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Redness in recipient area 1 month post op FUE. How can it be reduced? (Photo)

Hi I am 4 weeks post op fue and still have a lot of redness in the recipient areas. Are there any suggestions on how to reduce the redness? I have been applying distilled witch hazel for the last week which does not seem to be doing anything. I have also been applying a topical steroid which did reduce a bit of the swelling but not the redness. Thanks

Doctor Answers 8

Some patients may have redness after surgery. It is best to contact your doctor for treatment options (not the Internet).

September 19th, 2016
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Some patients may have redness after surgery.  It is best to contact your doctor for treatment options (not the Internet).  There may be many answers or opinions on the Internet but your doctor (who performed surgery on you and knows your medical history) can give you the best advice.

Web reference: https://newhair.com/resources/

Jae Pak, MD


Los Angeles Hair Restoration Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 100 reviews

Redness ins recipient area at one month

September 17th, 2016
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When I see a patient with redness ins  recipient area at one month, I may prescribe a topical steroid. Ask your doctor about it

William Rassman, MD

William Rassman, MD
Los Angeles Hair Restoration Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 27 reviews

Residual redness following FUE

September 14th, 2016
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Redness in the recipient zone following a hair transplant procedure will generally resolve in 10-14 days.  Persistent redness may be due to normal post-surgical healing, but may also represent an inflammatory process such as seborrheic dermatitis or acne and occasional an infection. I would recommend to follow up with your physician for an evaluation.  Sometimes a topical steroid or an antibiotic may be indicated.

Web reference: http://www.bernsteinmedical.com

Michael Wolfeld, MD

Michael Wolfeld, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Redness in recipient area 1 month post op FUE. How can it be reduced?

September 13th, 2016
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Thank you for the post. From looking at the photos you have attached being only 4 weeks post procedure, they look normal. Some patients do get more redness then others, also there is higher chance of redness if there is density packing (high density graft per cm). Within a few weeks, it should get better. You can ask your clinic to prescribe a steroid based cream/lotion which can help with the redness. Hope this helps.
Matt Tahsini, MD

Matt Tahsini, MD
Pasadena Hair Restoration Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 18 reviews

Redness post-op

September 13th, 2016
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Time, my friend.  The steroids will probably help the most.  Skip the witch hazel.  For some patients the redness lasts months - it just depends on the patient's skin type.  It will go away with time, though.Good Luck!

Sara Wasserbauer, MD

Sara Wasserbauer, MD
Walnut Creek Hair Restoration Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 8 reviews

Redness after hair transplant

September 13th, 2016
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A little bit of redness for the first couple of weeks is normal. However if it persists along with swelling, you need to be seen by your doctor. Also do not use witch hazel on the recipient area as it contains alcohol. 
Michael Meshkin, MD

Michael Meshkin, MD
Newport Beach Hair Restoration Surgeon
4.8 out of 5 stars 27 reviews

Reducing redness after FUE

September 13th, 2016
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Great question.  Looks like you had a good session with fair bit of dense packing, which is leading to your troubles.  Microneedling with platelet rich plasma at the time of surgery as well as between 4-6 weeks out has been demonstrated in the literature to decrease the amount of redness you have on your recipient area.  Its not a miracle cure - but it does improve how quickly you get back up on your feet.  Remember, everyone is a little different in their healing.  And while techniques in implantation vary, some people just take longer than others in completely healing.  Best of luck.

Web reference: http://www.delraybeachhairtransplantcenter.com

Miguel Mascaro, MD

Miguel Mascaro, MD
Delray Beach Facial Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 9 reviews

Redness After FUE

February 14th, 2017
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I would recommend that you see your doctor about this. Most redness would subside before a month, and even if it did last a month it wouldn't be as severe as the pictures show. It could possibly be an infection or some other underlying cause.

Sean Behnam, MD

Sean Behnam, MD
Santa Monica Hair Restoration Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 64 reviews

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.