Accelerated Healing Suggestions

[mm]

I am 3 days removed from an HT. All is well but I was wondering if I could get some suggestions for accelerating the healing of the scalp and donor area. I would like to go on a 3 day vacation before I go back to work, but I need to heal faster in order to to this.

 

Should I get another bottle of graftcyte? My bottle is almost gone? What about copper peptide, salt water etc.?

[Guest bro66]

Not much you can do while the stitches are still there, except keep the area clean and dry, I sprayed the donar area with saline solution a few times a day, also an ice pack helped with the swelling and pain.

[mm]

Actually, the scalp/receipient area is more so where I would like to acclerate the healing process, if possible.

[Guest bro66]

I sprayed with saline solution a few times a day, and gently washed the area with baby shampoo. Most of my scabs were gone by the 6th day.

[mm]

Just normal saline solution? Should I mix with water?

[Guest bro66]

just normal saline solution from the drug store, usually in the eye care section.

[GuitarPlayer]

I would recommend GraftCyte spray. It contains copper peptides, which are optimal for healing. I sprayed my recipient area every hour after my transplant and seemed to heal up fairly quickly.

 

I would also recommend minoxidil if you want your growth to come in earlier. Usually you don't use minoxidil for a couple of weeks after the transplant though. Definitely check with your doctor first.

[dhuge67]

At day 9-10 is it okay to sort of "remove" scabs, which are obviously crusted over, dead/white skin, and a bit loose, but not falling off?

 

Is there any harm that can be done to grafts at this point in time? All of the skin underneath the area is still pink too...

 

All normal?

[finallyfree]

MM,

Take it easy and kep the area clean.

Did you have any swelling in the recipient area and forehead?

[mm]

No sweling, no discomfort. Healing is going well. I just have an opportunity to take a 3 day trip before I go back to work (which would be be the 8th thru 10th day after surgery) and I would like my HT to not be noticeable. It sounds like I just need to keep the recipient area moist with slaient solution and hope for the best.

[rutters]

How did it go ? how long before it wasn't noticable?

I've heard aloe vera helps the healing process..

[hrthr]

Hello, I am three weeks post op and have used Aloe and also used "hair oil". I found in the hair care section, it is a mix of various oils including mineral oil. It seems to work the best with the scabs and scaling. You can gently move your fingers in a circular motion on the scabs and if you don't force the issue alot of scabs will come off. Just a suggestion, seems to have worked for me. Good luck.

[rutters]

thanks

do the scabs have little stubbly hairs in them? Is it smooth skin undeneath? How far post op was this?

 

cheers

[hrthr]

At about 10 days to two weeks, I started aloe and oil. The vast majority of the scabs came off without hair. The majority of the transplanted hair is still there. It is slowly starting to come out when I shampoo. I wouldn't be too aggressive until two weeks plus. And even then no fingernails. Talk to your doc, my post op instructions were pretty specific. I still have some scabs at three weeks post op and won't worry until I am four weeks post op. I hope this helps, I know everyone heals differently. You just don't want to damage your grafts. This is my first op, I am sure there are folks out there with more experience than me. I am just trying to be patient (not having much luck). Remember always run with scissors (lol).

[hairbank]

Hasson and Wong give you your first cleaning the day after HT........very gentlly pouring lukewarm water over the grafts and they recommend washing the hair every day from that day forward. Their specified goal per post-op instructions is to be "scab-free" at 8-10 days.

 

I'm at the 10-day mark today and do not have any scabs left after following these instructions. They also indicate that afte 7-8 days most people tend not to be aggressive enough while washing the newly transplanted hair. As long as you don't use finger nails and just rub shampoo throughout with your fingers I think you should be fine.

 

I started to use mederma for the scar the day after taking out my staples which was yesterday, we'll see how it goes. So far my scar is very thin with no scabs left on it.

[mm]

I am a little late with this update but my healing process went extremely well. Scabs were almost completely gone at 7 days. Minimal itching occurred. The key was keeping the receipent area clean and moisturizing often with saline solution. That was it! Went back to work on day 10, had my hair cut on day 15 and actually went on a date on day 16.

 

Thanks for everyone's help!

[Guest bro66]

that's great, the saline worked best for me too.

[SlowlyThinning@59]

Did you just rinse your hair with saline then pat it dry, both donor and recepient areas? I know saline is saline but any particular type/brand? Thanks

[MrJobi]

Aloe shampoo worked wonders in my donor area. I made sure to clean it especially well to avoid scabing and scarring

[Gorpy]

Originally posted by SlowlyThinning@59:

Did you just rinse your hair with saline then pat it dry, both donor and recepient areas? I know saline is saline but any particular type/brand? Thanks

 

Yes, but I only did the recipient area.

 

Make sure you use the normal saline, not the multipurpose kind.

[finnari]

Originally posted by finnari:

Originally posted by finnari:

What is missing here is advice on using food and supplements to heal. Your body heals from the inside out. I am a bit of a nutrution geek and believe strongly in viewing food like medicine.

 

I was red free and went out post op day three without a hat.

 

Every day I drink fresh organic smoothies with blueberries, strawberries and bananas. I also juice an apple with a lot of carrots in the afternoon. These are filled with anti-oxidents and will help your skin look better and heal quicker. I drink 8-10 glasses of good water per day. I use various supplements. I exercise a lot.

 

I heal very fast at the age of 41.

 

I do appreciate all the advice about the shampooing of the head. I think I have been to scared to use my fingers I have been mostly patting my head. But better safe then tearing into the grafts. Dr. Keenes assisant told me using the saline you use to clean contact lenses are okay. I used a spray bottle every hour or two the first three days.

 

I would advise you to see the big picture. Going out or on trips and perhaps removing grafts scabs prematurely may jeaprodize your final result.

[AndrewYoung]

Where is Hairbank. Isn't this an old post resurrected? lol

 

I would recommend the GraftCyte as well. It has Aloe and I know a number of contributors swear by it. I concur.

 

Another thing I did, that I thought was really helpful was, rather than shower, take a bath. In fact, take one in the morning and one at night. Something about fully dunking those suckers and staying under water, gently shampooing your head and re-immersing them in the water really helped me. Plus, when is the last time you got to soak in the tub?

 

Did the clinic give you the GraftCyte pads? Putting them on, wearing the plastic cover for 20 to 30 minutes and then spraying the solution on at the recommended intervals (I think it was 6 to 8 times a day, if I am not mistaken) keeps that head moist.