Hair Replacement Recovery

Table of Contents

  • After Your Hair Transplant
  • Advanced and Supplemental Treatments
  • Minimal Scarring
  • Satisfying Hair Results
  • Prolonging Hair Results
  • Arocha Hair Restoration and Transplant Center

Hair restoration is a rewarding experience that can produce a more youthful hairline and thick, dense hair throughout the scalp. Whether you choose to undergo follicular unit transplantation (FUT) or follicular unit excision (FUE), both procedures will lead to natural results and total hair restoration.

At Arocha Hair Restoration and Transplant Center, Dr. Bernardino Arocha and his expert staff strive to provide their patients with extraordinary care and transformative results. Preparing for your hair transplant recovery is an essential part of the hair restoration process and knowing what to expect after treatment will help put your mind at ease. Dr. Arocha and his team carefully lay out aftercare guidelines that allow their patients to experience a comfortable hair transplant recovery that yields optimal results.

After Your Hair Transplant

Hair transplantation surgery is completed on an outpatient basis, meaning patients are free to return home immediately after their appointment. Following the procedure, the scalp will be reddened, sore and sensitive to the touch. Common side effects include scabbing, itching and numbness that will persist for a couple of weeks.

Hair transplant patients will need to avoid touching their newly-transplanted hair until the grafts heal, about one to two weeks after surgery. Patients can shower the next day but will need to avoid direct water pressure on the scalp and may not shampoo their hair until Dr. Arocha deems it okay. Brushing and combing will need to be avoided as well so as not to uproot the new hair. Hats can be worn during this time to cover up visible effects of the procedure, so long as they are not overly tight.

Friction and stress on the scalp can have detrimental effects, so patients will need to wait two to three weeks before resuming strenuous activities and exercise. Activities that stretch or pull on the scalp can be particularly harmful to patients who undergo FUT, as too much stress on the incision can cause damage to the sutures.

Hair transplantation surgery is a relatively minor procedure and patients may feel well enough to return to work the very next day. Most patients choose to take at least a few days to one week off from work for immediate side effects to diminish. Hair surrounding the harvest sites will also be shortened and patients may wish to take some time off for hair to grow back.

Advanced and Supplemental Treatments

Follow-up or Supplemental Therapy can be used to accelerate recovery and results following hair transplantation surgery. Dr. Arocha may offer additional modalities of therapy to his hair transplant patients to provide faster results and more comfortable recovery, as well as to help any patients who are interested in nonsurgical methods for combating hair loss.

If you are interested in using Advanced Therapy to supplement your hair transplant procedure, let Dr. Arocha know during your pre-surgery consultation.

Minimal Scarring

Both FUT and FUE result in minimal scarring which will not impact results. The incision from the strip removal performed during FUT will be closed with a special technique that allows hair to grow seamlessly through and around the scar. The incision will take a few weeks to heal over, at which point patients can resume exercise and other strenuous activities. The incision will continue to mature for 18 months and will eventually fade to a thin, white, horizontal scar.

FUE does not require any incisions. Instead, the donor grafts are harvested using a handheld punch device that removes two to three hairs at a time. After removing the grafts, the punch will leave behind small circular punctures that will scab over and eventually heal without noticeable scarring. Dr. Arocha will spread out the location of the grafts over a large area, ensuring patients will not experience a visible decrease in the density of their hair around the donor sites. The scarring from FUE is minimal and will be covered up easily by surrounding hair growth, making FUE an optimal procedure for patients who prefer to keep their hair short.

Immediately After Surgery
Immediately After Surgery
One Year Post Surgery
One Year Post Surgery

Satisfying Hair Results

Hair restoration is a process, and new transplants will take some time to start producing noticeable hair growth. In fact, the transplanted follicles typically shed their hair around two to three weeks after the procedure. The grafts will then enter a resting period for a few months before beginning new growth. Results will first become visible in about six to nine months, although not all of the grafts will produce hair simultaneously.

Final results are typically evident around 12 months after surgery but may take up to 18 months to develop fully. Following hair transplantation surgery, the grafts will continue to produce hair well into the future and will not be affected by the continuation of genetic hair loss. Pre-existing hair located along the hairline and on the top of the scalp will continue to thin out, however, and steps should be taken to fight back against the effects of hair loss.

Prolonging Hair Results

While hair transplants can fix damage caused by hair loss, they will not prevent future hair loss from occurring. In order to continue enjoying the results of the procedure, patients will need to adopt a comprehensive hair care routine that incorporates advanced hair loss medication and treatments.

Currently, the main two medicated options for hair loss prevention are minoxidil and finasteride. Minoxidil is the main active ingredient in Rogaine foam and has been shown to slow the natural effects of hair loss through daily application. While Rogaine will not completely stop hair loss, it can produce noticeable results in slowing down the progression of age-related hair loss, especially when used in conjunction with finasteride.

Finasteride is present in oral medication Propecia. Like Rogaine, Propecia is FDA-approved and can slow hair loss when used regularly. Propecia can also reactivate some dormant follicles that have stopped producing hair to increase overall hair growth throughout the scalp. Propecia can not revive follicles that have died off completely, but it can rejuvenate follicles that have recently become dormant due to the ongoing effects of genetic hair loss.

Other combination treatments, like low-level laser therapy (LLLT), can also be used to supplement hair transplants and provide thicker, fuller hair for years to come. Dr. Arocha works with each of his patients to establish a personalized hair care plan that helps them maintain their hair well into the future.

Arocha Hair Restoration and Transplant Center

Recovering from hair transplantation surgery is a relatively simple and comfortable process that yields truly rewarding results. Most patients simply spend a few days at home relaxing while they let their scalp heal, only making minor and temporary changes to their daily routines. At Arocha Hair Restoration and Transplant Center, we will be with you every step of the way on your hair restoration journey.

Whether you are interested in hair transplants, additional hair and scalp therapy, hair loss medication, or more, we can provide the resources and expertise you need to combat the debilitating effects of age-related hair loss and live your life in total confidence.

To learn more about the process of hair transplant recovery or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Arocha, call us today at 713-526-HAIR or 713-526-4247.

Dr. Bernardino Arocha's headshot

Arocha Hair Restoration

Since 2002, Bernardino A. Arocha, M.D. has been transforming lives through the power of hair restoration. With an artistic approach and a variety of procedures available, Arocha Hair Restoration has a track record of providing stunning results. Dr. Arocha is affiliated with prominent organizations with memberships that include:

  • Diplomate, American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery (ABHRS)
  • Fellow, International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS)
  • American Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ASHRS)
  • American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS)

If you're ready for a full head of hair, we invite you to contact us with our form or call us at (713) 526-4247.

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