How Many Days After a Hair Transplant Can I Sleep Normally?

One thing that many people don’t consider about hair transplants is how to sleep afterward. This is incredibly important though as if you do not follow a careful recovery plan you could end up damaging your transplanted hair and causing discomfort.

Don’t worry though – it’s a relatively simple process with a few key pointers and milestones to remember. After that, you will be able to sleep normally in no time and in your regular sleeping position.

If you are asking, when can I sleep normally after a hair transplant, look no further. We detail everything below so you can have a fast and safe recovery.

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Sleep Recommendations During the Healing Phase

After your procedure at your hair transplant clinic in Istanbul, your scalp will be tender and the grafted hair follicles will be delicate. This means that care must be taken to avoid damage, but also to minimize the discomfort you feel.

The first thing to consider is your sleeping position. Unfortunately, you should not use your normal sleeping position but instead initially sleep on your back with your head in an elevated position, higher than your heart.

This position helps reduce swelling but can prevent any unintentional damage from movements during your sleep. I understand that you cannot control how you move during your sleep, but this position helps minimize any risk.

The main aim is to reduce the chance of contact between your scalp and your pillow. Firstly, this may feel uncomfortable due to the tenderness of your scalp, but it can also dislodge the newly transplanted hair follicles until they are secured in the graft site which typically takes 14 days.

Post-Transplant Recovery Timeline

There is a simple recovery timeline you can follow to make sure that you don’t damage your hair and potentially affect the chances of success of your transplant. This is a relatively short time period of 14 days in which you have to change how you sleep:

Days 0-10 Post Surgery

For the first 10 days after your hair transplant, the transplanted follicles will be delicate so it’s important to sleep on your back, but at a slight incline.

The best practice is to sleep on a pillow, with a travel pillow around your neck. This helps prevent excess pressure on your hair and keeps your head protected should you move around during your sleep.

Days 10-14 Post Surgery

After the 10-day mark, the transplanted hair follicles will be tougher and less prone to damage however you still need to exercise caution. At this point and until the 14th day you should sleep on your side.

Try to avoid placing any direct pressure on the donor area or graft site as this could cause damage. It’s still advisable to sleep with a standard pillow and a travel pillow around your neck at this point.

Day 14 Onwards Post Surgery

After day 14 things go back to normal and you can sleep in any position! This is where you can really start to relax and any discomfort you have felt or any unrest due to non-familiar sleeping positions should fade away.

The swelling, scabs, and soreness should have also disappeared at this point so you can start looking to the future and when your transplanted hair grows in!

Also Read: Do Hair Transplants Go Grey? 

Tips for Comfortable Sleep After a Hair Transplant

Following the simple timeline is easy and the best way to protect your hair after a transplant but that’s not the only thing. To prepare you fully and to make sure your sleep is hassle-free, I have listed six simple tips you should follow too:

1. Try and keep your head elevated for at least 14 days after your hair transplant to reduce the pressure and potential for damage.
2. If needed, use extra pillows to help gain that elevated sleeping position but to also give you stability and prevent unexpected movements.
3. A travel pillow can help greatly (we mean the C-shaped travel pillows that you wear on flights around your neck). These can stabilize your head and help keep separation from your other pillows.
4. Try to maintain a single sleeping position as you try to get to sleep and avoid continually tossing and turning.
5. Don’t take any medication to try and help you sleep even if you are feeling discomfort. This could have an adverse effect and could cause you to wake up suddenly and potentially pull your hair.
6. Try to avoid rubbing your head against anything as the friction and pressure could damage your hair follicles, especially during the first 10 days after your hair transplant.

Read Next: Are Hair Transplants Worth It? 

FAQs

How many days after a hair transplant can you sleep on your side?

It is not advised to sleep on your side after a hair transplant until 10 days after. Before this, the transplanted follicles are delicate and could get damaged with too much pressure.

How long after a hair transplant can I sleep on a pillow?

You can sleep on a pillow immediately after your hair transplant but for the first 10 days, it’s recommended to sleep on your back at an incline and with the use of a travel pillow to support your head.

How many nights sleep upright after a hair transplant?

For the first 10 days, we recommend sleeping in a slightly upright position with an incline. This is to reduce any pressure on your head to prevent damage to the delicate hair follicles.