9 days post op - scans are starting to fall off but I've noticed some scabs have hairs in them

Question

I'm 9 days post op and scabs have been falling off my head after washing for past day or so. I have not scrubbed or anything only lightly patted my head or rolled my fingers over the top of my scalp. Some of the scabs have little hairs stuck to them. Only appears to be hairs no roots or anything like that. Is this something to worry about?

Bernardino Arocha, MD, FISHRS · Answer

kammyka85,That sounds like a textbook perfect description of a normal 9 days post-transplant event. Scabs start falling out 5 days out, and increase as time passes. Some of the scabs contain hair shafts without the bulb, entirely normal!

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

If you are having issues after surgery with scabs and having hair loss you should contact your doctor.

John Peter Cole, MD · Answer

It is normal for the hair to shed following a hair transplant.  Sometimes the scabs that come off will have hairs in them.  They should look like a little "J" at the base of the follicle.  Following a transplant, the hairs will continue to elongate for a few days.  The base of the follicle starts to move toward the surface of the skin, dragging the bulb of the follicle with it.  This causes the formation of a "J" hair.  The cells that produce the hair follicle remain behind in a dormant state while the transplanted hairs fall out.  it is actually good for these hairs to come out because they are just dead keratin that will induce a foreign body reaction if they remain behind.  Thus, you want them to come out.  If they remain, you are likely to see pimple like reactions in the recipient area.  You want to avoid this as much as possible so it is important to remove anything that is not growing.

Sean Behnam, MD · Answer

This sounds very normal. Scabs should be falling out within two weeks, and transplanted hairs within a month or two. So it makes sense that this overlaps and they often fall out together. Your hair should start growing back within the next 6 months.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

At 9 days, it is very common to shed the grafts and the hair. Within a month, all of the transplanted grafts will have fallen out and will regrow in 2-6 months. Be patient

9 days post op - scans are starting to fall off but I've noticed some scabs have hairs in them

Answers (6)

Answer: Shedding with Scabs

Answer: Shedding with Scabs

Answer: Shedding after a hair transplant

Answer: Shedding after a hair transplant

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9 days post op - scans are starting to fall off but I've noticed some scabs have hairs in them

Answers (6)

Answer: Shedding with Scabs

Answer: Shedding with Scabs

Answer: Shedding after a hair transplant

Answer: Shedding after a hair transplant

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about FUE Hair Transplant

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.