How To Clean And Remove Scab After Hair Transplant Surgery?

Hair transplant surgery is the most commonly sought cosmetic procedure among men, according to the latest surveys. Over 70% of men and 40% of women suffer from pattern baldness at some stage in their lives. With this percentage, hair transplantation should be a top-ranked procedure. Another factor that makes it a preferred choice for balding men is its ability to produce natural-looking, permanent results. But to make the hair transplant successful, you need to take care of several factors before and after the surgery. Post-op care is critical when it comes to reaping the maximum benefit of surgical hair restoration. One question that patients and doctors often neglect is how to remove scabs after hair transplant?

In this article, we have explained what scabs after hair transplant are and how we can clean and remove them. If you have recently undergone hair transplantation or are considering it, keep reading to learn more.

What are hair transplant scabs?

Almost all hair restoration methods, including natural remedies, topical and oral medications, and injectables, usually give temporary results. The hair grown due to these treatments begins to fall off as soon as the treatment is discontinued. But the hairs grown through transplantation do not fall off, as they are baldness resistant. Moreover, they do not take the effect of Dihydrotestosterone even after being displaced from their original position. However, scabs after hair transplant are quite common, and they can become problematic if not properly handled.

Hair transplant scabs are tiny wounds formed due to the trauma inflicted on the scalp during the procedure. Scabs are more common in FUE hair transplant than FUT. During the procedure, the surgeon makes small incisions on the scalp to extract and implant the follicles. After the procedure, these incisions take a few days to heal. About 3 days after the transplant, scabs will start to form on the scalp. However, by this time, the wound has become tightly attached to the scalp.

Scab Formation after a Hair Transplant

Hair transplantation involves transplanting at least 1000 hair grafts in bald or thinning areas to add a fuller effect. For that purpose, an equal number of incisions are made to insert the follicles in the recipient area. If you choose Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), expect to get the same number of incisions at the donor area. Every incision will develop a scar and scab. Moreover, like any wound scar, the tiny hair transplant scars will also cause an itchy feeling. All you have to do is resist the urge to scratch the thatch or pick at the scab. Otherwise, it may cause permanent scarring or damage to the newly transplanted hair follicles.

If you don’t take care of the wounds and freshly transplanted follicles, you may end up dislodging the follicles. As a result, the outcome of the surgery, i.e., hair growth in bald areas, will be affected.

How long before scabs fall off after hair transplant?

The scab formation begins on the third day after the transplant. However, the scabs are firmly attached to the skin. They start to loosen after day 10. Some scabs will fall off after about 7-14 days, but this duration depends on their density, size, and number.

Moreover, when the scabs fall out, some short hairs will also fall out. It is completely normal and shouldn’t cause concern. The hairs that don’t fall out with scabs will fall out during the hair shedding phase. The transplanted follicles are under the scalp, and they will develop into new hairs after 3-4 months.

How to remove scabs after hair transplant?

Before getting rid of the hair transplant scabs completely, patients need to clean them. For that purpose, they need to start washing their hair with a baby shampoo after 72 hours of the procedure. Moreover, they should mix water with baby oil in a bathtub and soak their heads in it. It will help the scabs come off quickly. However, patients must avoid picking at the scabs as they protect the transplanted follicles and may dislodge them.

Surgeons also recommend patients to massage their scalps slightly when wet from day 8. As they wash the scalp, they should rub it gently in circular motions with the weight of their fingers. But they shouldn’t exert too much pressure as this can dislodge the follicles. Patients must repeat this routine twice daily to speed up the scab removal process and for quick healing. However, they should avoid oil massages for at least 10 days.

Most patients are scared to massage their scalp, as they fear it may dislodge the grafts. But if you start it on day 13, do it with full confidence and light hands. Usually, the scalp is pretty clean by this time, and follicles are almost attached to the scalp.

By the 4th week, transplanted hairs will automatically begin to fall off. The transplanted hairs and a part of existing hairs around the recipient area will shed. Once they have fallen out, they will start to grow at an average pace of half an inch per month.

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A hair transplant can provide excellent results, but patients must carefully follow aftercare instructions. If they want to reap the maximum benefits of the transplanted hair, they must avoid scratching the scabs off. Scratching can cause the transplanted follicles to dislodge and may even leave permanent scars. So, it’s better to keep the hands in control for the first two weeks at least. After that, patients can start massaging the scalp, which will help get rid of the scabs after hair transplant.

If you want to know how to remove scabs after hair transplant, and have queries regarding scab removal after a hair transplant, get in touch with us. You can fill the free online consultation form below or give us a call. Our staff representatives will guide you further and connect you with an expert. So, pick up your phone and schedule an appointment TODAY!