Frequently Asked Hair Transplant Questions in Harrisburg, PA
How Long Does the Surgery Take?
The typical hair transplant surgery takes 6 to 8 hours to complete. The size of the case, the hair type, and surgical method being performed all play a part in the pace of the surgery. For every surgery, we break for lunch and provide a meal courtesy of Koher Medical. Most of the day is spent sitting in the surgical chair watching television and relaxing as the surgical team completes the procedure.
How Long is the Recovery?
It takes about 1 week after the surgery day to fully heal from the hair transplant. Scabs will form around the transplanted areas in the immediate days afterwards, and should fall off completely within 7 to 10 days by performing proper washing technique. It is possible to have forehead swelling, and this can be controlled by frequent icing and proper ergonomics following the procedure. Minor itching and tenderness may also be experienced, but all postoperative symptoms may be mitigated by following the aftercare instructions given at the end of each surgery.
Can I Wear a Hat?
We normally recommend patients to avoid wearing a hat for the first 24 hours in order to let the initial healing process go undisturbed. Afterwards, we recommend wearing a baseball-style hat on its loosest setting and only wearing it selectively. The hat must be placed on and taken off in a vertical manner in order to avoid the hat rubbing against the transplanted area, as that may dislodge hair grafts.
When Will My New Hair Start to Grow?
Transplanted hairs typically shed over the month following the procedure, with the hair bulbs beneath the skin going into a dormant phase to gather nutrients. Initial hair growth can typically be seen 90 days after the procedure, but full results will not be present until at least a year later. It’s even been found that further growth may occur 15 to 18 months following the procedure, especially in FUE transplant cases.
Is the Surgery Painful?
No, the surgery itself is performed under local anesthesia in order to mitigate pain and make sure the patient feels nothing during the harvesting and transplantation portions of the procedure. This is the same medication that is used by the dentist’s office, and the patient remains awake and alert throughout the procedure. Although this ensures the patient stays numb during the surgery, it can be uncomfortable to remain sitting for long periods of time. As such, we provide patients with ample breaks as needed throughout the day.