Getting a hair transplant is one of the biggest changes we can make to help us look and feel our best. While this big change can often kickstart healthy living habits and inspire us to eat better and exercise more, hair transplant aftercare is one of the most important things to consider in order to make sure a transplant is a success, and some exercises are not recommended when recovering from a transplant.
Any reputable transplant surgeon should provide a post-transplant plan to help you take care of yourself, but while everyone’s healing process is different, there is a rough guide to how long you need to wait before you can exercise after a hair transplant. So how long after a hair transplant can you exercise, and what activities are recommended?
FUE Hair Transplants
FUE transplants are one of the most common procedures done at Crown Clinic, and our team have been entrusted by a variety of celebrities, from Calum Best to Jack P Shepherd, to give this type of transplant. One of the main benefits of an FUE transplant is that depending on the patient, there can be little to no limit on strenuous activity, meaning exercise within limits is permitted.
It is always recommended that with FUE transplants, at least two weeks of rest and recuperation is taken, with the first week being a crucial time with no exercise suggested. After this, light exercise such as walking or cycling is fine, but it should be done at a level where sweating is limited, to avoid it getting in the transplant area. After these two weeks, more strenuous activities should be allowed again, such as running and football, with a normal exercise routine being permitted once again.
FUT Hair Transplants
FUT hair transplants differ from FUE procedures in that they require slightly longer time to heal, meaning it is recommended to give four weeks before strenuous activities are undertaken. This means that post-FUT transplant, more care should be given by patients to reduce exercise and take care with their aftercare.
Two weeks after the surgery, light exercise such as cycling and walking should be permitted, and four weeks post-surgery, normal exercise should be safe to resume, including swimming and contact sports.
Can you exercise after laser hair removal?
Exercise after laser hair removal is not recommended for at least 24 hours after the procedure. The skin and hair follicles will be sensitive for 48 hours after the hair removal, so some people may wish to wait another day until they take part in sport or exercise. If anything is done in this time it should be restricted to activities where sweating is minimal, as this can aggravate the skin.
Exercise to avoid post-transplant
There are some golden rules that everyone should follow after their hair transplant. Swimming should always be avoided in the first two weeks after a hair transplant, as the chemicals in the water can lead to infection. Contact sports, weight training and exercises in which the back of the head or neck can stretch are also to be avoided in the initial healing period, as these can have a negative impact on both the donor and transplant area and cause issues with the healing process.
Feel your best with Crown Clinic
Dr Asim Shahmalak is one of the most well respected hair transplant surgeons in the world, and has received several awards throughout his career including being named Man of the Year at the prestigious Fusion Awards, making him one of the most sought after professionals in his field.
At Crown Clinic, we specialise in a wide variety of hair transplant solutions, from repair work to beard transplants and female hair transplants. Contact the clinic today to enquire about a consultation with our team and see how we can assist with your hair loss issues.