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One of the most common concerns patients have when it comes to hair transplant procedures is the recovery period. How long does recovery take? Will it be painful? When can I return to work? Get all your questions answered as we discuss what a hair transplant is and what recovery looks like.
NeoGraft is an innovative hair restoration technique that offers a safe, effective, and minimally invasive solution for those seeking to restore a fuller, thicker head of hair with natural-looking results. NeoGraft utilizes a process called follicular unit extraction (FUE) to harvest hair follicles from the donor area, typically the back or sides of the scalp, where hair is more resistant to hair loss.
Unlike traditional hair transplant methods that involve the removal of a strip of scalp and extensive healing time, FUE involves extracting individual follicular units using a specialized device. The NeoGraft device precisely extracts hair follicles from the donor area, minimizing trauma to the scalp and ensuring the integrity of the harvested follicles. Once harvested, the individual follicular units are carefully implanted at the correct angle, depth, and density to achieve natural-looking results.
Immediately after NeoGraft recovery, patients may experience some mild discomfort, swelling, and redness in the donor and recipient areas of the scalp. In most cases, patients can resume regular household activities the same day or the next day. Since this is a minimally invasive procedure, one important thing to note is the difference between physical and social recovery. You will have some noticeable, tiny red marks on your scalp for a few days, but physically, most patients are cleared to return to work after a day or two. However, it depends on your level of social comfort due to the noticeable scalp irritation.
One of the best ways to learn about recovery is to hear about it from a real patient. Check out the day-by-day details, along with the helpful videos below.
The first day, you may experience some tenderness or discomfort, especially after local anesthetic wears off. But most patients only experience low pain levels, which could easily be managed with over-the-counter medications. You will need to sleep with your head elevated for a few days; recliner chairs work well for this. For some patients this could be uncomfortable compared to their normal sleeping situation.
By the fourth day, swelling near the scalp should go down, but it may also shift to other areas as fluids dissipate and inflammation resolves. Around this time in recovery, you may start to notice some bruising, particularly around the temples if you received grafts in this area since it can be a sensitive region of the head with thinner skin. You should be able to wash your hair as usual at this point, just be careful not to scrape, scratch, or heavily massage the scalp. Overall, most patients feel better and on the path to full recovery.
By day six, most discomfort and itchiness should be nearly gone and you should be able to return to a more regular sleep situation. Continue to use clean sleep surfaces in order to avoid infection or delayed complications. To ensure your scalp is not irritated, using a silk pillowcase is a great recovery option. Your transplant areas should be close to full healing and most of the visual side effects will be gone.
Both the grafted area, usually near the crown or hairline, and the donor area should be healed enough at this point to return to regular social activities. Since every case is different, it’s very important to check with your doctor on any restrictions and what they feel is best for you and your healing process.
It’s also important to note that in a few weeks, the hair transplants will begin to grow, and then they will fall out or shed. This is totally normal and part of the hair growth cycle. Within a few months, the transplanted hair will begin to grow again, and final results are typically seen around six to twelve months after the initial treatment.
One of the most important things about any aesthetic procedure, including hair restoration, is finding a team of medical professionals who will support you throughout the entire process, including the recovery period. You can learn more about the recovery period and the entire NeoGraft treatment by consulting with experts like those at Premier Plastic Surgery Center. Book your comprehensive and informative consultation today.
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