Berkeley Hair Clinic Aftercare

Before you leave the clinic

Before going home, your team will check the treated areas and explain your aftercare instructions clearly. You will receive everything required for the initial healing period, which may include:

• Sterile saline spray
• A pH-neutral shampoo
• Suitable pain relief to use as directed
• Anti-inflammatory medication where clinically appropriate
• Written washing, sleeping and activity guidance
• Contact details for the aftercare team

We will explain how to use each item and when to contact us.

The first evening and following day

Once home, your priority is to rest and protect the newly transplanted area. You will normally be asked to spray the recipient area with saline approximately once every hour while awake, continuing until you go to sleep and again the following day, according to your personalised instructions. Avoid touching, rubbing or placing pressure on the transplanted area. Sleep on your back with your head slightly elevated — a travel pillow or carefully positioned rolled towels can help keep your head supported and reduce the chance of accidental contact with the grafts during sleep.

Rest and early healing

Some tightness, tenderness or swelling can occur during the first few days. This is often the best time to keep your diary light, rest at home and catch up with Netflix. Continue following your saline, washing and medication instructions, and avoid strenuous activity, unnecessary bending, rubbing the scalp or anything that could make contact with the treated area. Our aftercare team remains available if you would like reassurance or are unsure whether something is healing as expected.

Becoming more discreet

By approximately day five, many patients feel more comfortable leaving home. Where healing is progressing normally and the clinical team has confirmed it is appropriate, a clean, loose-fitting hat may be worn to make the procedure less noticeable. The hat must not rub against or place pressure on the transplanted area. We can advise you on suitable styles and how to put the hat on and remove it safely.

Removing the scabs

During this stage, you will usually begin a more thorough washing routine and gentle massage to help soften and remove the remaining scabs. The technique and timing will be explained by your clinical team. Scabs should not be picked, scratched or forcibly removed before they are ready. As the scabbing clears and any redness begins to settle, most patients start to look and feel considerably more like themselves.

Returning to normal routines

By approximately two weeks, the initial healing period is usually well advanced. Many patients can return to normal exercise and progressively resume full-intensity gym training, provided healing has been uncomplicated and the clinical team has confirmed that it is safe to do so. Contact sports, activities involving a risk of impact to the scalp and environments with heavy dust or contamination may require additional precautions or a longer recovery period. Your team will advise you according to your sport, work and individual procedure.

Established healing

By approximately four weeks, the transplanted grafts are well established within the scalp and most patients can return to a wider range of activities. Once the skin has healed fully and your clinical team has cleared you, this may include swimming and wearing close-fitting protective headwear such as cycling, racing or ski helmets. Patients who train or compete professionally will receive individual guidance according to the demands of their sport.

The shedding phase

It is common for many of the transplanted hairs to shed during the weeks following surgery. This does not usually mean that the follicles have been lost — the follicles remain beneath the skin while the transplanted hairs enter a new growth cycle. For a period, the treated area may appear similar to how it looked before surgery, or occasionally slightly thinner. This stage can feel frustrating, but it is a normal part of the process for many patients. Our team will continue to review your progress and explain what to expect.

Early growth

New hairs commonly begin to emerge from around the fourth month. Early growth can initially appear fine, light or uneven. Different follicles may begin growing at different times, so the result should not be judged too early. As the growth cycle progresses, the new hairs usually become longer, stronger and more visible.

Density and maturation

The most visible transformation commonly develops between approximately six and fourteen months. During this period, the transplanted hairs continue to gain length, calibre and coverage. The hairline and frontal scalp may mature sooner, while areas such as the crown can take longer and may continue developing for up to eighteen months. Your clinical team will review the result at the appropriate stages and assess progress in the context of your original treatment plan.