How Long After a Hair Transplant Are New Hair Grafts Secure?

After getting a hair transplant, the grafts implanted on your scalp are delicate. They can quickly come off when they get forcefully dislodged by pulling or bumping. If that happens, you’ll notice bleeding.

So, how long after a hair transplant are new hair grafts secure? It takes at least ten days for them to become secured into place on your scalp.

Stick around as we further discuss how long grafts become secure after a hair transplant!

How Long After Hair Transplant Grafts Are Secure?

The time of how long the grafts will become secured after a hair transplant depends on how you take care of it.

Note that the grafts are vulnerable after a hair transplant because they haven’t settled in your scalp. In addition, the affected area is going to be very tender.

So any kind of disturbance will most likely cause pain and discomfort, along with the risk of the grafts coming off. Of course, if the scalp often experiences tugging or any kind of extreme force, it’ll take longer for the grafts to become secure.

Usually, it takes two weeks before the grafts become secure with proper care. A study proved that hydrating the affected area to prevent crust formation is an ideal step to ensure that the grafts won’t come off.

Even though crusting is a regular occurrence in the healing process of a hair transplant, it increases the risk of the grafts dislodging.

It’s because the hair follicles attach to the scabs and can come off when rubbed or forcefully removed. Moreover, it also puts you at risk of infection because the bacteria can enter the open wound.

When Are Hair Grafts Secure?

There’s no other way to know if your hair grafts are secure other than to check your scalp. The general rule of thumb is that it’s already secured after two weeks. Considering that our bodies are different, your healing process might be shorter or longer than usual.

Your scalp will swell at first, and it’s a sign that the graft area is healing and securing the hair follicles into place. During this phase, they’re still fragile and can dislodge.

You’ll also see minimal bleeding around the incision, but it’s normal and part of the healing process. It’ll lead to scabbing, which means the hair follicles are close to becoming secured.

Once there’s no more swelling and scabbing, then the hair grafts are already secure. By this time, you can already do mundane duties like washing your hair and combing.

Eventually, some hair follicles will fall off and new hair will start growing. You can then treat your hair normally.

Can I Touch the Grafts After Hair Transplant?

As mentioned earlier, hair grafts are fragile. After a few hours of implanting them, they’d still be dry and loose. It’s also why your surgeon will advise you to cover your scalp with a bandage for at least two days.

You can’t touch the grafts during the first few days of the healing process. On top of that, you can’t also wash your hair, swim, or do high-impact exercises because these activities might dislodge the hair follicles.

Touching the grafts after hair transplant makes you prone to diseases, too, especially if you don’t sanitize your hands.

Infections results in lethargy, vomiting, fever, and headaches. The graft site might also swell and release some pus, leading to other symptoms like itchiness and bleeding.

Although it’s a rare case, a hair transplant infection can also cause other diseases if left untreated for long periods, such as the following:

1.    Septicemia

Septicemia is a severe condition that happens when bacteria enter your bloodstream. The condition starts as bacteremia; when your blood has more bacteria than usual.

If left untreated, there’s a possibility that the bacterial toxins can also spread throughout your body. It can become life-threatening because it can develop into sepsis.

2.    Folliculitis

Folliculitis is a bacterial infection that happens when a hair follicle becomes inflamed. It presents itself as tiny red bumps that can appear anywhere on your body that has hair. They typically go away on their own. However, some people experience fever.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of a hair transplant infection, contact your surgeon immediately so you’ll know the proper treatment plan. They might prescribe oral or topical medication if the condition isn’t severe.

3.    Scalp Necrosis

According to a 2018 study, hair transplant patients with vascular compromise experienced scalp necrosis after an extensive session.

When you have this condition, your body’s cells, tissues, and organs die. It occurs because your blood doesn’t provide enough nutrients to the mentioned parts for them to function properly. Other factors like diabetes, smoking, and actinic damage also lead to this issue.

How Long Does Hair Transplant Take To Heal?

A hair transplant takes 14 days to heal. However, it’ll take months before your hair starts to grow naturally.

With that said, below are the stages that you’ll experience after getting the procedure done:

Days 1 to 4

The first four days of your hair transplant are the most crucial because the hair grafts can easily dislodge. You’ll experience swelling and some pain, but you can easily combat them by taking the topical or oral antibiotic prescribed by your surgeon.

It’s also essential to keep your scalp hydrated to prevent crusting. You can use a saline solution for this.

You should also rest as much as possible during this phase because it helps speed up your recovery.

Days 5 to 9

At this point, the scabs will start falling off whenever you wash your hair. Sadly, you can’t use regular shampoo because it might harm the incisions.

The swelling will also subside, so you’ll no longer experience pain. However, you shouldn’t engage in extraneous activities as the hair follicles can still dislodge.

Days 10 to 14

Once the scabs have fully healed, the follicles will become dormant. They’ll fall off eventually, which will result in healthy new hair.

You can start washing your hair regularly, and you can go back to exercising.

Moreover, your surgeon might call you back after a few months for a check-up appointment.

Takeaway

Now, how long after a hair transplant are new hair grafts secure? The short answer is 14 days.

However, because our bodies recover differently from one another, it might take longer for some people before their grafts become secure. Still, it depends on how you care for your scalp after a hair transplant.

So, follow what your surgeon has advised you to do to ensure you won’t experience any troubles after the procedure.