Post-Operative Care Guide

Your Journey
to Natural
Hair Begins Here

Follow these carefully designed aftercare instructions to protect your grafts, support healing, and achieve the best possible result from your hair transplant.

Set My Surgery Date Watch Tutorials
10 Days critical care
3mo First regrowth
12mo Final result

Personalise Your Care Calendar

Enter your surgery date and all dates throughout this guide will update automatically.

✓ Calendar updated
Your personalised schedule

My Care Calendar

Enter your surgery date above to generate your personalised day-by-day care plan.

Preparation

Before Your Transplant

Proper preparation significantly improves your results. Follow these guidelines in the days leading up to your procedure.

🚬
No Smoking
Tobacco reduces blood flow to follicles and compromises graft survival. Stop completely, or at minimum for 1 week before the procedure.
🍷
No Alcohol
Alcohol thins the blood, interacts with antibiotics, and slows healing. Avoid for at least 7 days before and after the procedure.
💊
No Recreational Drugs
All recreational substances — including cannabis, cocaine, and stimulants — must be stopped at least 2 weeks before the intervention.
🏋️
No Intense Exercise
Avoid strenuous physical activity in the days before. Resume light exercise gradually from week 4 after the procedure.
🧖
No Sauna or Hammam
Excessive heat and steam impair blood flow. Avoid sauna, steam rooms, and hammam for 1 to 3 months following the procedure.
🍳
Eat a Light Breakfast
Fasting is not required. Have a light meal before arriving and avoid coffee or stimulant drinks on the day of the procedure.

Day of the procedure

  • Wear a wide-collar garment — zip or button closure preferred
  • The procedure takes a full day — arrange your return transport in advance
  • Do not drive yourself home after the intervention

Medications to prepare in advance

  • Augmentin 875/125mg — mandatory antibiotic (2× per day, 5 days)
  • Paracetamol 1g — for pain if needed (3× per day, 5 days)
  • Ibuprofen 600mg — for pain if needed (2× per day, 5 days)
  • Pantomed 40mg — stomach protection (1× per day, 30 min before breakfast)
Immediate Post-Operative Care

After Your Transplant

The first 10 days are critical. Your grafts are fragile — follow every instruction carefully to protect them and ensure optimal healing.

Spray bottle hydration schedule

Use only the solution provided by the clinic. Never rub or press — spray gently.

Every 15 min Hours 0 – 6

Immediately after the procedure — spray continuously during this first phase

Every 30 min Hours 6 – 12

Continue hydrating during the second phase of the first day

Every 2 hrs While awake

Keep hydrating every 2 hours while awake until 24–48 hours post-procedure

💧 Water & Cleaning

  • Use very low water pressure — never aim a direct jet at your scalp
  • Water must be room temperature — never hot
  • Place your hand between the tap and your head to break the water pressure
  • Begin washing from Day 3 after the procedure
  • Wash daily for 10 consecutive days

🛌 Sleep & Protection

  • Sleep on your back or on your side — never face down
  • Use a travel neck pillow for the first week to protect the grafts
  • Protect the transplanted area from any impact for 10 days
  • Do not scratch or touch the transplanted area
  • Drink 1.5 to 2.5 litres of water daily for the first 10 days

☀️ Sun, Pool & Sport

  • No swimming in sea or chlorinated pools for 4 weeks
  • Protect scalp from direct sun and rain during healing
  • No intense sport for the first 3 weeks
  • Light walking or cycling permitted from week 4
  • Contact sports and weight training: avoid for the first month

✂️ Hair & Styling

  • No hairdryer for the first 6 months
  • Do not comb the transplanted area for 3 months
  • Gently brush the scalp from 1 month onward to stimulate circulation
  • Donor area hair can be cut from 1 month if fully healed
  • Wear wide-collar clothing to avoid friction on the transplanted zone
Daily Hair Care

How to Wash Your Hair

Follow each step precisely. Incorrect washing is the most common cause of graft damage. Begin on Day 3 and continue daily for 10 days.

01
Prepare the water
Use only lukewarm or room-temperature water. Never hot. Do not use a direct jet — place your hand between the tap and your head to reduce pressure. Avoid direct water contact for the first month.
02
Apply foam shampoo
Pour a small amount of foam shampoo into your hands. Gently press it onto the transplanted area using a downward motion only — never sideways. Do not touch the grafts with your fingertips or nails.
03
Leave for exactly 10 minutes
Allow the shampoo to sit on the scalp for exactly 10 minutes. This helps soften the scabs and allows the product to work gently. Do not rub or massage during this time.
04
Rinse gently
Rinse using low-pressure, lukewarm water. Use your hand to buffer the flow. Slowly remove the shampoo without rubbing. The scabs will loosen naturally over the 10 days — do not force them off.
05
Dry with a paper towel
Use a clean paper towel to gently pat dry. Press straight down — never drag or rub sideways on the transplanted area. The donor area (back and sides) can be cleaned and dried normally in any direction.
06
Apply antibiotic cream
Apply antibiotic cream to the donor area only (back and sides of the head) for the first 5 days. Do not apply cream to the transplanted zone. After 2 weeks, apply CICAPLAST healing cream to the donor area to support recovery.

⚠️ Important reminders

  • Always move only downward on the transplanted area — never sideways
  • The donor area (back and sides) can be cleaned in any direction
  • Never scratch or pick scabs — they will fall off naturally
  • Your first wash can be performed at the clinic — we will guide you through the technique
Prescribed Medications

Your Medication Schedule

Obtain these medications before your procedure date. Your doctor or our specialist will confirm the prescription during your consultation.

Mandatory
Augmentin 875/125mg
Start on the day of the procedure. Take 1 tablet twice per day for 5 days, after meals.
Allergy warning: If you have a known allergy to Penicillin causing facial swelling or skin rash — stop immediately and contact our specialist or your doctor for an alternative antibiotic.
If needed
Paracetamol 1g
Take for pain only. 1 tablet, 3 times per day for up to 5 days, before or after meals.
If needed
Ibuprofen 600mg
Start on the day of the procedure. 1 tablet after each meal, twice per day for 5 days.
If needed
Tradonal Odis 50mg
Strong painkiller — take only if pain persists despite Paracetamol and Ibuprofen. Place under the tongue. Maximum 3 times per day.
If needed
Pantomed 40mg
1 tablet per day, 30 minutes before breakfast for 5 days, to protect the stomach.
If significant swelling
Furosémide 40mg
Half a tablet the day after the procedure, once per day after breakfast for 3 to 5 days. Only if significant head swelling occurs.
Step-by-step tutorials

Aftercare Video Guides

Watch each video carefully before performing each step at home. These tutorials demonstrate the exact technique required.

Step 1 of 4
Video 01
Spraying & Drying
Apply the spray bottle solution onto the transplanted hairs to keep them hydrated. Then gently dry and clean the area using a soft bandage — pressing down only, never sideways.
Step 2 of 4
Video 02
Applying Shampoo
Apply the foam shampoo gently onto the transplanted hairs. Do not rub or move the hair sideways — only use light, downward pressing motions. Leave the shampoo on for exactly 10 minutes.
Step 3 of 4
Video 03
Gentle Downward Pressure
Apply soft pressure downwards only on the transplanted hairs — never sideways. The donor area (back and sides) can be cleaned freely in any direction — clean it thoroughly.
Step 4 of 4
Video 04
Rinsing & Antibiotic Cream
Rinse with lukewarm water using soft, low pressure — never high pressure on the transplanted area. After finishing and drying, apply antibiotic cream on the donor area only.
Recovery roadmap

Your Healing Timeline

Know what to expect at every stage — from day one to your final result.

Day 0 — Surgery Day
Procedure complete — rest & spray
Spray every 15 min for the first 6 hours, every 30 min for the next 6. Rest with head elevated. Do not drive.
Day 1
Rest & bandage removal
Remove the donor bandage after 24 hours. Apply antibiotic cream to the donor area once — do not re-bandage.
Day 3 — First Wash
Begin daily washing
Start gentle daily washing with foam shampoo. Wash every day for 10 consecutive days. The clinic can perform your first wash.
Day 5
Stop antibiotic cream on donor area
Antibiotic cream on the donor area is only required for the first 5 days. Continue washing as normal.
Day 10
Transplanted area looks natural
Scabs have resolved. The transplanted zone begins to look natural. Last day of daily washing routine.
Week 2
Apply healing cream to donor area
From 2 weeks onward, apply CICAPLAST healing cream to the donor area to support optimal scar recovery.
Weeks 3 – 6
Temporary shedding — completely normal
Up to 60% of transplanted hairs may shed. This is a normal and expected phase — the follicles remain intact beneath the surface.
Month 1
Gentle brushing & light sport permitted
Begin gentle scalp brushing to stimulate circulation. Light exercise (walking, cycling) can resume. Donor area hair may be cut if healed.
Months 2 – 3
Permanent regrowth begins
New hair grows progressively from the transplanted follicles. If using Minoxidil, begin tapering off at 2–3 months post-transplant.
Month 6
80% of final result visible
Most transplanted hairs resemble your natural hair in texture and appearance.
Months 8 – 12
Final result
Full density and natural integration achieved. Your transformation is complete.

Questions about your recovery?
Send your progress photos with your full name via WhatsApp to receive expert feedback.

WhatsApp +32 492 560 752
Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Clear answers to everything patients ask after their procedure.

Begin washing from Day 3 after your procedure. Wash daily for 10 consecutive days using lukewarm water and foam shampoo only. The clinic can perform your first wash to demonstrate the correct technique.
Yes. Between weeks 3 and 6, up to 60% of transplanted hairs may shed temporarily. This is a completely normal phase — the follicles remain alive under the surface. Permanent regrowth begins around months 2–3.
During the first week, sleep on your back or on your side. Use a travel pillow placed around your neck to protect the grafts from pressure or friction while they are still fragile.
Avoid all intense physical activity for the first 3 weeks. From week 4, light activities like walking or cycling are permitted. Contact sports, weight training, and swimming should be avoided for at least 1 month.
At 6 months, approximately 80% of your final result will be visible. The complete outcome is typically achieved between months 8 and 12 post-procedure.
Remove the bandage after 24 hours and apply antibiotic cream to the donor area once more — do not replace the bandage. From 2 weeks after the procedure, apply CICAPLAST healing cream to support the recovery of the donor area.
Minoxidil is optional. If already using it, stop at least 72 hours before the procedure and resume approximately 2 weeks after. If starting post-transplant, apply twice daily on a dry scalp. Taper off gradually after 2–3 months to avoid follicle dependency.
Send your photos with your full name via WhatsApp to +32/492.560752. Your images will be added to your file and reviewed by our specialists to monitor your regrowth progress and provide tailored guidance.