My surgeon told me not to touch the FUE recipient area for 4 weeks. Is this too long?

Question

I just had a procedure in the frontal hairline and I am currently on day 7. My doctors instruction were to not touch my recipient area for 4 weeks, but the crusting is really starting to build. It seems most of the other doctors want you to start massaging and removing the scabbing and crusts by the 10-14 day mark. Can I just start removing the crusts gently between days 7-10? I need to attend a funeral now on day 11 post op and can’t having crusting all over my head. Talk about bad timing.

Ozge Ergun, MD · Answer

I don't recommend touching your surgery area for about a week after surgery. Touching your head afterwards won't cause permanent damage. But also, you should get contact your doctor first and ask for information.

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

It is best to contact your surgeon for post surgery issues and care since all doctors have slightly different instructions. Ask your surgeon and see what he or she can do to help you.

Ross A. Clevens, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question. After a NeoGraft hair restoration, the existing hair will fall out in about 3-4 weeks as the cycle starts over. You may gently scrub and clean the area. Please follow the recovery instructions provided by your board certified facial plastic surgeon.
Best wishes,

Justin Rome, MD · Answer

You have to wash your hair starting 2 days post surgery with a pour cup method to ensure the scabbing is gone within two weeks.  I would recommend you contact your Hair Restoration Surgeon to go over post op care protocol as all Surgeons are different.

Robert Jones, MD, FISHRS · Answer

I usually have patients begin cleaning and soaking the day after surgery. Using this technique, the scabs are off 7 to 10 days after surgery. 4 weeks seems like an awfully long time to live with scabs on the top of your head. Double check with your doctor and start working the crusts off!Dr. Robert Jones

Daniel Danyo, MD · Answer

I ask my patients to wash one to two times per day on Day-one following the procedure with gentle washing (no direct shower water).  This limits scabbing tremendously and makes the post op recovery much better.  I have not had a single patient dislodge a graft with this approach.  Since you are 10 days out, the grafts are essentially grafted.  At this time (10-Days out), I instruct my patients to place some conditioner on the grafts to soften them for about 10 minutes.  Next, they are told to take a shower with direct water on the recipient area and to gently massage off the scabs one at a time (not pick).  This can be repeated and more adherent grafts are left for later.

Sara Salas, MD · Answer

An experienced hair clinic will have you washing daily and have the crusts gone by day 14. So yes it is ok to do this.

Cory Torgerson, MD, PhD, FRCSC - Account Suspended · Answer

I instruct my patients to begin washing the area gently after 48 hours and removing any remaining scabs at day 10. 4 weeks seems like a very long time to leave this area unwashed. I would double check with your doctor to clarify.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

The key to getting no scabs or crusts is immediate and daily washing with a good shampoo. Crusting makes it impossible to go out in public. If you try to pull off the crusts, the grafts will come out.  Shame on your doctor.

Oleg Antonov, MD (in memoriam) · Answer

First of all we need to consider additional conditions which can impact the surgeons decisions i.e. diabetes, thyroid problems, congenital issues with collagen synthesis, etc. After the medical clearance and any possible problems were corrected, we can now focus on the art of immediate care. Considering stages of healing we recommend the following procedures. You can safely begin using a soft sponge with any shampoo you like and used. Clean and stimulate  with an up and down motion gently patting the grafted area 48 hours after the procedure. This will not only clean but will stimulate blood circulation feeding the newly implanted grafts. The rest of the head and donor area can be washed normally. There are specialized products available that are formulated to speed up the aftercare process but the result s will be the same.

My surgeon told me not to touch the FUE recipient area for 4 weeks. Is this too long?

Answers (10)

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