Laser Hair Therapy

When can you go back to work after hair transplant?

Many people can return to remote work the day after a FUE hair transplant, but those with physical job should wait 10 days before returning to physical labor.

Hair transplant recovery and visible signs of surgery are major concerns for many patients, therefore this is a frequently asked question. However, the answer generally depends on the nature of your job. It’s possible to return to work the next day after a hair transplant treatment if you can work from home. If possible, wait until the fifth day before returning to desk work in an office to give yourself enough time to heal. Hair loss is less noticeable at this point, and your recipient area hairs are less fragile. Also, if you have to return to physical work after undergoing hair transplant surgery, you should take at least ten days off of work.

Tips To Help You Stay Safe As You Get Back To Work after a Hair Transplant

  • Rest and give yourself time to recover.
  • To maintain your hair and protect your transplant, you may need to wear a cap
  • Try to stay out of the sun if you can.
  • Wait 10-14 days before getting back to physical work, if possible.

After a Hair Transplant, What Should I Expect?

Do not be discouraged if you do not notice any new growth in the first 12 months; this is normal.  In the beginning, you’ll be left with just a few tiny hairs protruding from your recipient’s skin. You’ll see some redness and scabs where the graft was implanted after the procedure. Those visible signs of surgery will begin to vanish after five to ten days of the procedure. It’s common to lose a few hairs while you’re healing, so don’t be concerned if you do. Most people may see a difference in hair growth after four to six months. Since the incisions used in an FUE hair transplant are less than a millimeter wide, recovery time is quite short. Your face may be swollen for the first five days after surgery, but this will subside within 10 days. Before returning to work, you’ll want to wait for your newly implanted hair transplants to develop and heal at the donor location.

When Will I Be Able To Resume My Job?

After a hair transplant, you can return to remote work the next day, desk work after 5 days and physical work after 10 days. At this point in your rehabilitation, your hairs are less brittle in the place where they were transplanted, and there are fewer traces of surgery. If you have the option, you should return to work ten days after your hair transplant, at the very latest. When you reach this phase in your recovery, you should be free of any redness or scabbing.

    What is The Nature of Your Work?

    When selecting when to return to work, patients must consider the kind of job they do. For the first 10 day, you cannot do physical work. You may want to wear a cap or a hat if you work in the sun. The last consideration is for individuals who must wear a tight-fitting cap to work. Your newly implanted hairs can be damaged if you wear a tight-fitting cap on top of them. We strongly advise you to take a two-week vacation in this case.

      When Do My Grafts Become Secure?

      To avoid removing any recently implanted grafts, you’ll need to exercise extreme caution no matter where you work. After a hair transplant, the freshly implanted grafts must settle into the scalp for 10 days. In other words, if you’re afraid of dislodging hairs into your workplace, you should hold off on returning to work until at least 10 days after your surgery.

      In the first five days following a hair transplant the hairs are extremely fragile and can be dislodged by even the slightest touches to the scalp. As a result, we recommend that all transplant recipients avoid physical labor.

        What Are The Side Effects Of Hair Transplants?

        There are potentially minor side effects associated with the hair transplant treatment throughout the healing period. Despite the tiny incisions, people may still have potential side effects, thus it is vital to consider them while returning to work after an FUE hair transplant treatment. FUE hair transplant patients should keep an eye out for the following side effects. Some of these reactions you can get while you are in the process of healing include swelling, itching, bleeding, and infection.

          How to Cover Up a Hair Transplant

          A lot of people have this concern. Many patients choose to keep their hair transplant a secret when they return to work after the procedure. Here are ways people can notice you’ve had a hair transplant:

          • The back and sides of the head are shaved short.
          • There is redness in both the donor and the recipient sites
          • Delicate crusts on the freshly implanted region.

          The Back and Sides of the Head Are Shaved Short

          FUE hair transplants require many patients to have their back and sides of the head shaved down to a grade zero. It might take up to a week and a half for it to grow long enough to be used in the workplace. If you’re concerned about getting a short haircut following a hair transplant, we recommend that you wait 7 to 10 days before returning to work.

            There Is Redness in both the Donor and the Recipient Sites

            The back and the top of your head will be a little red after your hair transplant. As a result of the small incisions performed by your hair transplant surgeon, you may experience temporary swelling and redness; this redness is more noticeable if you have light skin than if you have a dark complexion. Consequently, this redness may last longer.

            The redness generally lasts 10 days For those who have a light complexion, the effects might last just six to eight weeks following hair transplant surgery. If you’re worried about any post-surgery redness, we recommend waiting at least two weeks before returning to work. For an unshaven hair transplant, you’ll be able to cover up any red patches by combing your hair, making it difficult to tell whether you had surgery. As a result, having an unshaven hair transplant treatment may be beneficial if you wish to return to work sooner.

              Delicate Crusts on the Freshly Implanted Region

              You will see small scabs where your freshly implanted grafts are in the first 10 days following hair transplant surgery. On the fifth day following surgery, you will be able to wash your hair for the first time, and the small scabs will begin to fall off. After 7-10 days of cleaning, the tiny scabs should be gone. Waiting 7 to 10 days after surgery is a good idea if you’re concerned about returning to work and having tiny surgical scars visible to others.

                Schedule Your Consultation

                Do you need a professional hair transplant procedure? Contact us at our practice today for your hair transplant in Chicago. Dr. Vinay Rawlani is a board-certified hair restoration specialist from Northwestern Hair. Our trusted staff members will be happy to meet with you and discuss your hair transplant options. A wonderful experience awaits you.