Is it standard practice to put plastic over a hair transplant recipient area when the patient is leaving after the operation?

Question

Is it standard practice to put plastic over a hair transplant recipient area when the patient is leaving after the operation? And also to recommend using the plastic saran wrap for the first week after the operation? Could doing this cause infection?

P. Daniel Ward, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Placing plastic over the follicular unit grafts is not common practice. I personally feel that allowing the graphs to “breathe“ is better.

Emrah Cinik, MD · Answer

After operation they would do a medical dressing to your head. The time period to wear that medical dressing is 1-2 days.

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

It is best to contact your doctor about post operative care and instructions since each doctor has a different regimen.Many doctors have their own unique way doing things.  Feel free to ask your doctor about the specifics of your surgery.

Bernardino Arocha, MD, FISHRS · Answer

Dear posh_hills_123,Thank you for posting your question on realself.com. Upon completion of the procedure, I advise to keep the recipient area moist - but not overly moist. I have seen what you describe with the plastic wrap in burn units in hospitals involving skin grafts. Perhaps your surgeon has a reason to do this in your particular situation. I would reach out to your surgeon with this question. Forming conjecture about the California hills; were the Santa Ana winds strong that day? This could bring a large amount of dust or perhaps smoke particulate in the air. Wearing a plastic occlusive barrier for your departure from your surgeon's office could be a quite effective barrier.Best Regards,Bernardino Arocha, MD, FISHRS

Karl Hekimian, MD · Answer

That seems unusual, though since hair transplants are in essence skin grafts, and since occlusive dressings are often placed on skin grafts early on, it doesn't seem extremely out of the ordinary.  Your surgeon may have specific reasons for wanting you to do this.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

It is no usual to cover the recipient site with plastic. Letting the recipient site 'breathe' is a better idea for post op care

Is it standard practice to put plastic over a hair transplant recipient area when the patient is leaving after the operation?

Answers (6)

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