Hair transplant aftercare: when can I wash my hair, and can I have surgery on the same trip?
Medical editor: Dr. Semih Yıldız, plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon (FEBOPRAS) · Last updated: October 2026
The first wash after a hair transplant is done at the clinic on day 3 or 4; after that, you wash your hair every day with the recommended shampoo and lukewarm water. You pour the water gently, use only your fingertips and do not rub the transplanted area; the scabs are left to fall off on their own. After day 10 you can wash more freely, but avoid hot water and strong water pressure for 3–4 weeks. In the transplanted area, only scissors are used in the first year. If you are also having breast or body surgery on the same trip, the hair transplant is done first; you do not need to wait any particular length of time before the operation.
People who want a hair transplant and cosmetic surgery on the same trip most often ask about the order of the two procedures and the time between them. The first days after the transplant are important both for preventing infection and for keeping the transplanted area away from friction and knocks. In this article, we first explain care in the first weeks after the transplant and then the rules for this planning. Hair mesotherapy, a non-surgical option for hair loss, is explained on our mesotherapy page.
When is the first wash, and how should I wash my hair?
The first wash is done at the clinic on day 3 or 4. After that, you wash your hair yourself every day with the shampoo recommended to you and lukewarm water. On days when a full shower is not suitable, you can clean your body by gently wiping it. When washing, follow these rules:
Pour the water gently over the transplanted area; do not use a strong jet of water.
Apply the shampoo with your fingertips only, without rubbing.
Do not pick off the scabs; wait for them to fall off on their own.
When drying, do not rub the towel on the transplanted area.
After day 10 you can wash more freely; even so, avoid hot water and strong water pressure for 3–4 weeks.
How should I treat the scabs, and how do I use the spray?
The scabs in the transplanted area are left to fall off on their own; do not scratch, rub or pick them. Protect the transplanted area from knocks and friction, and do not let tight clothing rub against it. Spray the wound care spray from your surgery kit onto the transplanted area every 3–4 hours, the way you would spray a deodorant. Use the spray until the bottle is empty; when it runs out, you do not need to buy a new one.
The first 3 days are critical for preventing infection; stay away from dusty and dirty environments. It is normal for pinkish fluid to come from the donor area at the back of the head in the first 3–4 days; this shows that excess fluid is draining out. If there are no signs of infection with it, there is no need to worry.
What should I watch out for when sleeping and in everyday life?
A hair transplant also causes swelling in the face. To reduce the swelling, sleep with your head raised for at least two weeks. During this time, avoid bending forward, lying flat and sleeping on your front. Choose clothes that button or zip up at the front so that nothing rubs against the transplanted area when you dress and undress.
In the early phase of healing, avoid activities in which the transplanted area could be knocked, as well as jarring and strenuous activities.
Do not wear a hat for 4 weeks.
Avoid Turkish baths, the sea, pools and hot tubs for 4 weeks.
Do not smoke or use any other nicotine products for at least 4 weeks after the transplant; avoid alcohol for 2 weeks.
Drink 2–3 litres of water a day and eat a protein-rich diet.
After minor procedures under local anaesthesia, you can often return to daily activities on the same day; you can do desk work if you take short breaks.
When can I have the transplanted area and the back of my head cut?
In the first year, the hair in the transplanted area is only trimmed with scissors; do not use clippers or a razor, and if you go to the barber, tell them beforehand. The hair at the back of the head, where the follicles were taken from, can be evened out at the barber after 15 days. If you have it at home, you can gently massage this area with St John's wort oil from day 15.
How are minoxidil and finasteride used?
After the transplant, two medicines are used for 6 months to stimulate hair growth. Use these medicines only if they are on your prescription, and exactly as prescribed:
Minoxidil lotion: Applied every 12 hours. It is for external use only; take care not to get it in your eyes.
Finasteride 5 mg tablet: A quarter of a tablet is taken once a day. You can cut the tablet into four with a knife.
Use both medicines regularly for 6 months; if you want to stop or change the dose, ask us first. Finasteride is not used in women who are pregnant or could become pregnant; they should also not touch split or broken tablets.
How are a hair transplant and cosmetic surgery planned on the same trip?
It is possible to have a hair transplant and cosmetic surgery on the same trip; what matters is the order. During a hair transplant, you lie face down. This position could affect a newly placed breast implant or transferred fat. This is why the hair transplant is done first and the breast or body surgery afterwards.
Breast or body surgery: There is no need to wait any particular length of time after the hair transplant; we can protect the transplanted hair during the operation.
Facial fat transfer, eyelid surgery or another facial procedure: A hair transplant makes the face swell; this swelling can make it harder for us to see the areas where fat is to be placed and the imperfections in the eyelids. If a compression garment is to be worn on the face, it cannot be placed over the transplanted area. This is why, in such cases, we may prefer to do the facial procedure first; your doctor decides the order based on your plan.
Otoplasty (prominent ears): As similar bandages are used for both procedures, planning them for the same period is usually not a problem; it is better to have the ear surgery first.
Combined facial surgery: Because a bandage is worn after the operation, we do not do the hair transplant on the same trip but leave it for another time.
When you plan your schedule, take the first wash into account as well: because the first wash after the transplant is done at the clinic on day 3 or 4, you need to be in Istanbul on that day. On the days between the hair transplant and the operation, keep using the spray and protecting the transplanted area. We describe the bandage period after ear surgery in Otoplasty recovery: headband, sleep, school and sport. If you are wondering which operations can be combined in one session, you can also read Which body contouring procedures can be done together?.
When should you call your doctor?
If any of the following happens, message us with a photo of the transplanted area and the back of your head:
A temperature above 37.5 °C
Dark, coloured, thick or foul-smelling discharge from the transplanted or donor area
Bleeding that does not stop when you press on it
Pain that does not settle with medication
Mild swelling, bruising, tightness and numbness of the skin in the first days, on the other hand, are expected; the pinkish fluid at the back of the head is also normal in the first 3–4 days.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have surgery the very next day after my hair transplant?
For breast or body surgery, yes: you do not need to wait any particular length of time after the hair transplant, and we can protect the transplanted hair during the operation. If facial fat transfer, eyelid surgery or another facial procedure is planned, on the other hand, we may prefer to do the facial procedure first. Your doctor sets the exact day based on your surgical plan.
Should otoplasty be done before or after the hair transplant?
It is better to have the ear surgery first. As similar bandages are used for both procedures, planning them for the same period does not usually cause a problem. We decide the interval together based on your surgical plan.
Can I have a hair transplant to the crown on the same trip as a mini face and neck lift?
This depends on the extent of the facial surgery. Because a bandage is worn after combined facial surgery, we leave the hair transplant for another time; with more limited facial surgery, the same trip may be possible. We make the decision after seeing your surgical plan.
Can a hair transplant bring my hairline all the way down?
A hair transplant is a good method for filling areas where hair has fallen out or thinned. However, if the aim is to bring the whole hairline lower from end to end, it may not always be possible to achieve a natural-looking line. We discuss your expectations in advance using your photos.
If you are planning a hair transplant and an operation on the same trip, you can send us a message with the procedures you would like, your arrival and departure dates and the date of your hair transplant; we will plan the order and the interval accordingly. If you have a problem after the transplant, send recent close-up photos of the transplanted area and the back of your head.
This article provides general information and does not replace a medical consultation. Results vary from person to person.
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