How long should one wait after a hair transplant before considering the following activities...

-Walking?
-Running - 3 miles? 10 miles?
-Lifting weights - Machines? Free weights?
-Abs - Leg raises? Crunches? Sit-ups?
-Whitewater rafting?
-Wall-climbing?

My primary objective is to not stretch or harm the donor scar, but I would like to have a better idea as to when I can feel comfortable resuming activities without doing any damage. (FWIW, 1744 grafts from strip extending from above one ear to the other... tight scalp with 100 staples.)

Thanks!

A week after my staples were out , I headed to the gym on the doctor's allowance. Generally I avoided crunches-flat/incline/decline bench press- squats other than that you should be good.

If you feel a strain on the scar, then avoid it. Generally I was back in full force 4 weeks later, no issues, no stretching thus far and I am 6 weeks out.

Actually I found myseld arching my back on standing exercises, to release tension from my upper body.

-Walking?
-Running - 3 miles? 10 miles?
-Lifting weights - Machines? Free weights? Moderate
-Abs - Leg raises? Crunches? Sit-ups?
-Whitewater rafting? Not sure, would be wearing snugg head protection so I would avoid.
-Wall-climbing? Heeeh, too much head tilting looking for the next best grip so I would leave it for a bit.

My two cents.

Hope it helps.

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I had fue so can't really comment on the scar but I was advised to wait 2 weeks before going to the gym. Also, I was advised to wait until 4 weeks before going heavy. Apparently the reason for waiting has to do with the vascular system and graft survival.

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This is something I have been doing research on all day. There seems to be many conflicting views on this. It is such a conundrum....you work so hard to achieve a certain level of fitness, muscle, running endurance....and taking a month or even as some suggest 3 months, would set you back so much...3 months would be like starting over.
But, then you also want to minimize the scarring on this procedure that will hopefully change your life.....
what to do.
I would like to hear more feedback on this.....anyone?

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My Hair Loss Web Site

FUT - 8/12/11 - Dr. Keller - Chicago - 3140 grafts
365 singles, 375 doubles, & 2400 multiple hair grafts

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or a professional within the hair transplant field, but I am one hell of a researcher and have been dubbed "master googler" by people that know me. So, anything I say is solely my best opinion or answer based on everything I have read and/or experienced.

It is good to be conservative with weights for the first couple weeks. From my research I did nothing the 1st week, walked the 2nd week and resumed full cardio after that. I decided to be conservative and wait until this week (4weeks) to lift weights even though it is probably fine to start light weights a little earlier, but I just thought why take the risk. Also, avoid anything that will put pulling pressure on your scar for a few months. Hope that helps. Good luck with everything.

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Surgery - Dr. Ron Shapiro 6/14/11 - 3048 grafts

http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/orlhair1

As the others have stated, I would err to the side of caution. I plan on doing nothing for at least 30 days, with the exception of walking. After that Ill start back my running routine. I plan on staying away from weights for a t least 2 months! But thats just me

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Newhairplease!!
Dr Rahal in January 19, 2012
4808 FUT grafts- 941 singles, 2809 doubles, 1031 triples, 27 quads

My Hairloss Website

Thanks for the replies, yeah, that seems to be what the information says out there,...at least for minimal wait time. I'm afraid of losing what I've attained so far, but the hair is more important.
Basically just wanted to hear other's stories, how long they waited, and if it stretched their scar or not?
Thanks and good luck with you too.

__________________
My Hair Loss Web Site

FUT - 8/12/11 - Dr. Keller - Chicago - 3140 grafts
365 singles, 375 doubles, & 2400 multiple hair grafts

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or a professional within the hair transplant field, but I am one hell of a researcher and have been dubbed "master googler" by people that know me. So, anything I say is solely my best opinion or answer based on everything I have read and/or experienced.

SouthBeach,

The main concern in the first four days is not to significantly raise your blood pressure potentially lifting the new grafts from their sites.
Moderate training should be fine. It was for me and I continued my training one day POS.
Machine work the first week with your head in a upright and neutral position is recommended. Breathing should be smooth and coordinated with concentric and eccentric parts of the movement. No forceful (Valsalva) holding your breath while exertion on your lifts should be utilized.
You can do the slow and controlled lifting technique (less weight and increased time on the concentric/eccentric if you like for a change.

You should avoid the exercises that involve the trapezius (shrugs/upright rows/deadlifts etc) because it will put great stress on the donor scar. The traps attach to the back of your head (EOP) putting great tension on the donor closure. Avoid forward head flexion and contacting the back of your head on the gym benches. You can roll up a towel (like a cervical pillow) to avoid the contact and provide head support .

Running should also be moderate the first few days but after that you can resume your normal cardio work while maintaining good head posture.
Concentrate on your breathing and not elevating your BP the first week post op.

A dynamic body heals very well. Good luck SB!

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Great response Rich91403. If you want to know how long you need to take off of intense aerobics and intese weight lifting stay away from all the opinions and look to human physiology...
Look at the processes of wound healing (i.e. Inflammatory, proliferative, remodeling) and the timelines. With that known and pending you are healthy and took good care of the wound then you are likely well outside of the inflammatory and granulation processes of the wound by days 8 or 10 and its safe to return to activity. So, between a good diet of veggies, good proteins, and plenty of antioxidants (i.e. tea, coffee, pomagrante joice)... then keeping with wound clean and covered with antiobiotic ointment, etc. You should be quite confident in going back to heavy workouts after about 10 days (which is what Dr. Haber recommended to me). When getting my staples out today I asked if the scar looked good (Pos Op day 8 for me) and they said it looked great (a byproduct of a good surgeon, good diet, being healthy, and good wound care) so I will be competing in a 5k this saturday (post op day 11) and going back to heavy lifting and long runs next week. Taking off 30 days or 2 months is extremely unnecessary and is without any science. If I feel pain (often your first indicator of tissue damage) then I will back down from something, but otherwise I plan on going full go next week. 10-14 days is all you need to rest before going back to full go and a healthy life style which will assist in the healing process as well. (FYI I am a Doctor of physical therapy and do wound care in my practice)