Medical content draft · Created September 2026 · Clinical review required before publishing
Quick answerNavigate the recovery timeline, everyday aftercare decisions and signs that require clinical advice. This hub contains 48 detailed pages and clear routes to consultation information.
How to use this hub
Start with the page closest to your decision, then use the related links to compare adjacent questions. Each page separates a concise answer from the clinical or practical details that can change it.
The content is general guidance. It does not diagnose hair loss, confirm surgical suitability, set a graft number or replace instructions from a treating clinician.
What the guides cover
The pages cover recovery and aftercare with consistent definitions, visible questions and links to relevant service, results, cost and consultation pages.
Where a question depends on examination, the guide states that limitation instead of presenting an online estimate as a clinical decision.
Browse all recovery and aftercare
Use the directory below to open any guide. Titles are written in the language patients commonly use, while the content explains important exceptions and next steps.
Hair Transplant Recovery: The First NightThe first night centres on protecting grafts, following the clinic's medication instructions and using the recommended sleeping position.Read guide →Hair Transplant Recovery: Day 2Day two commonly involves early washing or clinic review according to the written plan, with swelling and tenderness monitored.Read guide →Hair Transplant Recovery: Day 3By day three, patients may notice swelling, redness or tightness; the clinic's specific cleaning and medication instructions take priority.Read guide →Hair Transplant Recovery: Days 4–5During days four and five, gentle washing usually becomes part of routine care while rubbing and picking remain inappropriate.Read guide →Hair Transplant Recovery: Days 6–7At the end of the first week, crusting may still be present and activity should follow the clinic's staged guidance.Read guide →Hair Transplant Recovery: Day 10Around day ten, many aftercare plans focus on completing safe crust removal, but timing should follow the treating clinic.Read guide →Hair Transplant Recovery: Day 14By two weeks, grafts are generally less vulnerable to routine contact, while redness and donor healing can still vary.Read guide →Hair Transplant Recovery: Week 3Week three may bring shedding of transplanted shafts; this does not by itself mean follicles have been lost.Read guide →Hair Transplant Recovery: Week 4At one month, the scalp may look closer to baseline as shedding progresses and visible growth has not yet begun.Read guide →Hair Transplant Recovery: Month 2Month two can feel quiet because early shedding is over and new growth may still be limited.Read guide →Hair Transplant Recovery: Month 3Early new hairs may begin around month three, but timing and texture vary and conclusions are premature.Read guide →Hair Transplant Recovery: Month 4Month four often marks more visible early growth, with density still well short of the final result.Read guide →Hair Transplant Recovery: Month 5At month five, growth may be uneven across zones and hair shafts can still be fine or texturally different.Read guide →Hair Transplant Recovery: Month 6Six months is a useful progress checkpoint, not a final outcome, especially for crown work.Read guide →Hair Transplant Recovery: Month 9By month nine, coverage is often easier to assess while maturation and thickening can continue.Read guide →Hair Transplant Recovery: Month 12Twelve months is a common review point, though crown maturation and calibre changes can continue beyond it.Read guide →Hair Transplant Recovery: Month 18Eighteen months can be relevant for final crown assessment or slower maturation, depending on the treatment area.Read guide →The Hair Transplant Shedding PhaseShedding of transplanted hair shafts is expected for many patients; concerns should be checked against the clinic's timeline.Read guide →Shock Loss After a Hair TransplantShock loss can affect transplanted or nearby native hair and needs clinical review when the pattern is unexpected or persistent.Read guide →How Long Does Redness Last After a Hair Transplant?Redness varies with skin type, procedure and healing; increasing pain, heat or discharge warrants clinical advice.Read guide →Hair Transplant Swelling TimelineForehead swelling can occur in the early days and should be managed only according to the clinic's instructions.Read guide →Numbness After a Hair TransplantTemporary altered sensation can occur in donor or recipient areas, but persistent or worsening symptoms should be discussed with the clinic.Read guide →Donor Area Healing After FUEDonor healing includes small crusts, redness and temporary sensitivity, with appearance influenced by extraction pattern and hair length.Read guide →Hair Transplant Growth MilestonesGrowth is gradual rather than linear, so month-by-month milestones are ranges and should not be treated as guarantees.Read guide →First Hair Wash After a Hair TransplantThe first wash should follow the clinic's timing, water-pressure and product instructions, using gentle contact rather than rubbing.Read guide →How to Remove Scabs After a Hair TransplantScabs should loosen through the prescribed washing routine; picking early can injure healing skin and graft sites.Read guide →Sleeping Upright After a Hair TransplantElevation may be advised in the first nights to protect grafts and help with swelling, but duration follows the individual plan.Read guide →Pillow and Bedding Care After a Hair TransplantClean bedding, a protected pillow and the recommended sleeping position can make early recovery more comfortable and controlled.Read guide →When Can You Wear a Hat After a Hair Transplant?Hat timing and fit matter because early pressure or friction can disturb grafts; ask the clinic before wearing one.Read guide →When Can You Wear a Helmet After a Hair Transplant?Helmets add pressure, heat and friction, so return timing should be agreed with the clinical team rather than guessed.Read guide →Sun Exposure After a Hair TransplantHealing recipient and donor skin should be protected from strong sun according to the clinic's guidance.Read guide →Can Rain Affect a Hair Transplant?Light incidental rain is different from rubbing, contamination or forceful water; protect the scalp and follow the clinic's early-care advice.Read guide →Returning to Work After a Hair TransplantReturn depends on job demands, public-facing preferences, swelling and the ability to protect the scalp.Read guide →When Can You Return to the Gym After a Hair Transplant?Exercise is usually reintroduced in stages because sweating, pressure and raised exertion can affect early recovery.Read guide →When Can You Run After a Hair Transplant?Running should resume according to the clinic's staged activity plan rather than a universal online date.Read guide →Contact Sports After a Hair TransplantContact sports create impact and friction risk, so they generally require a longer pause and explicit clinical clearance.Read guide →When Can You Swim After a Hair Transplant?Pools, sea water and wet headwear introduce different risks, making clinic-specific timing essential.Read guide →Sauna and Steam Rooms After a Hair TransplantHeat, sweating and shared environments make sauna and steam-room timing a specific aftercare question.Read guide →Alcohol After a Hair TransplantAlcohol may interact with medication or recovery advice, so follow the clinic's written restrictions before and after surgery.Read guide →Smoking After a Hair TransplantSmoking can affect healing and should be discussed honestly so the clinician can give appropriate risk and timing advice.Read guide →Caffeine After a Hair TransplantCaffeine instructions vary with clinic protocol, blood pressure and medication, so use the written plan rather than general rules.Read guide →Flying After a Hair TransplantFlight timing should account for swelling, access to care, medication, cabin comfort and the journey to the airport.Read guide →When Can You Have a Haircut After a Hair Transplant?Clipper, scissor and donor-area timing may differ; avoid friction over healing sites until the clinic confirms it is appropriate.Read guide →When Can You Dye Hair After a Hair Transplant?Hair dye can irritate healing skin, so wait until the scalp has recovered and the clinic has confirmed timing.Read guide →Hair Styling Products After a Hair TransplantProducts should be reintroduced only after the scalp is healed enough for application and removal without irritation.Read guide →When to Restart Minoxidil After a Hair TransplantRestart timing depends on formulation, scalp healing and the prescribing plan; confirm it with the clinical team.Read guide →Itchy Scalp After a Hair TransplantItching can accompany healing, but scratching should be avoided and severe or worsening symptoms should be reported.Read guide →Possible Infection Signs After a Hair TransplantIncreasing pain, spreading redness, heat, discharge, fever or feeling unwell require prompt clinical advice rather than online reassurance.Read guide →
Medical informationHair loss can have several causes. The NHS advises seeing a GP to understand the cause before approaching a commercial hair clinic. Read NHS hair-loss guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Are the guides a medical diagnosis?
No. They provide general information and help you prepare questions for an appropriate clinical assessment.
Can I use the guides to choose a graft number?
No. A graft plan requires scalp and donor measurements, diagnosis and long-term planning.
Are all treatments suitable for everyone?
No. Suitability, alternatives and risk depend on the individual patient and should be discussed with a qualified clinician.
How do I request an assessment?
Use the consultation form on any guide or the contact page. Mobile consultation buttons open the form on the same page.