Can I gently massage my donor area and help remove scabs before day 7? (Photo)

Question

I'm day 6 after FUE (3700 grafts) and I see that if i gently pass my hand (on dry hair), applying mild pressure, some scabs start to fall. Is this bad? Can it have a non desired effect? There is a lot of information and consensus on how to treat the transplanted area, starting to rub off the scabs after 9-10 days. My question is around the donor area, as I couldn't find mucha about it on this topic. Thanks

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

It is best to contact your doctor about post operative care and instructions since each doctor has a different regimen.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

It is best to follow your surgeon's instructions on post treatment care.  You do not want to rub the area to coax the scabs off, however if they are coming off on their own that should be fine.  Your surgeon is the best one to guide you as he/she is most familiar with the details of your treatment and how you've been progressing through recovery.

William Woessner, MD · Answer

It is normal for some scabs to fall after 6 days. I agree with waiting until after 9-10 days to "rub off" the scabs. It is safer to allow the extra days. The donor area should be safe to rub on after 7 days. Keep both areas clean with warm water & shampoo.

Ilker Apaydin, MD · Answer

Washing is one of the important aftercare procedure during hair transplant.And it is not good idea to rub the surgical area or force the scabs to fall down in the first week after the surgery. If the scabs are falling down by themselves, there is nothing to worry about, and usually it takes 10-12 days until they all are gone. If they are not fallen off, only it that case you can be not hesitating to massage the transplanted area (but with finger tips only).

Jayanthy Ravindran, MS, DNB, MRCS · Answer

Hey there,
If scabs are falling with just simple pressure, then it’s not a problem. But don't be in hurry to remove scabs by scratching as wounds are still in healing process. Just give some more time, usually by around 10 days most of the scabs should fall off.  You should start washing the area gently if haven't done yet. 
  
Hope this helps.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

It is not a good idea to massage your crusts after 7 days as there is a risk of loss of the grafts.  I wrote a paper on this very subject.  An FUE is treated just like a regular hair transplant with regard to the recipient area, but the donor area has open wounds which require daily washing with soap and water. Within 3 days of surgery, you can resume full activities, heavy exercises if you wish. The recipient area requires daily washes as well to keep the recipient area free of crusts. I generally recommend the use of a sponge and supply my patient with a surgical sponge to fill with soapy water and press on the recipient area daily. By repeating this daily, all crusts can be washed off without any fear of losing grafts. IF any crust is present, use a Q tip and dip it into soapy water, and roll it on the crusts and that will lift them off without dislodging them, but never rub them, just roll the Q tip on the recipient crust. I like to see no evidence of any crusting in the recipient area and the crusts from the donor area gone in 3-4 days with daily washing. To get the crusting off, you need to leave the shampoo on your hair for 10 minutes and as the crust become water logged, then will come off with gentle finger action. Repeat this twice a day until it is all gone.

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