WhatsAppOne of the most common questions for people who have an active lifestyle and exercise regularly is, “How long after a hair transplant can I work out?” This is understandable, as workouts become a part of your daily routine, and if you are in great shape, you want to stay that way!
To leave no doubts in your mind and to give you realistic expectations, I answer this question below and explain the different post-surgery stages and what exercise is possible during them. Let me start by saying that ideally, you should not work out for at least two weeks after a hair transplant, but it’s a little more complicated than that.
Exercise after a hair transplant isn’t straightforward, but we can break it down into different stages that coincide with the recovery and stability of your newly grafted hair.
Immediately after your hair transplant, the grafts are the most fragile and susceptible to damage or even being pulled out. You should not exercise for the first 1-7 days after your procedure.
Ideally, if possible, you should take time off work to relax and let your scalp heal properly. Sweating is the main enemy here, as excess sweating from exercise can cause scalp irritation and be detrimental to the transplanted grafts’ healing.
Towards the end of the first week, from day 5 onwards, you can do a little light exercise, such as short walks, but the main point is not to do anything that causes sweating or straining, so workouts are not advised at this point.
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After 7-14 days, your scalp, scabs, and swelling should reduce and heal nicely. During this period, your hair grafts should strengthen and take root properly in their new location.
After the first week and until the end of the second week, you can do light exercise that doesn’t make you sweat. Examples can include short bike rides on forgiving terrain and short walks. However, it’s still not advisable to do anything more strenuous than this, including gym sessions.
The two-week date marks a more dramatic change. By this point, your hair grafts should be stable and more resistant to pulling out and excess strain. As a result, after two weeks, you can start doing gym workouts again, including weight training.
However, please note that everyone is different and there is no universal recovery time for hair transplants. If you notice that your scalp is still sore and swollen, or there are still scabs, it’s advisable to consult your transplant surgeon. For example, Dr. Yaman’s hair transplant clinic in Istanbul can provide advice if you are concerned that the recovery is taking longer than expected.
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Contact sports and swimming should be avoided for one month. Contact sports have the highest potential to damage your hair grafts and undo the work done during the surgery. Similarly, swimming isn’t a great idea as you have to dry your hair afterward, which can cause pulling.
After a month, your recovery should be complete, and your hair grafts will be much more durable. This is when you can start contact sports and swimming again.
As mentioned above, this is an approximate guideline based on how we expect your post-surgery recovery to progress. Every case is different, though; people recover at different paces depending on personal health and lifestyle factors.
To summarize, the following is a bulleted breakdown of your expected post-surgery workout limitations:
If you are unsure or concerned about your recovery at any point, you should seek a consultation with your hair transplant surgeon. They should be able to provide advice, assess your scalp and hair grafts, and advise if workouts and exercise should still be avoided.
If you are in any doubt, simply contact your surgeon after the hair transplant. They will be able to help and give you clear instructions on what you can and can’t do regarding workouts, sports, and exercise.
Regardless, I implore you to follow your post-surgery recovery plan and take it seriously. Taking a temporary break from exercise, even if it’s something you really enjoy, will help your hair transplant and recovery and make the time and effort worthwhile.
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