A great remedy for balding or thinning hair is a hair transplant. However, there are some things you should keep in mind during the recovery process. Avoid exercise for a month to mitigate the risk of physical trauma to your scalp’s fragile healing tissues. Also, avoid any contact sports and heavy lifting.
Scarring
Scars heal best and most efficiently when they are kept moisturized. It can be done by applying silicone gel to the scar area. It is especially important if the scar has a hard ply board-like appearance that can make it uncomfortable to move. This treatment is recommended daily to impact healing and pain reduction significantly. Hair restoration surgery involves removing a strip of your hair-bearing scalp from the back and sides of your head. It is then microscopically divided to produce follicular groupings of varying sizes, each inserted into your balding areas to replace lost or thinning hair.
Hair can grow in almost any healthy skin area but not naturally in scar tissue. It is because scar tissue destroys the hair follicles that would otherwise support healthy hair growth. In this situation, a physician hair restoration specialist will transplant hair into the scar tissue to give you more natural-looking results. Other surgical hair restoration techniques and prescriptions from providers like Bosley may also be needed if the scar is large.
Scalp Numbness
Numbness after hair restoration is normal, but it can be disconcerting for some patients. It is because the scalp has numerous tiny nerve branches that normally provide it with great sensitivity. If these nerves are cut or damaged during the surgery, they will take time to recover and begin sending signals of touch to your brain again. The numbness you experience after your procedure usually lasts for a short period, and it will disappear once the nerves have resumed their normal functioning. However, in rare cases, this numbness can persist for up to six months. You may also feel itchy in the areas where the transplant was performed, but this should not be cause for concern as this feeling indicates that your scalp is healing properly. However, avoiding vigorous physical activity in these areas for seven days after the surgery is recommended to minimize inflammation and swelling. It will speed up the healing process and reduce the likelihood of scarring.
Swelling
Swelling around the forehead and eyes is common after hair restoration surgery. It is caused by the local anesthetic and the fact that you’ve had an invasive procedure. However, it’s nothing to worry about as it’s completely normal and will correct itself in a few days. If your scalp appears pink and scabbed, don’t worry. It is a normal part of the healing process after hair transplant surgery and will eventually lead to your grafts growing new hair. During this time, your existing hair will shed, but as the grafts grow, they’ll fill in the gaps in your scalp and create a fuller head of hair. Avoid alcohol and medication that can thin the blood, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, as this may cause bleeding at the wound sites during recovery. Instead, take acetaminophen or the pain medication prescribed by your doctor. Do not pick at the scabs, as this can lead to infection and endanger the survival of your grafts.
Discomfort
Although hair restoration is not a completely painless procedure, the region of the scalp where the grafts were implanted tends to feel sore after the surgery. Generally, the discomfort is minimal and can be controlled with medication. Follicular unit extraction (FUE) and follicular unit strip surgery (FUSS) are two different methods of hair transplantation. A 6- to 10-inch piece of skin is removed from the back of your skull during FUSS, and the wound is subsequently stitched. It leaves a linear scar visible for patients wearing short haircuts. The doctor inserts hair follicles into your scalp’s thinning or balding areas with FUE. This technique typically causes less discomfort than FUSS because it does not leave a large scar. It’s important to follow the instructions given by your surgeon to speed up recovery. Avoid smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages and using hair styling products for a month after surgery. Moreover, it would help if you did not go swimming to prevent infection and inflammation of the grafts. These tips will help you get the best possible results from your hair restoration procedure.
Pain
Hair restoration is a surgical procedure, so it’s normal to experience some pain afterward. The good news is that this pain is minimal, thanks to technological advances. It is also avoidable in most cases. During a hair restoration procedure, your doctor uses an anesthetic to numb the scalp and may even use sedation for your comfort. They’ll then choose one of two methods for transplanting your hair. One method, called follicular unit strip surgery (FUSS), involves taking a strip of skin from the back of your head that can be 6 to 10 inches long and may stretch from ear to ear. They’ll then suture this area closed. The strip will leave a linear scar, but it should be well hidden in your natural hair. Another option is follicular unit extraction, or FUE, which involves using a device to remove individual hair follicles from the scalp. It’s less painful than FUSS but can still cause aches and throbbing in your scalp. It’s important to keep your hands away from these areas and report any lingering pain to your doctor.
