Any current studies on lifting weights after hair transplant surgery? The answers are all over the place on the forum. I’m guessing light lifting and cardio after suture removal and high intensity training after 3-4 months as long as I don’t feel any stretch. When are most weight lifters able to safely train heavy free weights including shrugs and abdominal exercises without stretching the scar? I’ve read as long as 6-12 months. My last procedure was about 8 years ago and the doctor allowed me to train after suture removal. I didn’t have any issues from what I remember. I’m guessing hair restoration procedures have improved since then.
I don’t know of any studies regarding hair transplants and heavy weigh lifting. I can only speak from past experience in my practice. I allow my hair transplant patients to resume normal activities along with exercise and weight training 7 days post op. If they are in competition or doing extreme weight lifting I suggest they wait until 14 days post op.
There is no stretch in the scalp with lifting weights. You get a lot more stretch from looking down and putting your chin to your chest. If you do that and it feels tight, then avoid those positions. Otherwise go for it and lift as much as you want.
Whether it’s the less invasive nature, lack of the linear scar associated with the traditional follicular unit hair transplant (FUT) procedure, or potentially faster healing time, demand and popularity of FUE has increased greatly over the last several years. While most hair restoration experts believe that FUE has been traditionally overhyped or oversold to eager patients, it’s become evident that FUE is here to stay.
The lasting power of follicular unit extraction seems to stem from both patient demand and the dedication of talented hair restoration experts who continue perfecting the procedure, researching new extraction mechanisms, and creating new, more precise FUE tools. By evaluating these dedicated physicians, refined methods, and unique follicular unit extraction devices, we invite you to learn more about “The Evolution of Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), Physicians and its Tools” and why the procedure continues increasing in popularity and demand each day.
I’m looking to undergo a follicular unit transplantation (FUT) procedure, and I’m wondering what type of post-operative complications can occur with hair transplant surgery?
While hair transplantation is considered a minimally invasive and low-risk procedure, all surgeries carry some probability of complication (both during the surgery and during the post-operative, recovery period).
In my opinion, the two biggest complications, specifically post-operative complications, associated with surgical hair restoration include the rare possibility of infection and unanticipated scarring. Most hair transplant surgeons utilize a combination of operative and recovery period antibiotics to highly reduce chances of infection, and scarring is a very subjective process that varies depending on physician skill and an individual’s physiology.
Furthermore, according to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) some of the possible complications associated with hair transplantation include: “post-operative infection, excessive bleeding, and delayed healing.”
_______________ Blake – aka Future_HT_Doc
I am a 23 year old male seriously considering a hair transplant. I am a class 2 on the Norwood Scale with a naturally high hairline and diffuse thinning and recession in the temples about an inch back and slight thinning and recession in the front (minor). I have been on Propecia (finasteride) for 2 years and Rogaine Foam (on the hairline) for 2 years. I also use 2% Nizoral twice per week. I have a few uncles on my mom’s side who are Norwood 5’s and some uncles on my dad’s side who are norwood 2’s and 3’s. My dad is a Norwood 2a. I have been to two hair restoration surgeons who both said I was a good candidate because I have good donor hair and I’ve halted/slowed my hair loss with finasteride. The surgery would be a conservative approach to establish a mature hairline. I’m not trying to get my adolescent hairline back. They each recommended between 800 and 1000 grafts via follicular unit transplantation (FUT). I know I am young but what do you guys think? Will I regret this in 10-20 years? Is shock loss a major concern in my case? Anyone with a similar experience?
I have no problem with your age if you are an informed patient and you plan to avoid the 3 mistakes of hair transplant surgery.
In this article, recommended hair transplant surgeon Dr. Parsa Mohebi shares his research concerning the effects of wound healing on hair growth.
I recently received an interesting inquiry from a patient regarding hair growth following his leg injury. The case reminded me of some of my work at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine on hair growth and wound healing. I thought this would be an interesting subject for balding men and women who are interested in the latest techniques of hair restoration. The subject could also be of intrigue for doctors who thrive on developing new ways to help their patients through the means of quality hair restoration research.
This patient explained a condition in which he noticed brand new hair which appeared to be growing out of a healing wound he had as a result of a biking injury. The patient found this discovery to be fascinating and wondered what scientific studies have recorded cases of this type, and how his predicament can be seen as a benefit to science.
When doing research on wound healing at Johns Hopkins University, our team did research on an animal model which revealed to us that wound healing can enhance the growth of hair. This result came as a shock when looking at different wound healing studies. It was noted there were gene therapy techniques which may have possibly affected the hair growth in the animals being studied.
In 1992, Merck Pharmaceuticals obtained FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) approval for a new drug, which utilized finasteride to treat Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (enlarged prostate) in older male patients. However, during the course of the prostate study, the Merck researchers noticed something unusual: along with decreased prostate size, male study subjects also reported an increase in new scalp hair growth while taking finasteride.
After evaluating these claims, Merck launched a new study to test both the safety and efficacy of treating male pattern baldness with finasteride. The study concluded that finasteride halted and, in numerous cases, reversed progressive hair loss, and, in 1997, Merck launched Propecia – a 1 mg finasteride tablet for treating androgenic alopecia in men.
The drug demonstrated significant results, but many began to question the potential sexual side effects associated with prolonged use of the medication. During the initial FDA trials, researchers concluded that finasteride could cause sexual side effects, such as diminished libido and erectile dysfunction (ED), but these reactions were only seen in 2% of subjects and subsided after stopping the medication. However, many hair loss sufferers weren’t convinced and asked for new studies to test both the efficacy of the medication and the impact of the potential sexual side effects.
I couldn’t get an appointment at my health center to remove my sutures until next Tuesday. That will be 12 days after my hair transplant. Will that be okay?
I always remove my sutures 7 days post op because, no matter how nonreactive the sutures are supposed to be, they still cause irritation to the scalp and, if left in too long, can cause more scarring. The longer you leave them in, the higher the chance of having “railroad tracks” form. This is the scarring that is caused from sutures and has nothing to do with the incision.
Another thing that can happen from leaving sutures in too long is that your skin can grow up around the sutures causing increased scarring. The goal is to remove the irritating foreign body as soon as you can.
I always place deep, simple, dissolveable sutures to take the tension off the outer suture line which also helps to prevent the incision from widening.
I recently started a Rogaine (minoxidil) regimen and I’m wondering how long I need to take the medication before experiencing stabilization and new hair growth? Also, what type of side effects are associated with prolonged Rogaine usage? If I stop the treatment, will the new growth and hair loss stabilization disappear?
Most hair restoration experts recommend utilizing preventive hair loss medications (like Rogaine and Propecia) for 6-12 months before judging the efficacy of the treatments. Many believe that 6 months is sufficient, but waiting the full 12 months could be useful if you’re uncertain or want to “play it safe.”
Rogaine (minoxidil) side effects include:
“burning or irritation of the eye, itching, redness or irritation at the treated area, as well as unwanted hair growth elsewhere on the body; severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; dizziness; fainting; fast heartbeat; sudden, unexplained weight gain; swollen hands or feet; side effects of oral minoxidil may include swelling of the face and extremities, rapid and irregular heartbeat.”
(*compiled from several web sources)
From my experience, it seems like most individuals tolerate Rogaine/minoxidil quite well and the most common side effects include some swelling and unexpected hair growth.
Finally, stopping stabilizing hair loss medications like Propecia and Rogaine will result in both progression of the previous loss and a shed of all hair regrown during the course of the medication.
_______________ Blake – aka Future_HT_Doc
Recently, a member of our Hair Loss Social Community and Discussion forums, and practicing permanent tattoo artist, shared his opinion of Scalp Micropigmentation (scalp tattooing). Below, the member discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the increasingly popular new procedure:
For the last 13 years I have performed permanent make-up tattooing. I have thoroughly researched the use of tattooing in the setting of thinning or balding hair patients. . To understand the rationale for Scalp Micropigmentation (sometimes called Pigment Substitution Hair Replacement Treatment, scalp tattooing, et cetera) you must understand two basics, pixelation and illusion. I am sure most of you have seen the street art of the person who develops a chalk drawing on concrete that appears to be 3-dimensional. This is the illusion portion, proper shading, dimension and positioning will tell your brain that the image is real – no matter that you see it on a two dimensional surface, this works and is not disputed. The second component is pixels. If you have a good television, you are completely unaware of the millions of “dots” which comprise your picture – yet that is all it is, a group of dots making your brain see an image as a whole – thus the illusion again.
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I don’t know of any studies regarding hair transplants and heavy weigh lifting. I can only speak from past experience in my practice. I allow my hair transplant patients to resume normal activities along with exercise and weight training 7 days post op. If they are in competition or doing extreme weight lifting I suggest they wait until 14 days post op.
