Hair wash after FUE hair transplant? advice please

Question

Hello, Its been 9 days since i have done my FUE transplant. I am not sure when can i take a shower normally? can i massage the grafts area gently so the scabs will fall off? i am just tipping on it, and not directing the shower head on the area. Waiting for an answer please.

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

You can take showers and wash your hair the day after surgery.  Most doctors offer hair wash the next day back at their office.You paid thousands of dollars and trusted your doctor to perform surgery on your body and you are waiting for an answer on the Internet for post operative care instructions?... and you haven't taken a shower in 9 days?Call your doctor.  Email your doctor.I hope you were able to reach your doctor or take in some basic information from prior answers.

Ken Anderson, MD, FISHRS · Answer

Dear Sam,This is information the surgeon who performed your procedure should have given you.  In our practice, patients are to spray their new grafts with a combination of Lactated Ringer's with 5% dextrose (eg: D5LR) with Liposomal ATP (by Energy Delivery Solutions) every hour while they are awake for 3 days post-operatively, and then 5-6 times a day until scabs all are gone. If there are any remaining on the 8th day, I have my patients coat the recipient area with baby oil for 30 minutes, then jump into the shower to get all the remaining crusts and scabs off.We have found that if you have been good with the spraying for the first few days, that the grafts are fully healed in by day 5 or 6. In terms of showering, my patients are permitted to shower 24 hours following your procedure using the "cup method".....on the day after surgery, the patients may shower, but not let the jets hit their new grafted area.  A plastic cup is used to collect water and then the water is gently poured onto the grafts and into the hair to clean it and wash away the crusting and scabbing.  By day 9, there should typically be zero scabbing and crusting, and frankly a patient is ready to head into work without a hat by that time.

Anil R. Shah, MD · Answer

Hello,
Washing your hair after a hair transplantation is an important step for restoration.  We usually have our patients start spraying hair with lactated ringers with liposomal ATP as well as other growth factors twice a day to help your hair process start ASAP.  Actual hair washing usually takes place several days after the procedure.  There are several advantages to this approach:
Healing improvedDecreased inflammation and rednessImproved blood supply and uptakeBest,
Anil Shah

Matthew Richardson, MD · Answer

My patients are instructed very specifically on how to wash the hair post-transplant. This routine does not start until 48 hours after transplant. Patients should always be careful not to pick at scabs or crusts or to traumatize the recipient site in any way until the scabs and crusts are gone after any hair transplant procedure. Be sure to follow your surgeon's specific post-transplant instructions.
All the best,

Scott C. Sattler, MD, FACS · Answer

We review post-op instructions with our patients before and after their surgical procedures to avoid questions like yours - the transplanted hair follicles are relatively stable in their new locations just 2 days after FUE transplant. We do recommend 'no touch' hair washing of the transplanted zone and regular hair washing of the 'donor site' zone for 10 days after surgery.

Amir Yazdan, MD · Answer

I have patients start washing the next day after an FUE procedure 2 times a day for 14 days.  However this is really something that needs to be discussed with your doctor.

Scott Boden, MD · Answer

It is safe to wash your hair and gently massage the area at nine to ten days post-procedure.  At this point, the grafts are "anchored in" and although many of the hairs may fall out over the next several weeks, the growing portion of the hair follicle (the dermal papilla) should be safely embedded within your scalp.  I encourage my patients to keep the grafts well-hydrated and begin direct shampooing and massage in the shower by the tenth day post-op.

Dilan Fernando, MBBS · Answer

You can wash your donor site gently the day after your procedure. At 5 days time, your follicles should have embedded- you can wash gently the recipient site at this time using baby shampoo/ organic pH balanced shampoo. By 9 days- you can continue to wash gently, cleaning the scabs off. By 14 days you can continue your normal hair care regimen.

Sara Salas, MD · Answer

In our clinic wash hair every day for two weeks. The first week lightly patting on the shampoo and no rubbing or scrubbing or shower head. Then the second week of shampooing you can lightly rub and allow the shower stream. After 32 weeks you can go back to normal situations.

Satinder Singh, MBBS, DNB · Answer

Head wash can be done from the next day onwards. Care has to be taken not to rub the area and head wash is to be done by gently pouring the water over the scalp. High intensity direct shower should be avoided during initial days but gentle running water on the scalp can be done. One can use mild baby shampoo on alternate days or once every two days. Gentle rubbing can be done after 10 to 12 days of the surgery.

Hair wash after FUE hair transplant? advice please

Answers (18)

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