Hair Transplant After 7 Days: What To Expect

Key takeaways:

• What should my hair transplant look like after 7 days? By the seventh day after your transplant, much of the scabs on your head should be starting to wash away, which will make the transplanted hairs more visible. Often you will still have some mild residual redness in the area, which is a normal part of the healing process.
  
• Are my hair grafts completely secure after 7 days? Not fully. The first week is crucial in allowing the newly transplanted hair follicles to settle into your scalp. While many of them will be secured at this point, others might still not be fully anchored yet. Keep following your surgeon’s aftercare instructions and avoid scratching, picking at scabs, or trauma that can disturb the transplanted follicles.
  
• Is it normal for transplanted hair to start falling out after a week? Yes. The transplanted hairs are expected to start shedding starting from the first week after the procedure. Although this can initially be worrying,  what is shedding is the visible hair shaft; the follicles underneath the scalp remain healthy and will begin producing new hair, which will take time to show.
  
• Should I still have scabs after 7 days? Some scabbing can remain after day 7. You can usually expect most of the scabs to wash off by day 14. As your hair washing intensity increases, you will find that the remaining scabs will wash off naturally.
  
• When will I actually see new hair growth? Your scalp will appear significantly healed after the first week, but it will take much longer before you see visible hair growth from the newly transplanted grafts. Your existing native hairs can be expected to continue growing at their usual rate. Expect it to be around the third or fourth month after your surgery before you will see your new hair beginning to emerge.

7 days after your hair transplant, you can expect to see the scabs in your transplanted area start washing away, leaving the newly implanted hair visible, with a mild amount of redness in your skin. 

A sequence of one of our patients’ recovery in the first week after hair transplant surgery is shown below.

How long does hair transplant recovery take?

Initial recovery after a hair transplant normally happens within the first two weeks.³ In the immediate few days after the procedure, you may experience mild symptoms such as discomfort and swelling, and you will also experience some scabbing,⁴ but these symptoms should mostly subside within a week. 

Over the next few weeks and months, your newly transplanted hair will shed; note that this is a normal part of the transplanted grafts’ hair cycle and is generally not a cause for concern, as the hair follicles remain in the scalp and will gradually begin producing hair. By the third or fourth month, you should be able to see new hair growth starting to emerge. You can read about the hair growth process after a transplant in our dedicated article: How long after a hair transplant does hair start to grow?

After a year or so, the full results of your transplant should become evident.⁵ However, everyone is different, so individual healing times can vary. The best thing you can do to shorten your recovery time is to stick carefully to the aftercare advice and any other instructions provided to you by your surgeon.

Hair transplant recovery stages

While many patients are keen to see the results of their hair transplant as soon as possible, it is important to remain patient. Take some time to understand the hair growth stages that will occur throughout your recovery, so you are aware of what to expect. These include:⁶

1. Shedding phase (2 – 6 weeks) – This initial stage is a normal part of the hair transplant process where your transplanted hair will fall out.
   
2. Latent phase (3 – 4 months) – During this stage, underneath the skin surface, the follicles are preparing for the growth (anagen) phase. The new transplanted hair growth will start to become visible. 
   
3. Anagen phase (6 – 12 months) – By this time, the transplanted hairs will be in an active growth phase, during which time they emerge and thicken. The rate at which the hairs grow varies between individuals, but most of our patients see close to full growth within a year.

Since the hair growth cycle is not perfectly synchronised across all hair follicles, many patients may experience residual shedding throughout the entire recovery process, rather than only for a few weeks. 

However, as your transplanted follicles become more established, this will gradually subside. You should see the outcome of your hair transplant at around 12 months. At that point, you can look forward to your fabulous new hair. Check out our before-and-after gallery, which showcases the outstanding results we have achieved for our patients. 

7 days after the hair transplant: what to expect

The first 7 days after your transplant are important for ensuring your scalp is recovering, and your grafts are securely placed.

Days 1 & 2: The initial recovery

During the first two days after the procedure, you may experience some mild discomfort, swelling, and redness around the recipient site. 

While having an FUE hair transplant is minimally invasive with relatively little postoperative discomfort, we would still recommend giving your scalp time to recover by either working from home or taking up to 1-2 weeks off work. 

You should also follow your surgeon’s advice and post-operative instructions diligently during these early days, avoiding harsh chemicals such as hair dyes, sun exposure, or washing your hair to reduce the risk of potential complications. 

Days 3 & 4: Managing pain & discomfort

As you progress into the third and fourth days, you may find your donor area might be a little sensitive. It is rare for the recipient site to feel uncomfortable – if it is, you should be able to take some simple painkillers at home to ease the discomfort. It is important to flag any concerns with your surgeon, for example, if there is pain that you can’t manage at home with the recommended medications.

On day four after your surgery, you will also be advised to soak and wash your hair for the first time after your transplant. In our clinic, we provide all the necessary instructions on how to do this safely in our detailed aftercare guide.

Importantly, you will need to avoid rubbing your hair with rough towels or scratching your scalp with your fingernails. See our step-by-step hair washing guide for more detailed instructions.    

Days 5 & 6: Scabbing & crusting

The fifth and sixth days post-transplant mark a significant phase in the recovery process, with the scabbing and crusting starting to wash away. 

While some patients may find this distressing, scabbing is completely normal. It is your body’s natural way of protecting your skin from infection. We would recommend increasing the washing intensity between day 6 and day 10 to ensure these scabs start to wash away. Never try to forcibly remove your scabs; the aim is to allow them to come away naturally with your hair washing routine.

You can read more about this topic in our dedicated article – When do scabs Fall out After Having a Hair Transplant?

Your scalp might be itchy; however, you must avoid picking or interfering with the scabs in any way, as this could damage the hair grafts. Your surgeon will be able to recommend specific shampoos or products for you to use to help reduce the itchiness of your scalp.

Day 7: Less scabbing, mild redness and the start of shedding

From the seventh day and beyond, your scabs should start to be washed away, and you may notice some of your transplanted hair starts falling out. 

As mentioned earlier, shedding after your hair transplant is an entirely normal part of the hair growth cycle, where new hair forms in the follicles and will begin to grow over the next 4–12 months. This shedding can happen in areas of transplanted hair, non-transplanted hair, and, in rare cases, the donor area itself. 

Certain medications like finasteride and minoxidil can help thicken your hair and increase density. ⁸ It is usually recommended by your surgeon as an adjunct treatment, especially to prevent future thinning around your transplanted hair.

Hair transplant post-operative care

Moving beyond the first week, maintaining proper post-operative care is crucial for ensuring the long-term success of your hair transplant. 

This involves keeping your scalp clean and healthy, as well as avoiding activities that could harm the transplanted grafts or cause you stress. We recommend waiting 2 weeks before returning to exercise and 4 weeks before returning to contact sports.

At The Treatment Rooms London, our personalised aftercare recovery packages take into account a wide range of personal requirements and include a bundle of essential medications and instructions to help you care for your transplant at home. 

Are you considering a hair transplant?

Hair loss can be a deeply personal and sensitive issue. For some people, it is a cosmetic concern, but for others, it can really eat away at their confidence every time they look in the mirror. It can make them second-guess how they look when taking a photograph or entering a crowded room. Each individual will have their own experience, and that is why we ensure that they each get a unique hairline that suits who they are. 

Explore our extensive gallery of hair transplant results, where you can view a wide range of before and after transformations.

With each case, you can have a glimpse at how we have helped hundreds of people like you achieve their dream hairline, often just from a single day procedure. 

Furthermore, our patient journey is second to none, with hair transplant aftercare factored into our pricing structure.

For more information about costs associated with an FUE hair transplant, take a look at our dedicated hair transplant cost page or try our hair graft calculator to figure out how many grafts you might need.

Get in touch today if you’d like to book a consultation to discover how our team may be able to help you achieve a fuller, natural finish to your hairline. 

Conclusion

The first week after your hair transplant is a crucial time to look after your hair and carefully follow the aftercare instructions. Good aftercare is based upon thorough knowledge of how the scalp heals and the grafts’ recovery needs. If you follow this advice well, you can help create the best possible conditions for your grafts to heal well and grafts to grow successfully. Then you can expect to look forward to your newly transformed hair and all the benefits that it brings. 

Sources

1. Liu, F., Miao, Y., Xingdong, L., et al. (2018) The relationship between self-esteem and hair transplantation satisfaction in male androgenetic alopecia patients. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 18(5): 1441 – 1447. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jocd.12839 
   
2. Mohebi, P. & Rassman, W. (2008) Psychology of hair transplants. Hair transplant forum international. 18(2): 46 – 47. Available at: https://www.ishrs-htforum.org/content/htfi/18/2/41.full.pdf 
   
3. Zito, P. & Raggio, B. (2023) Hair Transplantation [Updated 2023 Feb 14]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547740/ 
   
4. Kerure, A. & Patwardhan, N. (2018) Complications in Hair Transplantation. J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 11(4): 182 – 189. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6371733/ 
   
5. Chouhan, K., Roga, G., Kumar, A. & Gupta, J. (2019) Approach to Hair Transplantation in Advanced Grade Baldness by Follicular Unit Extraction: A Retrospective Analysis of 820 Cases. J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 12(4): 215 – 222. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6967160/ 
   
6. Hoover, E., Alhajj, M. & Flores, J. (2023) Physiology, Hair [Updated 2023 Jul 30]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499948/  
   
7. Parsley, W. & Perez-Meza, D. (2010) Review of Factors Affecting the Growth and Survival of Follicular Grafts. J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 3(2): 69 –75. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2956960/ 
   
8. Suchonwanit, P., Thammarucha, S. & Leerunyakul, K. (2019) Minoxidil and its use in hair disorders: a review. Drug Des Devel Ther. 13: 2777 – 2786. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6691938/