Patient guide
After your hair transplant: the first days and months
How to protect your grafts in the first days, what to expect month by month and when your result is assessed. Your written aftercare is the reference for your case.
Medically reviewed by Dr Recep Kenan U., physician · · How we review
The first days
Protect your grafts
You leave the clinic with written aftercare. These are the points patients ask about most.
- Your medicines You receive a list of medicines for the next 10 days. Take them exactly as prescribed.
- Sleep with your head raised On two or three pillows for the first nights.
- Button-up shirts For the first days, wear shirts that open at the front so nothing rubs the grafts.
- Sun, sport and swimming Protect your head from direct sun with a loose cap, and avoid swimming and strenuous exercise while you heal.
- No alcohol or smoking And nothing that thins the blood, as your aftercare explains.
- Your guarantee certificate A written Certificate of Guarantee after your procedure, with your date, technique and grafts.
Back to normal
When you can return to your routine
General guidance. Your written aftercare gives the exact dates for your case, and your coordinator answers on WhatsApp.
- Work and daily life Most people return to normal routines once the crusts lift away, usually 7 to 10 days after the procedure.
- Sport and the gym No strenuous exercise during the healing period. Start again gently, on the date in your aftercare.
- Swimming and the sun No swimming while you heal, and a loose cap against direct sun. Avoid tight hats that press on the grafts.
- Haircuts and colour Transplanted hair is your own hair. Your aftercare tells you when the first haircut and colour are safe.
Tell us early
When to send your coordinator a photo
Some redness, swelling and tenderness in the first days is normal. Send a photo on WhatsApp, and call a local doctor in an emergency, if you notice any of these.
- Redness or swelling that grows after the first days instead of settling
- Pain that the prescribed medicines do not relieve
- A fever, or discharge from the treated or donor area
- Bleeding that does not stop with gentle pressure
Your follow-ups continue after you fly home: the 12-month aftercare programme with 6 follow-ups is part of every package.
After your transplant
Month by month: how your new hair grows
Hair grows in cycles, so results arrive gradually. Knowing the timeline in advance makes the waiting easier.
- Day 1 Grafts in place Small crusts form around the grafts. You sleep with your head raised on two or three pillows.
- First days Your first wash The team shows you how to wash with the prescribed products. You continue the same way at home.
- Days 7–10 Crusts lift away The treated area looks clean again. Most people return to normal routines.
- Weeks 2–8 Normal Shedding Most transplanted hairs fall out. The follicles stay in place and rest before they regrow. This is normal.
- Months 3–6 New growth Fine new hairs appear around month 3. Many people see a clear change by month 6.
- Months 12–18 Your result Most of the result is visible at 12 months. The final result is assessed at 12 to 18 months.
Risks, honestly
A hair transplant under local anaesthesia is a well-established procedure, but no medical procedure is free of risk. Possible effects include temporary swelling, numbness, itching and inflamed hair follicles, and rarely infection or lower graft survival. Smoking and some medicines reduce graft survival, so your plan tells you what to pause and when.
Good to know. We would rather decline a procedure than accept a patient whose donor area or health makes a good result unlikely. That protects you and us.
Aftercare in five lines
- Sleep with your head raised on two or three pillows for the first nights.
- Take the medicines exactly as prescribed by the doctors.
- No swimming or strenuous exercise during the healing period.
- No alcohol or smoking, and nothing that thins the blood.
- Protect your head from direct sun with a loose cap.
Honest answers
After the procedure: frequently asked questions
Still have a question? A patient coordinator answers on WhatsApp, in your language.
Ask on WhatsAppIs it normal to lose hair after the transplant?
Yes. Most transplanted hairs fall out in weeks 2 to 8. The follicles stay in place and rest before new hair grows from month 3.
When can I go back to work?
Most people return to normal routines once the crusts lift away, usually 7 to 10 days after the procedure. Your aftercare says what to avoid and for how long.
How do I wash my hair?
Your first wash is done with the team, who shows you how to continue. Wash daily as shown for about 7 to 10 days, until the crusts lift away.
When will I see the final result?
New hair usually starts to grow around month 3, with a clear change by month 6. Most of the result is visible at 12 months, and the final result is assessed at 12 to 18 months. Shedding in weeks 2 to 8 is normal.
What if I am not happy with the result?
Contact your coordinator with photos of your result. The medical team reviews them and tells you, in writing, what your certificate covers.
Which medicines will I take?
You receive a written list of medicines for the next 10 days. Take them exactly as prescribed, and ask the team before you take anything else.
When can I exercise again?
Not during the healing period. Light walking is fine, while strenuous exercise and swimming wait until the date in your written aftercare.
Can I wear a hat?
A loose cap protects your head from direct sun. Avoid tight hats, helmets and anything that presses on the grafts in the first days.
Can I drink alcohol after the transplant?
Not while you heal. Alcohol, smoking and anything that thins the blood are avoided, as your aftercare explains.
Your free plan
See exactly what is possible for you
Leave your details, add a few photos if you like, and book a free video call. A written plan with your price follows within 24 hours, free and with no obligation.
