Can a cap be worn immediately after procedure to hide the scalp while returning to work? Also how long does hair need to be?

Dear samt1989,
Thank you for submitting this question. During a hair transplant procedure the donor may be touched by the hat, but the grafts are typically above where the rim of a hat will sit. As such, I allow my patients to wear a hat beginning on the 2nd day after surgery, and I actually show them in person how to put the baseball cap on. It’s important to have a cap that will hold its shape. If you hold the brim of a baseball cap horizontally and it maintains its form, that’s the hat you want. If you have a golf hat or some other floppy hat, one that sags to the floor when you hold the brim in front of you horizontally, that one will sit on the grafts and so is less ideal. If it’s a hat that you wear, you’ll want to loosen it up a bit as your head will be a bit swollen. Wearing a hat obviously helps to cover up the grafts and the redness/scabbing and allows patients to re-enter society much more quickly than without the use of a hat. Scarves for women can also be used, but I typically advise patients wait at least 5 days before putting on a scarf.
I hope this information is helpful to you.
Kind Regards,
Ken Anderson, MD, FISHRS

Hello and thank you for your question about wearing a hat after your NeoGraft FUE procedure. Yes, you can wear a hat after your NeoGraft procedure, provided that it does not rest on the recipient area or rub the donor areas. Ideal hats to wear during this time are hats which retain their shape when held by the brim because they will minimize contact with your transplant area. You will want to avoid any floppy hats for now. If you are unsure if the hat you have will work for you, bring it in to your board certified facial plastic surgeon’s office and have them take a look. They can even show you the best way to put it on and take it off to protect your scalp. Talk to a local board certified facial plastic surgeon in your area for a personalized recommendation. Good luck!- Elbert T. Cheng, MD

Hats can be worn post procedure, however this is often dependent upon the type of hat and the location of the grafts. I typically recommend no hats for 3-5 days post procedure. After which, a hat which holds its shape and does not contact graft recipient sites is acceptable. In the early peri-operative period, care must be taken to avoid disrupting the immature grafts. A baseball cap/trucker cap is often a reasonable option but special care must be taken when putting on and removing the cap.Regimen will vary from doctor to doctor and procedure to procedure. As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).