FUT When can I Workout?

[hairyharry]

I'm 5 weeks post-op. At what point post-op is it safe to start working out and lifting weights (bench press, dead lifts, etc)?

[John1991]

I started at a few days past the 6 week mark with no issues.  Your recipient area may redden when you do it and temporarily thereafter, but that's no issue.  Obviously the potential concern is the donor scar stretching.  As far as that goes, the numbness may feel odd when you bench (or dumbbell press), but most professionals seem to believe that roughly 4 weeks post-op is enough time to allow for the donor to heal enough to where strenuous exercise is fine.  If you do isolation exercises for your neck like neck curls or neck extensions, I'd probably recommend against starting those back yet.  Especially neck extensions.

Edited June 9, 2022 by John1991

[Smolhouse]

I started weight training after 2 weeks and swimming at 4 weeks without issues after 2 separate FUT surgeries.  

[Rahal Hair Transplant]

Hairyharry,

It’s honestly safe to do most workouts five weeks after FUT hair transplant surgery.  That said, the donor area may still be a bit tender and isn’t considered fully healed for about six months to a year.

Therefore, if you are into weightlifting, use common sense and don’t do any exercises that causes the donor area to stretch or strain. For example, doing flat bench barbell bench pressing can cause strain to the back of the scalp unless you are using very light weights.  Also, if you do crunches and put your hands on the back of your scalp, be sure just to use your hands to rest your head and not pull upwards.

That said, you are safe to do pretty much any cardio vascular exercises, sports, etc.

Best wishes,

Rahal Hair Transplant 

 

[John1991]

3 hours ago, Rahal Hair Transplant said:

Hairyharry,

It’s honestly safe to do most workouts five weeks after FUT hair transplant surgery.  That said, the donor area may still be a bit tender and isn’t considered fully healed for about six months to a year.

Therefore, if you are into weightlifting, use common sense and don’t do any exercises that causes the donor area to stretch or strain. For example, doing flat bench barbell bench pressing can cause strain to the back of the scalp unless you are using very light weights.  Also, if you do crunches and put your hands on the back of your scalp, be sure just to use your hands to rest your head and not pull upwards.

That said, you are safe to do pretty much any cardio vascular exercises, sports, etc.

Best wishes,

Rahal Hair Transplant 

 

So you advise patients that they have to take 6-12 months off from one of the most fundamental exercises in strength training?  Why is it that so many don’t specify no benching and say all activities are fine around 4+ weeks post op?  Hair transplants are already incredibly intrusive into social life, I think this would turn a lot of guys off from it. 

[AlexMeister21]

2 hours ago, John1991 said:

So you advise patients that they have to take 6-12 months off from one of the most fundamental exercises in strength training?  Why is it that so many don’t specify no benching and say all activities are fine around 4+ weeks post op?  Hair transplants are already incredibly intrusive into social life, I think this would turn a lot of guys off from it. 

More reason to go FUE instead of FUT imo. I didn't lift weights for 5-6 months after FUT surgery but my scar still got wide.

[John1991]

3 hours ago, AlexMeister21 said:

More reason to go FUE instead of FUT imo. I didn't lift weights for 5-6 months after FUT surgery but my scar still got wide.

That might just mean that scar formation is down to a) the skill of the surgeon and b) the physiology of the patient.  Some will workout without much in the way of stretching, while others will have some stretching while doing nothing.  That doesn't mean it's rational to take that much time off from doing basic strength exercises.  Nor does it mean its rational to choose FUE over FUT.  If you're weighing the two options, the questions to ask are a) is cosmetically significant scar stretching more common in FUT's than is cosmetically significant donor thinning in FUE and b)  is a stretched scar more easily coverable than a thin donor?  You could add which depletes potential future donor area, on average, to the mix of questions to ask too.

Edited June 10, 2022 by John1991

[Melvin- Admin]

I would abstain from any heavy lifting that puts strain on your neck. You don’t wanna stretch the scar. I wouldn’t do anything that strains the neck for at least 6 months. 

[hairyharry]

If I cannot do bench press, are the following lifts safe two months after an FUT?

- Bicep Curls
- Dead Lifts with Light Weight (~100 lbs)

 

[hairyharry]

On 6/11/2022 at 9:53 AM, Melvin- Moderator said:

I would abstain from any heavy lifting that puts strain on your neck. You don’t wanna stretch the scar. I wouldn’t do anything that strains the neck for at least 6 months. 

Thanks for the response. If I cannot do bench press, are the following lifts safe two months after an FUT?

- Bicep Curls
- Dead Lifts with Light Weight (~100 lbs)

Edited July 3, 2022 by hairyharry

[John1991]

1 hour ago, hairyharry said:

Thanks for the response. If I cannot do bench press, are the following lifts safe two months after an FUT?

- Bicep Curls
- Dead Lifts with Light Weight (~100 lbs)

Those will impact your scar not at all. Unless you do them on Sunday or when there’s a full moon 

Edited July 3, 2022 by John1991

[hairyharry]

14 minutes ago, John1991 said:

Those will impact your scar not at all. Unless you do them on Sunday or when there’s a full moon 

Thanks for the helpful response.

[chrisu]

bumping any additional insight on this? not benching for 6 months is a long time