For patients who are considering hair transplant procedures, one of the most pressing questions is “Can I wear a hat?” While modern DHI and Sapphire Fue hair transplants are minimally invasive, outpatient procedures, both involve extracting healthy hair follicles from a donor site and transplanting them into the recipient site where hair loss is present. To transplant these hair grafts, your hair transplant surgeon must create thousands of small channels into which the follicular grafts are implanted. The result can be unsightly for as long as 10 days, and many patients, understandably, wish to conceal these scars until they have had a chance to properly heal.
It is crucially important that you follow your surgeon’s post-surgery instructions to the letter and take proper care of your newly implanted hair to achieve the best results from your hair transplant procedure. Immediately following your transplant, your new hair grafts are extremely sensitive and it is advised that you not touch, rub, or scratch at the site. Your surgeon will provide you with full instructions and a detailed timeline for your post-operative care.
How Soon After A Hair Transplant Can I Wear A Hat?
This is probably the most common question asked immediately following a procedure. After your hair transplant, your scalp will likely be swollen and you are likely to experience some bleeding and scabbing over the next few days. During this time, you may wish to cover your scalp to hide the signs of your recent operation, however, it is recommended that you wait at least 7 to 10 days before wearing anything on your scalp as it takes time for the grafts to permanently anchor themselves into the scalp.
Wearing a hat runs the risk of the grafts being compressed, damaged, or displaced. Any of these could cause empty patches on the scalp and may imperil your hair transplant recovery process. After 7 to 10 days, once the grafts are permanently anchored, wearing a hat is considered safe.
What Other Options Are There?
While it is advised not to wear any head coverings for up to 10 days, patients are also encouraged to keep their heads out of direct sunlight, rain, or wind for a few weeks following treatment. To protect while also avoiding risks of damage to the hair grafts, it is advised to wear a loose-fitting hat (such as a fisherman’s hat) or a loose, light hood. Avoid any sort of tight headwear such as a ball cap or beanie. Your doctor will assist you in determining the ideal type of hat. Additionally, care should be taken to avoid clothing that will pull on the scalp. Things like tight shirts and turtlenecks are to be avoided, instead, choose a collared shirt.
What Precautions Should I Take When Wearing A Cap?
The most important thing if you choose to wear a cap is that you do not let the hat come in contact with the newly implanted hair grafts. Any stimulation or manipulation of the recipient site in the first 7 to 10 days is likely to cause these hairs to fall out. Choose a hat made of soft fabric, however, avoid cotton as it tends to stick to the hairs and risks pulling them out when it is being removed.
Make sure that your hat remains perfectly clean as any foreign matter may cause an infection of the recipient area. Avoid wearing a hat for periods of longer than 5 hours. If the heat is causing sweating, it is best to not wear a hat and stay indoors as sweating can cause an infection of the recipient site. Your hair transplant surgeon will outline all necessary advice and precautions following your hair transplant procedure.
Take The Next Step
The Dr Serkan Aygin Clinic is Instanbul is located in one of Turkey’s most prestigious hospitals equipped with the most modern facilities. In 2019 our clinic was named the “Best Medical Tourism Facility” by La Razon. Dr Aygin has assisted more than 15,000 patients over his 25-year career and has achieved a hair regrowth rate of 98%.
Contact us today for your full, free consultation.
