Post Surgery Care

Before you leave, we will provide you with explicit written instructions detailing how to care for your scalp until you return. You may receive prescriptions at that time (or before the procedure).

Many doctors prescribe an analgesic such as Tylenol with codeine. Sometimes antibiotics are also prescribed to prevent infection. Occasionally doctors administer medication to prevent swelling, but we have found these have limited value. Patients also receive prescriptions for pain to facilitate restful nights immediately after surgery.

Immediately following surgery:

Grafts are healing in fibrin (the body’s natural glue).

The grafts are loose for the first 2 to 3 days and firm by day 8.

The first hairs in the grafts usually fall out within 2 to 6 weeks post surgery (you will then look as you did prior to surgery). Do not panic. The hair will grow back.

Comparatively speaking, Follicular Unit Transplantation is a relatively minor surgical procedure and most people recover in several days and return to work right away. There is some discomfort at the graft sites for the first few days. Most patients can manage this pain with Tylenol.

Athletic activities should be suspended for 1 to 2 weeks. The donor sights should also not be subjected to undue stress for several months. However normal activity can be resumed 1 to 2 weeks after the procedure.

It is important to note that due to the local anesthia and mild sedative, patients will not be able to drive themselves home immediately after the surgery. Patients who want to leave the clinic immediately should bring someone with them who can drive them home. Patients who fly into Tulsa will be given free transportation back to their hotel.

You have several options regarding post-surgical treatment:

You may leave with no bandage after surgery

Or you may be given a small sweatband to keep pressure on the areas

The recipient area is left open or lightly covered which enables the transplanted grafts to be exposed to the air to dry and heal more expeditiously.

Scabs that accumulate on your scalp should be washed as they accumulate for the first few days after procedure. Follicular Unit Transplantation only creates very small crusts; therefore, there are not likely to create another after the second day. After the first week, the only visible signs of the procedure are stubble of transplanted hair and fading redness. In fact, your procedure will feel and look like a 5:00 shadow. Swelling of the forehead is present in 25% of people between the third and fifth day, but rarely lasts more than one day. Eyelid swelling rarely occurs.