Aftercare: The Protocol That Protects Your Grafts
The surgery places the grafts; the first weeks decide how many thrive. Our aftercare is written, taught in person and monitored, here is what it involves.
- First wash
- At the clinic, with you
- Washing routine
- Daily, 10 days
- Antibiotics
- 5 days, per protocol
- Check-ins
- 1 / 3 / 6 / 12 months
- Emergency line
- 24/7 access
- Kit
- Provided, included
The washing protocol, day by day
Your first wash happens at the clinic on day 2–3, done with you, bandage removal, cleansing of the donor and implanted areas, and hands-on training so you can repeat it correctly. From then on you wash daily for 10 days following the routine below.
- Apply the provided lotion to the scalp and leave it for 10–15 minutes maximum, never longer.
- Rinse with lukewarm water poured gently from a bottle or glass, no shower head on the head for the first month.
- Wash with clean fingertips, tapping vertically on the transplanted area, no rubbing, no nails.
- Baby shampoo may be used on the donor area from day 1.
- No towel and no hair dryer on the transplanted area, air-dry only.
- Scabs form during the first 10 days and lift away on their own; from day 8, begin the gentle fingertip massage shown in your instructions.
Medication
You leave the clinic with a written medication plan and the kit to follow it: an antibiotic taken twice daily on a full stomach, 10–12 hours apart, for the first 5 days; a short anti-swelling course starting the day after surgery, taken once daily after lunch for about 6 days, supported by 2–3 litres of water per day; and pain relief to take as needed within the stated daily maximum. Aspirin is not used as a painkiller during recovery. Exact products and doses are confirmed at the clinic for your case, the written plan is your reference.
Ice may be applied to the forehead to ease swelling, never directly on the transplanted area.
The rules
Do’s and don’ts that protect your grafts
Do
- Sleep on your back, semi-upright with the provided neck pillow, for the first week
- Drink 2–3 litres of water daily
- Eat protein-rich food with zinc and iron for the first 3 months
- Wash daily for 10 days exactly as trained
- Send progress photos at every scheduled check-in
- Contact the clinic first with any concern, that is what the line is for
Don’t
- No smoking or alcohol in the first week minimum, both impair graft survival
- No sport, sweating, saunas or steam baths for the first month; no sauna or solarium until month 2
- No direct sun on the scalp for the first month
- No hats in week 1 (a loose fisherman-style hat briefly if essential); caps and helmets from month 1
- No swimming until month 3; rinse with fresh water after sea or pool
- No metal razors on the scalp for 6 months; no minoxidil until the team clears it at 6 months
Your written protocol is the authoritative version, if this page and your plan ever differ, follow your plan.
Staying monitored
The follow-up schedule
- 1
Before you fly home
First wash completed, technique trained, kit and written protocol handed over, questions answered.
Day 2–3
- 2
1-month check-in
Photo review: healing quality, donor recovery, shedding phase as expected.
Month 1
- 3
3-month check-in
Incubation ends, first regrowth confirmed against the expected curve.
Month 3
- 4
6-month check-in
At least half the expected result should be visible; styling freedoms unlock per plan.
Month 6
- 5
12-month check-in
Frontal and mid-scalp maturity assessed; crown cases continue on their longer curve.
Month 12
- 6
Final assessment
Results formally assessed in the 12–18 month window stated on your guarantee certificate (terms apply).
12–18 months
When to seek help immediately
Contact the emergency line without waiting for a check-in if you experience excessive bleeding, fever or rash, vomiting, fainting or difficulty standing. These are rare, but the line exists precisely so that rare things are handled fast. For non-urgent concerns, something that looks different from the photos in your instructions, a question about a product, message your coordinator with a photo and you will have an answer quickly.
Aftercare when you live abroad
The protocol is designed for patients who fly home: everything is written, the washing technique is taught in person before departure, check-ins run on photos via your coordinator, and optional supportive treatments such as PRP can be arranged in the months after surgery where recommended. Distance does not reduce the standard, it is the standard we built for.
Questions
Aftercare, frequently asked questions
What if I get a wash wrong in the first days?
One imperfect wash is rarely a problem, grafts are most fragile in the first days but not made of glass. Message your coordinator, describe what happened, and follow their guidance. Do not compensate by scrubbing harder or skipping washes.
When can I wear a hat?
Week 1: ideally nothing; a loose fisherman-style hat briefly if truly needed. From month 1, caps and helmets are fine. Anything tight on fresh grafts before then risks the work.
When can I exercise again?
Light activity from week 2; gym, lifting and anything sweat-inducing from month 1. Sweat and raised blood pressure in week one are exactly what grafts do not need.
Can I use minoxidil after the transplant?
Not until the team clears it, generally at 6 months. Products containing parabens and silicones are avoided during recovery too; your written plan lists what is and is not allowed, and when.
What is in the aftercare kit?
The washing lotion and shampoo for the 10-day routine, your prescribed medication, the neck pillow for sleeping position, and written instructions covering the full timeline. It is included in every package.
Do I have to come back to Tirana for check-ins?
No, check-ins at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months run on photos through your coordinator. You are welcome in person any time you are nearby, and the final assessment can be done either way.
Aftercare this structured starts with a plan
Free assessment, personal plan, written protocol, and a team that stays reachable for the whole curve.