18 days post FUE. Parts of my recipient area are flaking even though the scabs went about 5 days ago. Is this normal? (photos)

It is best to ask your surgeon about post operative care as each doctor has their unique regimen.  

Hello, Thank you for your question and uploading photos. Based on your photos you still have some crusts and scabs on your recipient area. By 18 days post-op, I expect my patients to have clean scalp, with no scabs on it. My advice wash your head daily, apply moisturizer leave it for couple hours, and then wash properly with shampoo and try to massage your head with finger tips. This should help you, and you will have clean scalp in 1-2 days. 

There are still crusts on your scalp. 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 in a rolling motion, never rubbing. 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 7-10 days with daily washing