Recovery has two different milestones: the scalp healing after surgery and the slower growth of transplanted hair. Your specific timetable depends on the technique, the size of the procedure, your health and the treating team's instructions. Use this general outline to plan questions, not as a replacement for your postoperative care plan.
Typical stages after surgery
The scalp may feel tight, swollen or tender. Small crusts can form around grafts. Protect the treated area and follow the clinic's exact instructions on washing, sleeping and activity; do not rub or pick scabs.
Your clinician may permit gentler washing and gradual activity changes, depending on healing. Some patients need around one to two weeks away from work. The first two weeks are a particularly important period for protecting the grafts.
Transplanted hair shafts often shed temporarily. This can look discouraging but does not, on its own, show that all follicles have been lost. Discuss anything unusual or concerning with the clinic.
New growth often begins gradually; early density is not the final result. Growth rates and the appearance of existing hair vary between patients.
Maturing results may continue to develop. The NHS describes full results as often assessed within approximately 10–18 months; your surgeon should provide a case-specific follow-up schedule.
What changes the timeline?
Technique, graft count, donor characteristics, additional treatment and healing differences all matter. Ask your physician when to return to work, exercise, sun exposure, styling and any planned medicines. Avoid assuming an interview or photograph from another patient predicts your recovery.
The NHS notes that transplanted hair can fall out after a few weeks before later growth begins. However, visible results and timing vary, and only your treating clinic can assess an individual concern.
Prepare your aftercare arrangements before travelling
Keep written instructions and the clinic's urgent contact details. Clarify how to send follow-up photographs, whether local care may be needed and who will respond when you are outside Türkiye. Ask how the team handles unexpected symptoms rather than relying on online timelines.
Know when to call
Get medical advice promptly for severe or escalating pain, unexpected bleeding, fever, spreading redness, pus-like drainage or other concerning changes. Seek urgent local care for severe symptoms. Do not independently start or stop prescribed medication because a generic schedule suggests you should.
When can I wash my hair?
Only according to your treating team's specific instructions. The NHS describes gentle washing after several days in some cases, but the correct technique and timing are individual.
Does early shedding mean a transplant has failed?
No. Shedding can be a normal part of the postoperative course, but new symptoms or concerns should be discussed with your clinician.
This site is affiliated with ASMED Surgical Medical Center. ASMED links are commercial and clearly identified. Material is general educational information based on linked sources; this page has not been individually certified as a clinical review. A licensed clinician must assess candidacy and provide your personal treatment and recovery instructions.
Sources & further reading
These sources support the general information on this page. A clinic's own pricing or service descriptions are attributed to that clinic; they are not independent outcome evidence.