Is It Normal to Experience Itching, Pimples and Shedding after Hair Transplant Surgery?
I had a hair transplant around 4 months ago. Since the transplant I’ve had an itchy scalp and sometimes it gets very bad where I have to scratch.
I also have some pus filled cysts in random areas of my transplanted scalp. My hairs are growing but a lot of them are starting to fall. Is this normal or what should I do?
Itching is perfectly normal for the first weeks/months after hair transplant surgery as are pimples. While pimples can be very uncomfortable, they are typically seen as a good sign that there is hair growth happening below the skin. However, it’s always best to discuss your concerns with your hair restoration physician. Severe acne or folliculitis may need to be treated with an antibiotic.
At 4 months post-surgery most, if not all, of your transplanted hairs should have shed already. It’s normal for your hair to appear thinner during this time. These hairs will begin to grow back along with the transplanted hair follicles between three and four months post-op.
Some products that may help with itching and irritation of the scalp are, aloe vera gel, moisturizing conditioners and a quality dandruff shampoo like Nizoral.
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David (TakingThePlunge)
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September 5, 2012 @ 1:21 am
Jeff,
Excellent question! To begin with, the general rule regarding hair growth after hair transplant surgery is that it takes one full year before final results are seen. Of course, there is also some degree of variation among individual patients.
The reason for this is that after surgery, the hair follicles remaining in the transplanted follicular unit grafts will shed and, as you referenced in your question, some patients will experience shock loss of native hairs leaving them looking even balder than they did prior to surgery. After falling dormant, the majority of these hairs will begin a new growth cycle but not all at the same time. They will start to grow in a little at a time starting between three and four months post-op.
Initial hair growth after surgery is normally finer and lighter in color native hair but will eventually become darker and more robust. Also, hair typically grows only 1/2 inch per month. Thus, it can take a minimum of eight months to see any significant improvement in density after hair restoration surgery.
Again, the best advice you will get is to avoid trying to assess your results until 12 months after surgery. Then, if you are still not happy, bear in mind that you may see subtle improvements up to 18 months. Beyond that, you should not expect any more changes.
David
September 2, 2012 @ 8:52 am
We often hear about 1) normal itching 2) normal post-operative hairloss, sometimes lasting for months 3) normal worsening of overall baldness/looks, also lasting for months after surgery. What I rarely hear is a discussion of when (for most patients) hair should definitely look thicker with an informal “mirror check”, and more importantly, at what point in the post-operative timeline continued hair loss and/or failure for implants to grow should be considered at least a partial failure of the procedure. Can someone qualified please discuss this? Waiting patiently is a virture, but waiting with an informed timeline in hand is a virtue with an end.
February 12, 2012 @ 2:34 am
Thank you for sharing This knowledge.Excellently written article.