How to protect your scalp after a hair transplant
After a hair transplant procedure, it's important to take care of your scalp. Friction, direct sunlight and poor diet can lengthen your recovery time or may even affect how your new hair comes in.
Here's how to protect your scalp after a hair transplant:
Avoid direct sunlight
Now that spring is here and Long Island is warming up, you'll need to be very careful about avoiding direct sunlight on your scalp. If you know what a bad sunburn feels like, you can probably imagine the pain of a burn on your sensitive scalp. Even if you're a few weeks out from your FUE hair transplant, it's still a good idea to follow summer hair care advice.
Take over-the-counter pain medication
After your procedure your scalp may feel uncomfortable. Unless otherwise directed by your doctor, over-the-counter pain medication can help reduce some of the mild pain and swelling that naturally occurs after any surgical procedure.
If your pain level rises, or you think there's a chance of infection, call your doctor immediately.
Sleep with your head elevated
For the first few nights after your procedure, it's best to sleep on your back with your head elevated. Sleeping in this positions will ensure that the most sensitive parts of your scalp avoid touching the bed.
Likewise, you should wash your sheets and pillowcases before going to bed. While you sleep, you sweat, and that can cause bacteria to grow on your linens. Clean sheets will help protect your scalp from infection.
Avoid tight head wear
While it's unlikely that you'll feel like wearing a beanie after your hair transplant, it's still worth noting that you should avoid any kind of tight head wear in the days after the procedure. After a week or so, your transplanted follicles will be less delicate. However, tight headwear and hairstyles should still be avoided, as they can lead to traction alopecia.
Eat your vitamins
To promote the healing process, eat a balanced diet with lots of colorful fruits and vegetables. The Mayo Clinic suggested eating a diet rich in probiotics, protein, vitamins C, D and A as well as omega-3 fatty acids. Fish, lean meat, fruit, veggies and low-fat yogurt are good options.
Dr. Marotta is a dual board certified facial plastic surgeon. He is committed to delivering the best experience possible to his clients. Schedule a consultation today to see how Long Island Hair Transplant specialist, Dr. Marotta, and his team can help you decide if a hair transplant is right for you.
