Knowing when to contact your surgeon after a hair transplant prevents minor issues from becoming serious complications and saves you from unnecessary worry over normal recovery signs. Most post-op symptoms are part of the standard healing process, but specific warning signs at each phase require prompt medical attention regardless of your graft count.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always follow your surgeon's specific post-operative instructions and contact them directly with any concerns.
Emergency Signs: Contact Your Surgeon Immediately
These symptoms require urgent attention at any point after surgery:
| Warning Sign | Possible Cause | Urgency |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy bleeding that does not stop with 15 minutes of gentle pressure | Vascular injury or blood thinner interaction | Same day |
| Pus or foul-smelling discharge from graft sites or donor area | Bacterial infection | Same day |
| Fever above 100.4F (38C) | Systemic infection | Same day |
| Sudden, severe headache with vision changes | Rare reaction to anesthesia or fluid shift | Same day |
| Chest pain or difficulty breathing | Allergic reaction or other systemic issue | Call emergency services |
These signs are rare but serious. Do not wait for your next scheduled follow-up if any of these occur.
Week 1: When to Call
During the first week, your surgeon expects some degree of swelling, redness, and mild discomfort. Here is what falls outside the normal range.
Contact your surgeon if:
- Swelling increases after day 3 instead of decreasing
- Pain worsens after day 2 despite medication
- You notice grafts visibly lifting out of the skin
- Redness spreads beyond the treatment area with warmth or tenderness
- Numbness in a large area that seems to worsen rather than improve
Normal and not cause for concern:
- Mild to moderate swelling on days 2 to 3, including around the eyes
- Light oozing or spotting on the pillow for the first 1 to 2 nights
- Tightness or mild soreness at the donor site
- Temporary numbness in the transplanted area
Weeks 2-4: When to Call
The healing phase brings scab resolution and the beginning of shock loss. Most symptoms resolve on their own, but some need attention.
Contact your surgeon if:
- Scabs are not resolving by week 3 and appear stuck or inflamed
- You notice areas of spreading redness or warmth that suggest infection
- Significant pain returns after a period of improvement
- Large patches of skin look pale, white, or discolored (possible tissue necrosis, very rare)
- Folliculitis bumps are numerous, painful, or producing discharge
Normal and not cause for concern:
- Shock loss of transplanted hairs starting around week 2 to 3
- Itching as the scalp heals
- Small, isolated folliculitis bumps (ingrown hairs)
- Mild shedding of native hair near the transplant site
Months 1-3: When to Call
The dormancy phase is the quietest period of recovery. The scalp has healed, and you are waiting for new growth.
Contact your surgeon if:
- Signs of late infection appear (redness, warmth, discharge at any graft site)
- You experience sudden, widespread hair loss beyond the transplant zone
- Persistent, expanding areas of numbness that do not improve
- Cyst formation at graft sites
Normal and not cause for concern:
- No visible new growth (growth does not begin until month 3 to 4)
- Continued mild shock loss of native hair
- Occasional pimple-like bumps as follicles prepare to grow
- The transplanted area looking similar to pre-surgery
Months 3-6: When to Call
This is when early growth should begin. The absence of any growth by certain milestones warrants a check-in.
Schedule an evaluation if:
- Zero visible new growth by month 5 (not even fine, wispy hairs)
- Growth appears in some areas but is completely absent in others
- Persistent folliculitis that does not respond to topical treatment
- Raised or thickened scarring in the donor area (possible keloid formation)
Normal and not cause for concern:
- Thin, light-colored, wispy new hairs at month 3 to 4
- Uneven growth (some patches grow faster than others)
- Curly or textured new growth that differs from native hair
Months 6-12: When to Call
By this phase, you should see clear progress. Issues at this stage relate to density outcomes rather than healing.
Schedule an evaluation if:
- Density is significantly below expected levels for your graft count
- You notice thinning in previously untreated areas (hair loss progression)
- The hairline direction or angle looks unnatural as hairs grow longer
- Visible scarring in the donor area that concerns you
Expected Density Benchmarks by Graft Count
| Graft Count | Expected Density at Month 9 | Expected Density at Month 12 |
|---|---|---|
| 800 to 1,500 | 70-85% of final result | 90-95% of final result |
| 1,500 to 3,000 | 65-80% of final result | 85-95% of final result |
| 3,000 to 5,000 | 60-75% of final result | 80-90% of final result |
| 5,000+ | 55-70% of final result | 75-85% of final result |
If your density falls notably below these ranges, discuss options including medication adjustment, PRP therapy ($500 to $2,000 per session), or a second transplant session with your surgeon.
How to Prepare for a Surgeon Follow-Up
When you contact your surgeon, having the following information ready makes the consultation more productive:
- Standardized progress photos from multiple angles (front, sides, top, crown)
- A list of all medications you are currently taking
- The specific area and symptoms causing concern
- Your original procedure details (graft count, method, date)
For a full breakdown of recovery milestones, read the hair transplant growth timeline or check density expectations by graft count for benchmarks at every phase.
Know Your Norwood Stage
An accurate Norwood classification gives context to both your recovery and any follow-up discussions with your surgeon. Get a free assessment at myhairline.ai/analyze from a single photo. No account needed.
This article is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Consult a board-certified dermatologist or hair restoration surgeon for diagnosis and treatment recommendations.