Are my hair transplant grafts coming off with the scabs?

I had a hair transplant performed about 3 weeks ago. I was told that the transplanted hairs would fall out about this time. In the last few days, I have noticed that the hairs are falling out. But I am concerned because it appears as if the entire graft or plug is coming out. I am not sure if this is the scab that I have been reading about in the posts on this site. It just looks like a little piece of hair with some dry skin attached to the end.

Your concern is very common and just about every hair transplant patient experiences it and has anxiety about it. I know that I did. But beyond one week after hair transplant surgery the transplanted hair follicles are generally secure in the scalp. As long as a patient uses only gentle shampooing and their finder tips to loosen up any scabbing on the scalp, only the hair shafts and scabs should come loose, not the transplanted hair follicles.

However, the hair shafts and any scabs on the surface will shed and it will often appear as if the actual hair follicle is also being shed. But typically it is only the hair and scabs that are coming loose, not the transplanted hair follicles.

It is important not to pick or peel any scabs that may form on the scalp. Use gentle pressure from the finger tips and shampooing to break up and remove any scabbing.

Best wishes for rapid healing and a bumper crop of new hair.

Pat – Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog. To share ideas with other hair loss sufferers visit our Hair Restoration Discussion Forum.

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