When can you return to work after your hair transplant?

 

Okay, you have had your hair replacement procedure, and now you’re chomping at the bit to get back to work. The answer to this question will depend primarily on the type of work you do and the kind of activities it requires.

This article will look at the different timeframes you can get right back to your job and why each one is appropriate to ensure your work does not interfere with your healing and recovery process.

Why does Your Job Type Matter?

Your job type will play a role in how quickly you can return to work after your procedure. Suppose you work in an office environment, for example. In that case, chances are your hair replacement procedure won’t interfere with your ability to return to work on the same day as the surgery. However, if you’re a construction worker or mechanic whose job requires physical labor, you may need some time off for recovery. So let’s dive into the different time options and why only one might be perfect for you.

A Few Hours to a Full Day

As a professional hair transplant surgeon going through the hair replacement procedure for approximately seven months myself, I was up and seeing patients within a couple of hours of my procedure. However, most people in this category will want to wait at least a day afterward. Remember, you will be placed on certain prescription pain medications after your procedure that may take a while to get over. And although most people will be off of them by noon of the next day, you want to make sure that you’re not making any important decisions in the meantime.

Two Days

The next group of people may need to wait for at least this long before returning to their place of work. This option should be more appropriate for you if you actively work within social settings. That’s because we’re going to put a dressing on your head after the procedure, and it’s going to be quite obvious. And since your appearance is such a big part of your job, you can decide to play it safe until the dressings finally come off after the two-day mark.

5 Days

This option is perfect for people whose work requires theme getting involved in mild to moderated activities. At this stage, your procedure will have healed enough to allow you to safely perform activities that do not involve significant forms of physical strain. So if your job requires a bit of walking around without physically exerting yourself, then this is very likely the earliest time you’ll be able to return to work freely.

10 Days

You can now engage in some moderate straining at this length of time without risking your hair’s healing process. And this is perfect if you’re doing the kind of job that requires walking around and handling lighter objects, then 10-days would be the timeline you can work towards after your procedure.

While you might not necessarily have to wait this long, it’s something we recommend if you’re not sure and considering erring on the side of caution in protecting your brand-new hair.

Three Weeks

This period is when things finally return to just as normal as before you first undertook your hair replacement process. At the three-week mark, you can now feel safe engaging in heavier duty work without worrying about hurting your hair grafts or damaging them doing any other form of physical labor. Most people will rarely have to wait this long, but we recommend that you do if you want to ensure you keep your hair as safe as possible if you’re working in a highly active environment.

Conclusion

So there you have it. Depending on who you are and the type of job you have, the timeline for how quickly you can get back to your workplace will vary. It’s up to you regarding when you return to work after your hair transplant procedure, as long as you keep in mind the need to keep your hair safe and protected while you’re at it. With some planning and help from your healthcare team, you’ll be back on top of your game in no time.

Schedule a Consult

Interested in hair replacement? Schedule a complimentary consultation with a Northwestern Hair specialist. Choose between comprehensive in-person and convenient virtual consultations.