzi and general swimming pools should be avoided for the first 4 weeks. This is because there are a lot of bacteria, chlorine and cleaning agents in these places. Bathing in the sea should also be avoided up to 4 weeks after the procedure.
Exercise
Wait 14 days to practice and perform activities that greatly increase heart rate and high blood pressure. Also, avoid lifting heavy objects. Calm walks are ok and are even recommended to keep blood circulation going.
Love life
Try to keep the love life to a very calm level first week after the hair transplant. Like exercise, the change in blood pressure can damage the capillaries in the hair follicles, which causes the hair follicle to die.
Styling products
After 14 days, the hair follicles have grown enough to allow you to start using styling products in your hair.
Smoking
Smoking has a major impact on the healing process and therefore we urge you to slow down the use of tobacco for at least one week after the hair transplant. For the first 48 hours, the patient should make a complete stop of using tobacco.
Snus
Snus does not have as much impact on the body’s healing ability as smoking has. But we still recommend that snus users refrain from using it for at least 48 hours after the procedure.
Alcohol
Alcohol should be avoided up to 48 hours after surgery.
Sun
Strong sunlight should be avoided for 6 months after surgery.
Haircuts & hair dye
After 4 weeks you can trim the transplanted hair with plastic protection but not shorter than 3 mm. The transplanted area must absolutely not be shaved with a metal razor for the first 6 months. The rest of the hair and the donor area can be cut as desired. You can color the newly transplanted hair 4 weeks after your operation.
FAQ about aftercare
The most critical time is the first 2-3 days when the area is at its most sensitive. The first week you should be extra cautious. After 2 weeks it is okay to start exercising, but you should still be careful in the sun and make sure you don’t accidentally scrape the transplanted hair. After 3 weeks you can generally do most everyday things, but head butting a football, wearing a helmet, or shaving with an electric razor might be exceptions to that. We are always available for any questions about post-transplant aftercare.
You can start coloring the newly transplanted hair – meaning the hair that has been moved from the back of the head to a new area – after 4 weeks.
The rest of the hair, that hasn’t been transplanted, can be colored as usual the week after the hair transplant.
After your hair transplant you can take 1–2 tablets of Alvedon (paracetamol) for pain relief if you were to experience any pain. Avoid painkillers like Ipren or Aspirin (ibuprofen) up to 48 hours after your hair transplant. They contain an ingredient called acetylsalicyl acid which works as a blood-thinner and increases bleeding. If one bleeds too much during a transplant, the hair follicles may have a harder time getting rooted.
You will get a low dose of antibiotics the first 3 days after your hair transplant to minimize the risk of infection. The dose is very low. 4 tablets are taken in total.
If the scabs stay on too long, they create a hard barrier that restricts the hair from growing. It is therefore important that you wash the hair as per the instructions you have been given by us to encourage the scabs to fall off as soon as possible. If you wash your hair regularly every day, the scabs will fall off naturally and you also avoid risk of infection.
