When Should You Exercise after Having a Hair Transplant?

With the most recent advancements in hair transplants, today they have become minimally invasive with good success. The process involves the transfer of healthy hair follicles to the area of transplant. The life of hair after a hair transplant is usually many years, but it may vary depending on your age, lifestyle, and type of hair loss.

One of the most important aftercare instructions after undergoing a hair transplant is to avoid heavy exercise. Often one is curious to know when to exercise after a hair transplant. Read on to find out more about how exercise can influence the results of a hair transplant, and when you can get back to your workout after a hair transplant.

Table of Contents

Feel free to skip ahead if one topic catches your eye: 

1. What are the risks of doing exercise after a hair transplant?
2. When should you exercise after a hair transplant?
3. FAQs

Takeaway

1. What are the risks of doing exercise after a hair transplant?

Whether you choose the follicular unit extraction (FUE) or the follicular unit transplantation (FUT) mode of hair transplant, it is very important to allow them to get settled in their place. Carrying out strenuous exercise after a hair transplant can have a negative impact and impede the effect of the procedure.

People often ask the question, ‘Can I workout after a hair transplant?’ The answer to this is, ‘Yes, you can – just when it’s time’.

Swelling and itching

• This is a very important factor that affects the outcome of transplant procedures. 
• In the first few days following the hair transplant, you may see a little redness over the scalp. This is normal. Sweat may promote itchiness and increase the chances of infection. This can result in the failure of the transplant. 
• Avoid any activities that increase sweating or itchiness, such as scratching, anxiety, and sun exposure. 

Sweating

• Sweat occurs whenever there is exertion and is a result of the body’s effort to maintain body temperature. 
• Sweat contains lactic acid that may cause hair loss. Heavy exercise causes sweating and this can have a negative impact.
• When you exercise, the body temperature increases and the system responds by sweating. Sweat increases the moisture level in the scalp and this can be an environment for microbes to multiply.
• Any activities that promote the chance of sweating are best to be avoided for a few weeks following the hair transplant.
• You need to avoid outdoor activities such as hiking and jogging. 
• A sweaty scalp attracts dust and dirt, which in turn, may cause infection and damage the hair transplant.

Pain

• It is okay to experience a slight pain for about 72 hours. 
• When pain persists or gets severe after about 3 days, then you must see your doctor and make sure the wound heals well.
• Sometimes a scalp infection may also cause pain. 

Dislodging Hair Grafts

• The period starting from the first few days to about 2 or 3 weeks following a hair graft is important. 
• You need to be very careful and follow haircare as advised by the doctor. 
• Do not wash your hair for the first 2 days after the transplant is done.
• Hair grafts are essentially small hair follicles taken from the back of the head through punch incisions.
• The follicles are then transplanted from the donor area to the recipient portion of the scalp.
• The recipient area is bandaged well and left in place for a few days.
• It takes a while for the graft to set itself into the transplanted area. 
• About 14 days after the procedure, the grafts are well-settled in place. 
• There are certain things you need to do in order to help the graft set in place and not dislodge from the transplanted position. 
• Wash your hair gently after 5 days to remove dirt and scabs from the scalp.
• Keep the grafts moist in the first few days by spraying them as instructed by your doctor. 
• If there is any discomfort or pain, use pain medication as advised, to relax and sleep well.
• If you must go out, wear a hat to protect the new grafts from sun exposure and environmental pollutants.
• Avoid scratching or rubbing your scalp vigorously for the first 2 weeks after the transplant.

  Transplanted hair lifetime increases if you follow proper hair care after the transplant.

 As a general rule, follow the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) principle. Getting rest and good sleep is vital for the area to heal and the graft to settle itself. 

Ice application over the eyebrows helps to ease any discomfort that you may be feeling. 

Sleeping with your head elevated at about 45 degrees prevents swelling and promotes healing, and minimizes the chance of dislocation of grafts.

It is a good idea to maintain a healthy life after a hair transplant to improve the results of the procedure.

2. When should you Exercise after a Hair Transplant?

Resuming exercise after a hair transplant must be done at the right time:

• For the area to heal well, and let the hair grafts grow well and blend well into the scalp, it is important to give rest to the scalp.
• Heavy exertion in the form of exercise, outdoor activities, or intercourse may cause the blood pressure to go up, thereby delaying recovery.
• There is a risk of your heart rate and blood pressure going up during these activities that will negatively impact the healing process and healthy scab formation. 
• The first 1 to 3 days following a hair transplant are the most crucial period. During the first few days, scab forms and can be slightly itchy. It is important to avoid anything that prompts itching and flakiness of the scalp. Exercise can cause sweat and itching. So, take a break and do not do any exercise during this phase. 
• 4 to 9 days after the transplant, you may resort to light exercises that do not cause much sweating such as walking and a light bicycle ride. 
• Once 10 days are completed, the hair grafts have secured themselves and the healing is almost complete. Now, you can get back to your usual workout routine, including cardio exercises.
• After 2 months, getting back to the gym after a hair transplant is advisable. 

3. FAQs

1. How long should you avoid sweating after a hair transplant?

After the transplant, it is best to avoid sweating for about 2 weeks. This will help the recovery to complete, promote healthy scab formation, and let the hair grafts secure and set in their place. Getting back to exercise after a hair transplant after the recommended period will give the right rest and recovery.

2. When can you lift weight after a hair transplant?

You can resume light activities after 14 days, but weight lifting after a hair transplant and other such activities may be performed after the four to the six-week mark. Activities such as weightlifting increase your heart rate and blood pressure, which may impact the transplant area causing bleeding. This may cause dislodging of the skin graft.

3. How many days’ rest is required after a hair transplant?

Usually, 5–10 days of rest are advised before you can get back to your normal routine. During this time and even after, you are advised to eat a healthy diet rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals. You may also include multivitamins as prescribed by the doctor. 

Takeaway

At Dermalife your hair transplantation will be done with great care and expertise. The cause of your hair loss will be discussed in full confidentiality. The best treatment options for you will be put forth by our team. 

Dr. Gaurav Garg, with his internal recognition and highly skilled team, will ensure that you get the best-personalized care. We provide curated care taking into account your aesthetic goals and concerns. Visit us to experience the difference.