Many people who think about getting a hair transplant done, back out because they come to know of getting wounds and scars in the donor area post hair transplant surgery.

The concern of these people is not ill-founded. After all, there is no such thing as ‘scar less’ surgery. Modern techniques of hair transplant are minimally invasive and don’t leave many scars.

It should also be known that healing and wound care after transplant are an important part of the process and can also be the key to long-lasting and successful results.

Your surgeon is surely going to give you all instructions, but still, even we have compiled some things for you to benefit from:

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In order to understand the kind of wounds, it becomes necessary to know the methods of transplant, as well. The two most popular types of methods of hair restoration are FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) along with FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation).

  • FUT – Involves removing a strip of scalp from the donor area, and then dividing it in tiny grafts, each contains a few hairs and then transplanting into the bald area. Leaves a linear wound.
  • FUE – Involves taking out individual follicles from the donor area and then implanting them through small slits on to bald areas.

Caring for Wound

The patients must also understand the wound healing process to be able to properly look after it. For wounds to heal they should not get wet, too much dryness is also not good, as it will cause scar formation.

The surgeon also has to be careful not to leave any kind of rubbish in the wound, which can slow down the process of healing. It is also necessary to be no tension in or around the wound.

Hence, surgeons advise patients not to lift anything; subcuticular sutures can greatly help in reducing tension and also help in the healing process.

The wound healing in donor area takes slightly longer than another zone, as this need to be more collagen formation and hovering around a wound, to close.

  • Patients have to regularly follow postoperative instructions so that wounds heal faster.
  • Any exercise for at least a week should be avoided.
  • Patients must avoid any kind of exercise or heavy activity
  • They are also advised against contact sports and activities involving sweating, as the wound, should not become wet.

The new hair follicles will need a good amount of blood supply to adapt to the new location. So too much exertion can cause stress on natural blood flow.

Do not reach out to your salon for getting your hair coloring, perming or using any kind of chemical treatments. In case you get it done, your healing process will slow down, besides causing infection.

Smoking and drinking, can hamper the blood flow and hence obstruct essential nutrients to reach grafts, are best to be avoided during recovery time. Avoiding these will save the grafts to adapt to a new place.

You have to be careful about shampooing also; you are not supposed to scrub very tightly. It can lead to dislodge the grafts and also disturb the wound. Washing is supposed to be done gently, with a mild shampoo.

Using antibiotics to avoid infection is also something that surgeon will suggest? The patient is advised to take them as prescribed.

Wounds are a natural part of the healing process, but how effective the surgery will be, and how fast the wounds will heal. All depends on how good the surgeon you choose is.

Scalp Laxity Exercises

During Follicular Unit Transplantation, the surgeon will get hair from long, thin strip removed from back or sides of the scalp.

The procedure can be accomplished when the scalp is loose as this will help the surgeon to harvest more grafts. In case of the tight scalp, you can do the following:

  • By placing the palm of your hands on the back of the head with your fingers pointing upwards and thumbs pointing towards each other.
  • Move scalp up and down as fast as you can, using palms and thumbs, with fingers resting stationary on top of the scalp.
  • For stretching entire area, use three different positions for palm and thumbs.
  • This can be performed for 5 minutes at each of three positions every evening at bedtime.
  • Begin the exercise 8 weeks earlier to surgery and keep doing up today before the process.

So now you have decided to get your hair transplant, is the best decision you could have taken.