Regular Member OtHt Posted November 24, 2022 Regular Member Share Posted November 24, 2022 Hey, I am currently 7 days post my hair transplant and struggling to sleep properly. Two days ago I started having neck pain from sleeping with a neck pillow for the past week (I tried using different neck pillows and took painkillers) so when I try to sleep in the recommended position I just can't fall asleep because of the discomfort. I can only getabout 3 hours of sleep (spread throughout the night) and it just gets too hard. I feel really bad. I guess it affects my recovery as well. I'm 99% sure I could sleep in my normal position without touching the grafts at all. So, at 7 days post op, what do you think I should do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member AB2000 Posted November 24, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted November 24, 2022 When I've had hair implanted to the crown, I was told to keep using the neck pillow for months. Find out from your doctor how long to stick with it. Something that might help is a leg elevation pillow, which will raise the lower part of your body, possibly changing the angle of pressure on your neck and relieving it. My Hair Loss Website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Chetman2112 Posted November 24, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted November 24, 2022 I’m 10 days out and have been taking Benadryl to help, works like a charm and it also helps with any itching Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Chetman2112 Posted November 24, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted November 24, 2022 You can sleep on your back at 7 days post opp with out any issues. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member OtHt Posted November 24, 2022 Author Regular Member Share Posted November 24, 2022 13 minutes ago, AB2000 said: When I've had hair implanted to the crown, I was told to keep using the neck pillow for months. Find out from your doctor how long to stick with it. Something that might help is a leg elevation pillow, which will raise the lower part of your body, possibly changing the angle of pressure on your neck and relieving it. Thanks for the advice! Also, months with neck pillow sounds like an overkill, no? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member OtHt Posted November 24, 2022 Author Regular Member Share Posted November 24, 2022 9 minutes ago, Chetman2112 said: I’m 10 days out and have been taking Benadryl to help, works like a charm and it also helps with any itching Thanks! I'll find out where can i get these in my country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member GoliGoliGoli Posted November 24, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted November 24, 2022 40 minutes ago, AB2000 said: When I've had hair implanted to the crown, I was told to keep using the neck pillow for months. Find out from your doctor how long to stick with it. Something that might help is a leg elevation pillow, which will raise the lower part of your body, possibly changing the angle of pressure on your neck and relieving it. Hm did they say why? I had work done on my crown and started sleeping in my usual position the first night which is on my stomach. But instead of using a pillow I used my arm and no part of my recipient area was in contact with anything. Also not sure on elevating the legs post op, if anything you want to sleep with your upper body elevated to reduce swelling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member ray35 Posted November 24, 2022 Regular Member Share Posted November 24, 2022 Man I get i,t it's a drag, if you can use that U pillow and maybe cushion some around it with more pillows? I bet you've tried everything, but the thing is just gotta get through best you can, only a few more days. Hang in there, it'll be worth it long run! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rahal Hair Transplant Posted November 24, 2022 Share Posted November 24, 2022 Othk, Did you undergo FUT or FUE? at seven days postop, I am surprised to hear you’re still having a hard time sleeping. Are you in any discomfort or pain during the day? Since the newly transplanted hair is fully secured between 7 to 10 days you should be able to adjust the way you sleep to be more comfortable now. I don’t see any reason why you need to continue to use a neck pillow at this point, maybe you go back to sleeping with a regular pillow and sleep normally… So unless you’re experiencing any discomfort or pain from the surgery still, you should be able to sleep normal. If you are still experiencing pain, i encourage you to contact your clinic. Best wishes, Rahal Hair Transplant 1 Rahal Hair Transplant Institute - Answers to questions, posts or any comments from this account should not be taken or construed as medical advice. All comments are the personal opinions of the poster. Dr. Rahal is a member of the Coalition of Independent of Hair Restoration Physicians. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member OtHt Posted November 24, 2022 Author Regular Member Share Posted November 24, 2022 2 hours ago, Rahal Hair Transplant said: Othk, Did you undergo FUT or FUE? at seven days postop, I am surprised to hear you’re still having a hard time sleeping. Are you in any discomfort or pain during the day? Since the newly transplanted hair is fully secured between 7 to 10 days you should be able to adjust the way you sleep to be more comfortable now. I don’t see any reason why you need to continue to use a neck pillow at this point, maybe you go back to sleeping with a regular pillow and sleep normally… So unless you’re experiencing any discomfort or pain from the surgery still, you should be able to sleep normal. If you are still experiencing pain, i encourage you to contact your clinic. Best wishes, Rahal Hair Transplant Thank you both for the response! I did an FUE and just wanted to do the best I can protecting the grafts while I sleep. I Will adjust the position into a more comfortable one. Regarding Pain, I do have pain in my donor area that is causing me a bit of a headache but the main thing was the position I tried to maintain. thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member A Fue Good Men Posted November 26, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted November 26, 2022 On 11/23/2022 at 7:40 PM, AB2000 said: When I've had hair implanted to the crown, I was told to keep using the neck pillow for months. Find out from your doctor how long to stick with it. Something that might help is a leg elevation pillow, which will raise the lower part of your body, possibly changing the angle of pressure on your neck and relieving it. Months?! I think that’s overly conservative. Grafts are permanently set by about 9-10 days post op per the rassman/Bernstein graft anchoring study. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member AB2000 Posted November 26, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted November 26, 2022 5 hours ago, 5BetaReductase said: Months?! I think that’s overly conservative. Grafts are permanently set by about 9-10 days post op per the rassman/Bernstein graft anchoring study. The only reason I can think of for that advice would be how the new grafts grow out in the crown, and ensuring their angles are maintained when they come out for the first time, months after the surgery. My Hair Loss Website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member A Fue Good Men Posted November 26, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted November 26, 2022 3 hours ago, AB2000 said: The only reason I can think of for that advice would be how the new grafts grow out in the crown, and ensuring their angles are maintained when they come out for the first time, months after the surgery. Angles are determined by incisions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member pkipling Posted November 26, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted November 26, 2022 It's 10 days since you posted this, and the grafts are definitely secure by now. I don't know what your doctor said, but I think you're ready to sleep normally at this point in whichever way is comfortable for you. And perhaps try a sleeping pill or something over the counter that will make you drowsy and hopefully allow you to sleep through any discomfort... Benadryl, melatonin, etc. I am a patient advocate for Dr. Parsa Mohebi in Los Angeles, CA. My views/opinions are my own and don't necessarily reflect the opinions of Dr. Mohebi and his staff. Check out my hair loss website for photos FUE surgery by Dr. Mohebi on 7/31/14 2,001 grafts - Ones: 607; Twos: 925; Threes: 413; Fours: 56 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member AB2000 Posted November 26, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted November 26, 2022 (edited) 4 hours ago, 5BetaReductase said: Angles are determined by incisions I'll take the advice of a hair surgeon who suggested otherwise. If sleeping patterns can alter the results to some degree, then I'll put up with a neck pillow, which I've done after having work done on the crown. Edited November 26, 2022 by AB2000 My Hair Loss Website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member OtHt Posted November 27, 2022 Author Regular Member Share Posted November 27, 2022 Thanks for everyone's advice! My clinic (Dr Bicer) told me to sleep on the side/back until 1 month so that's what I'm doing, but with way less fear of damaging the grafts. Found a comfortable position when Lying on the side (instead of lying on my back with 45 degree angle). the recipient area is not touching anything and and my sleep is good. Thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popeyee Posted November 27, 2022 Share Posted November 27, 2022 For what it’s worth, I also had HT on my top/crown and I had the same troubles getting solid sleep each night and I’d wake up ever 1-2 hours using a neck pillow but I persisted. I started sleeping “normally” on my back and side after 2 weeks and it has been comfortable for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member shadowcast Posted November 27, 2022 Regular Member Share Posted November 27, 2022 (edited) I've had my entire scalp transplanted (not all at once). I've never slept with a neck pillow, as I find them to be extremely uncomfortable. Just sleep on your side, head on the edge of the pillow, angled on the front of your face/cheek. Give it a try, you can do this without touching any recipient area (unless you've had temple work, that's a different story). I've never lost a graft. You WILL have longer facial swelling with this method, though. Edited November 27, 2022 by shadowcast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member witty Posted November 27, 2022 Regular Member Share Posted November 27, 2022 Is it really necessary to sleep 10 days on the back? Or this it only important in first 3-5 days and afterward you can sleep on sides as well, changing position and to not press all the time on the back of your head, because this makes a lot of pain. I notice that normally i have no pain in a donor area but if i sleep all the time on my back the pain comes and i wake up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member pkipling Posted November 29, 2022 Senior Member Share Posted November 29, 2022 On 11/26/2022 at 3:40 PM, AB2000 said: I'll take the advice of a hair surgeon who suggested otherwise. If sleeping patterns can alter the results to some degree, then I'll put up with a neck pillow, which I've done after having work done on the crown. Both of these statements are fairly accurate, as the angles of the hair are first and foremost dictated by the angles of the incisions. It's one of the things that separates good surgeons from great ones, in that they're able to design the hairlines and angle them in such a way that they accurately mimic natural growth. Of course, they also have to be positioned correctly in the recipient sites, but I assure you that research shows that after the first 72 hours, those grafts get much more difficult to move around/dislodge. Many surgeons are extremely conservative with their post-op care guidelines, often to the point of ignoring research. So while it's always good to follow your surgeon's guidelines, I can't think of any logical reason to be careful with how you sleep longer than two weeks post-op at the most. The grafts simply aren't moving by that point, and I don't know what they're basing those guidelines on. 1 I am a patient advocate for Dr. Parsa Mohebi in Los Angeles, CA. My views/opinions are my own and don't necessarily reflect the opinions of Dr. Mohebi and his staff. Check out my hair loss website for photos FUE surgery by Dr. Mohebi on 7/31/14 2,001 grafts - Ones: 607; Twos: 925; Threes: 413; Fours: 56 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esper Posted March 31 Share Posted March 31 I have recently done a hair transplant. My sleep problem wasn't that bad but instead I had severe back pain. Why so? Has anyone experienced back pain after hair transplant? If yes, how have you dealed with it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Bucky O Hair Posted April 1 Regular Member Share Posted April 1 9 hours ago, Esper said: I have recently done a hair transplant. My sleep problem wasn't that bad but instead I had severe back pain. Why so? Has anyone experienced back pain after hair transplant? If yes, how have you dealed with it? Are you sleeping with a neck pillow or in an elevated position? Sometimes sleeping in an elevated position can aggravate your lower back. After 10 days you should be fine to sleep how you normally do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Bucky O Hair Posted April 1 Regular Member Share Posted April 1 On 11/27/2022 at 3:03 AM, OtHt said: Thanks for everyone's advice! My clinic (Dr Bicer) told me to sleep on the side/back until 1 month so that's what I'm doing, but with way less fear of damaging the grafts. Found a comfortable position when Lying on the side (instead of lying on my back with 45 degree angle). the recipient area is not touching anything and and my sleep is good. Thanks again! One month is nonsense. After 10 days, you are fine to sleep however you like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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