Are Saunas, Hot Tubs and Swimming Pools Safe Two Weeks after Hair Transplant Surgery?

The following response to a question from the Hair Restoration Social Community and Discussion Forums, was written by forum member “Gillenator”.

I am planning on spending my recovery time from my follicular unit strip surgery (FUSS) at a resort, relaxing while away from work. The plan is to take the vacation 2 days after my sutures come out. I am obviously going to keep my head covered at all times and avoid all sunlight on my head. I also have no intention of submerging my head at all in the pool or hot tub.

My plan is to spend some time in the hot tub (without submerging my head), spend some time wading in the pool (with hat and without submerging my head) and possibly spend some time sweating in the sauna. I may also swim in the ocean and have been told by a doctor that the ocean saltwater may actually be “good” for my head at this point.

Anyone have any thoughts on this type of stuff so soon after hair transplant surgery? Thinking of how this might affect either the recipient area or the scar (don’t want it to stretch).

Even with post-op care most hair restoration physicians will not want the area subject to extreme swings in temp. And even though your head will not be submerged, the rest of the body’s temp would be increased including the blood supply that runs to the scalp.

The reason that your hair transplant surgeon may feel that the ocean water may be good is because of the salt content and salt can potentially facilitate the healing of wounds.

Sitting in a cool pool without getting your scalp wet would be fine but I would avoid anything that puts your head or body in any extreme temps.

Gillenator
Supporting Hair Restoration Physicians: Dr. Glenn Charles, Boca Raton, FL – Dr. Jerry Cooley, Charlotte, NC – Dr. Jim Harris, Denver, CO – Dr. Robert True & Dr. Robert Dorin, New York, NY

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David
Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.

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