FUE Hair Transplant recovery, day by day
What happens after FUE Hair Transplant, from the procedure itself to the day the result is final. Everything here is what we tell our own patients, in the order they need to hear it.
Safe to fly
Day 2
Back to work
Day 7
Back to training
Day 14
Final result
Day 365
The timeline
Days are counted from the procedure. Where a range is normal, the earlier end is shown — ask your surgeon before taking it as the date.
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Day 0 · Procedure
Procedure day
Grafts are extracted and placed over six to eight hours under local anaesthetic. You go back to the hotel the same evening and sleep propped up on two pillows.
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Day 1 · Check-up
First wash at the clinic
The dressing comes off and a nurse washes your scalp for the first time, showing you the technique to repeat at home.
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Day 2 · Travel
Safe to fly home
You can travel from day two. Wear a loose hood rather than a cap, and avoid anything that touches the grafts.
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Day 3 · Daily care
Daily washing begins
Lotion, then shampoo, once a day for the next week. Let water fall onto the grafts rather than spraying them directly.
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Day 7 · Work
Back to desk work
Redness has faded enough for most people to return to an office. Donor-area soreness is usually gone.
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Day 10 · Daily care
Crusts have cleared
The last scabs come away with gentle washing. Do not pick them off early — a graft can come with them.
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Day 14 · Exercise
Light exercise
Walking and light cardio are fine. No heavy lifting, swimming or sauna, and nothing that makes you sweat heavily.
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Day 21 · Daily care
Shock loss
Most of the transplanted hairs fall out between weeks three and six. This is expected: the follicle stays, only the shaft is shed.
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Day 30 · Exercise
Full training
Gym, running and swimming can resume. Direct sun on the scalp should still be avoided or covered.
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Day 90 · Result
First new growth
Fine new hairs start pushing through. They are thin and lighter than your own hair at first.
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Day 180 · Result
Around half the final density
The new hair thickens and takes on your natural colour. This is the point most people stop thinking about it daily.
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Day 365 · Result
Final result
Density, texture and the hairline are settled. This is the photograph to compare against your day-zero one.
Recovery varies between people. Smoking, diabetes, how big the case was and how carefully the aftercare is followed all move these dates, usually later rather than earlier.
How long to stay in Istanbul
The package allows 3 nights, which covers the procedure, the checks and the final review before you fly. Staying one extra day is the cheapest insurance against a flight that gets moved.
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