How should I sleep after a Hair Transplant? Your daily routine will slightly change for a few days after a hair transplant and one of the key changes will come about due to after-care protocols.

The most important after-care to bear in mind is your sleep or rest position. Post-surgery, there will be some mild discomfort for about a week or so and this time is also crucial for the survival of the newly transplanted grafts.

What is the proper way to sleep or rest after a hair transplant?

You may wonder why this is so important. Well, the answer is: Your new graft has a chance to get damaged while you sleep if there is pressure put on them. So we wrote down a comprehensive list to keep in mind when taking a nap –

DOs

• Recipient area must be kept away from the pillow with no direct contact between your transplanted hair and the pillowcase.
• Sleep on your back in an upright position, not your stomach.
• Your head and back should be elevated preferably at a 45-degree angle. One check point is to try sleeping with your head above your heart level.
• Sleep with a pillow under your knee to reduce pressure on the surgical site.

DONTs

• Toss and turn while sleeping. You can use a travel pillow to help prevent yourself from turning
• Rub your head against anything
• Take sleeping pills, if at all possible, as you may wake up during the night and feel disorientated- potentially putting yourself at risk of hitting your head
• Plan for a prolonged sleep as it can increase stress on the scalp and even prolong healing time. Try to take a nap during day.

Pillows are important after a Hair Transplant

As mentioned before, try to take short naps during the day. However, if you need to lie down longer at night, use a pillow designed specifically for people who are repairing their hair. These unique pillows contain a gel-like material that helps cushion the head and relieve pressure on the neck muscles.

A memory foam helps reduce pressure points in the head area and prevents sweating. Sweating, in turn, causes itching and can damage the grafts.

Keep your beddings clean

Care should be taken not to infect the surgical site. So take extra care to keep your bed, pillowcases, and sheets clean. When washing, avoid detergents that may cause itchy scalp or allergic reactions, as the scalp should not be scratched during the recovery process. Scratching can damage the graft and donor area. Once you start scratching, it will keep increasing as the itching increases.

When can I sleep like I used to after a hair transplant?

The short answer is in a couple of weeks. During the first 7 to 14 days post surgery, the transplanted graft is fixed and rooted in the recipient area. Our advice, when properly followed, will keep you free from discomfort, pain, itching, sweating and infection. Follow all other recommendations for shampooing, styling, braiding, wearing a hat/ scarf, medication, and grooming, as directed and you can get back to normal sleeping quickly.

Needless to say, eating a healthy, protein- and vitamin-rich diet for at least 1 week after surgery will speed up the recovery process. At Evolved Clinics in Perth, Australia, we will guide you through the entire post surgery instructions in detail, including sleeping, until you see the results you desire with a smile on your face.