After Beard Transplant

You had a beard transplant. But is everything over? No. In fact, a long and difficult process will begin from now on. Because it takes 1 year to get the desired result. However, there will be situations that you will encounter for the first time during this period. You may be worried because you do not know these situations. We believe that if the process after the beard transplant is managed correctly, you will get the maximum efficiency from this procedure. For this, you should be informed about the issues to be considered after the transplant and follow the recommendations. Now, we will give information about the situations you may encounter during the recovery period and within 1 year after the beard transplant.

How long does it take for a beard transplant to heal?

The first 3 days after the beard transplant are very important and you need to rest during this period. Because the root hold period is between 48 and 72 hours. Any trauma in the transplanted area during this period will damage the roots. Due to the risk of trauma, you should stay away from heavy exercises during this period. If there is bleeding in the transplanted area due to any impact, it means that the root is damaged and displaced.

• It is normal for the face to swell and hurt for a while after a beard transplant. You don’t need to do anything special for the swelling. Just don’t bend your face too far forward. This swelling on your face will go away on its own. We recommend that you drink plenty of water to help the swelling go away quickly. If there is pain, even simple painkillers will be enough.
• Numbness may be experienced in the face and cheek area for 2-3 days after the transplant. This loss of sensation will disappear with washing.
• Beard transplantation should be performed carefully and by a specialist physician, especially in people at risk, such as diabetes. Otherwise, post-operative infection is inevitable. Antibiotics should be used to prevent infection in people at risk.

What Should Be Considered After Beard Transplantation?

In the video below, Dr. Hakan Doğanay answers all the questions about the pre- and post-operative process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Oxyz0qT8qQ

You had a beard transplant. So what should you do or not do during this time? Let’s take a look at these now.

• You should pay attention to your sleeping and sleeping position, especially in the first 3-4 days. In the beginning, you should sleep on your back, that is, face up. Do not touch or rub your face against the pillow. Otherwise, the transplanted hair roots may come out due to friction. You can sleep on your side after the end of the first week. In this regard, it is best to follow the advice of the doctor who transplanted you.
• As with hair transplantation, there is no scientific evidence regarding the negative effects of smoking on beard transplantation. Smoking is harmful to health. The best thing to do is not to smoke at all.
• Until healing is complete, do not wear tight turtleneck sweaters. It is recommended that you wear button-down shirts that do not touch your face. If you had your transplant in the winter months, do not use a scarf for the first 3-4 days.
• It is recommended that you stay away from activities that may cause sweating and hot weather in the first few days. After the transplant, it is beneficial to stay away from activities such as fitness, heavy exercise, and football pitches for at least 1 month.
• There is no need for a special diet or nutrition after the surgery. Do not eat solid foods or chew gum, especially for a few hours. You can drink liquid foods such as tea and water that do not require chewing. Because the numbness in the lips and face has not completely gone. In this case, you may accidentally bite your lip or tongue. It is not recommended to drink alcohol for the first week.
• Anyone who wants to perform ablution can gently wash the transplanted face with warm water.
• Limit activities such as kissing and sexual intercourse for 10 days after transplantation.
• After the surgery, there is no problem in driving or traveling by plane.
• If you have a desk job, you can start work the next day. If you are in the food industry, we recommend that you do not work until the shells fall off.
• If you are riding a motorcycle, do not ride or wear a helmet for the first 15 days.

Redness and crusting

At the end of the surgery, redness begins to form at the root base. This redness is a normal and simple side effect. During transplantation, holes the size of a pin are opened. The cause of the redness is the trauma these needles create on the skin. The body’s defense mechanism is activated against the trauma. In order for the roots to be nourished, there is an increase in the blood flow to that area. As a result, redness occurs.

This redness does not require any intervention. People with dark skin usually do not experience redness. In those with light skin, this redness may last longer than 1 month. However, this is completely temporary. Exposure to sunlight also increases redness and may cause color change in the transplanted area.

The clots at the bottom of the planted roots start to dry rapidly after the end of planting and crusting occurs. The crusts will fall off with washing and will disappear completely from the 10th day onwards.

Along with the crusting, your skin may also itch. Itching is an indication of wound healing and is a normal condition. Never scratch the transplanted roots. Otherwise, the transplanted roots may come out or be damaged by scratching. If itching is severe, you can use an antihistamine tablet recommended by your doctor. Itching may last up to 2 weeks.

When should the first wash be done after a beard transplant?

If possible, have the first wash done at the center where the transplant took place. If this is not possible, we explain below simple suggestions for washing at home.

• In fact, the washing you will do is quite simple. In the beard transplantation with the DHI method, the first wash can be done after 24 hours. However, centers that perform the transplantation with the FUE method generally recommend washing on the 3rd day.
• Before washing, a softening cream is applied to the transplanted area and waited for about 30 minutes. St. John’s Wort oil is very effective in softening and shedding the crusts at the roots of the transplanted beard.
• At the end of 30 minutes, gently wash your face with warm water and rinse. You should wash it once a day. Do not let hot water touch your face for the first 3 weeks. Because hot water prolongs the redness.
• After washing, dry gently with a clean, soft towel.
• At the end of the 10th day of washing, all the crusts should fall off. To do this, wash gently and harshly by rubbing with your fingers.
• Once the scab has fallen off, you can return to work.

Below you can see a photo of a beard that has shed its scabs on the 10th day after washing.

• You can take a bath with lukewarm water starting from the 2nd day. When taking a shower, make sure that the water is not pressurized.
• If the transplanted skin remains dry, there will be cracks in the form of lines on the face. For this reason, it is recommended that you keep your face moist. Wetting your face lightly with warm water 10-15 times will reduce dryness. Wetting your face will also reduce itching.
• You can swim in the sea or pool 1 month after the procedure.

When is the first shave after beard transplantation?

It is not right to shave before the scabs fall off. There is no harm in shaving with scissors or a razor from the 2nd week of beard transplantation. Some centers use expressions such as “You are not allowed to shave for 5-6 months”. These are not scientifically correct.

However, let us state this. If you are going to shave your beard regularly due to your profession or lifestyle, we do not recommend this surgery. Because there is always a possibility of seeing scars at the hair roots after a fly-slide shave. These scars will be clearly visible especially in dark-skinned people. In the picture below, you will see a patient who shaved 6 months after a beard transplant. When you look at it, you cannot see any scars. However, the situation may not be the same for every person.

What will you encounter in the months following a beard transplant?

If the transplantation was done correctly and without any errors, you will be very pleased with your 10-day appearance. Because after 10 days, the scabs will have fallen off and you will have a clean appearance. You will even think that it will always stay like this. But will it always stay like this? Let’s give a short answer: No. Now let’s take a look at what will happen in the following months.

You can watch the beard transplant results month by month in the video below.

• Shock Loss: Just like hair transplantation, hair loss occurs after a beard transplant. This is completely normal and not at the same rate for everyone. In some people, almost all of the transplanted roots fall out, while in others, only a small portion. Shedding usually starts in the 2nd week and can last up to 2 months. Don’t worry, this shock loss is temporary. The shed roots start to grow back in the 4th month. Below you can see a photo of a patient who has started to experience shock loss.

• Acne and Ingrown Hair: In the transplanted area, acne called folliculitis may occur. If the acne is not too much, do not worry, it will go away on its own. However, if the acne is too much, contact the place where you had the transplant. Because acne may require intervention.
• After 2 months, shock shedding is almost over. The appearance is not very homogeneous in these months and you are generally not satisfied. But do not rush. The process is not yet complete for the desired result.

When will the transplanted beard appear and results be obtained?

At the end of shock shedding, the hair starts to grow again in the 4th month. The expected result after the 4th month is 30%. At the end of the 6th month, 60% growth is expected in the roots. The numerical and volume increase continues in the 7th and 8th months. After the 7th month, 70-75% of the roots should grow. However, the desired full result in beard transplantation is achieved at the end of 1 year. The transplanted hairs grow at the same speed as other hairs. Since strong grafts are taken, the transplanted roots do not fall out and are permanent.

Before and After Results of Beard Transplant

Your goal in beard transplantation is of course a successful result. The basic criterion of success is a natural appearance that is not noticeable when looked at. However, you need to be a little patient and wait to achieve this result. For those considering beard transplantation, pictures and videos containing before and after images are quite instructive. If you want to do more extensive research, forum sites are also a good option for you.

You can contact us for more beard transplant results. Or you can view our before and after results on our Instagram, Facebook and YouTube video pages.