Patient information · Aesthetics aftercare
Hair transplant and PRP aftercare
including the month when it looks worse
A hair transplant relocates follicles; it does not stop the underlying hair loss. The result depends heavily on the first ten days of aftercare and on realistic expectations about the timeline — particularly the phase around one to two months when the transplanted hairs fall out and people conclude it has failed.
Contact us urgently if you develop
- spreading redness, heat and swelling of the scalp, or a fever
- pus or foul-smelling discharge from graft sites
- severe pain not controlled by simple painkillers
- swelling spreading to the eyes that is worsening after day four
- numbness that is spreading, or a donor area that is gaping open
- any allergic reaction — rash, wheeze, facial swelling
Some forehead and eyelid swelling around days two to four is normal and settles. Infection after transplant is uncommon but needs treating promptly to protect the grafts. In an emergency call 999, or go to the Royal London Hospital Emergency Department, Whitechapel Road, London E1 1FR.
The first ten days — when the grafts are vulnerable
- Days 0–3. Sleep propped up at 45 degrees to limit swelling. Do not let anything touch the grafts — no hats, no pillows against the recipient area. Cold compress on the forehead, never on the grafts.
- Day 3 onwards. Begin gentle washing exactly as instructed — usually pouring, not spraying, with a cupped hand and no rubbing.
- Days 3–10. Crusts form and gradually soften. Do not pick, scratch or rub. Crusts detaching with a hair attached before day 10 may mean a lost graft.
- After day 10. Grafts are secure. Washing can return to normal, gently.
- Throughout. No smoking, no alcohol, no strenuous exercise, no swimming, no sauna, no direct sun.
Shock loss: the month it looks like it has failed
Between two and eight weeks, most or all of the transplanted hairs fall out. This is expected — the follicle survives; only the shaft is shed. Some surrounding native hairs may shed too. Almost everyone panics at this point. New growth begins at around three to four months, is 50% visible by six months, and reaches its final result at twelve to eighteen months. Judging the outcome before twelve months is judging it too early.
Realistic expectations
- New hair is initially fine and wispy, and thickens over months.
- A transplant redistributes existing hair; it does not create more. Donor supply is finite.
- Your own hair loss continues. Without medical treatment to slow it, thinning around the transplanted area produces an unnatural result over years — which is why maintenance matters.
- A second procedure is common, and is usually planned rather than a sign anything went wrong.
PRP aftercare
- Mild scalp tenderness, redness and swelling for 24 to 48 hours is normal.
- Do not wash the hair for at least six hours; avoid harsh shampoos, dye and heat styling for 48 hours.
- Avoid strenuous exercise, sauna and alcohol for 24 to 48 hours.
- Avoid anti-inflammatory painkillers for a few days before and after, as they may reduce the effect. Use paracetamol.
- A course is typically three to four sessions a month apart, then maintenance every four to six months. Results build gradually; expect three to six months before judging.
Protecting the result
Transplanting without treating the underlying loss is the commonest cause of long-term disappointment. Medical treatment — topical minoxidil, and oral treatment where appropriate — slows further loss and protects both the graft and the surrounding hair. It also needs continuing indefinitely; stopping means losing the gains. Have your iron, thyroid and vitamin D checked too, since deficiencies undermine any hair treatment.
Why come to us. We perform hair transplants and PRP here, with aftercare reviews built into the package and direct access to the clinical team rather than a booking line — seven days a week if something worries you at the weekend. Just as importantly, we assess and treat the cause of hair loss alongside the procedure: blood tests in-house for iron, ferritin, thyroid and vitamin D, dermatology assessment, and prescribed medical treatment to protect your result long term.
Aftercare reviews included, seven days a week
Blood tests, dermatology and medical treatment to protect the result.
Tower Bridge Hospital London
97–99 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1DT
WhatsApp 07903 284 189
info@mhwclinic.co.uk
Open Mon–Sat, 9am–7pm (closed Sundays until September)
In an emergency
Call 999, or go to the Royal London Hospital Emergency Department, Whitechapel Road, London E1 1FR.
When we are closed and it is not an emergency
Call NHS 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk.