FUE post-operative instructions
Your recovery, in the order it happens — from the evening of surgery through the weeks that follow. Read it before your procedure day and keep it open during your first week.
Call the office at any hour. If bleeding continues after 10–15 minutes of firm, steady pressure — or if you develop fever or spreading redness — always report it.
The evening of your surgery
Before you leave the office your nurse will hand you an envelope containing these instructions, your bandage-removal appointment for tomorrow, a roll of gauze, and small numbered envelopes holding your medications.
Take the pain medication as directed on the envelope if you feel any discomfort. Even with no pain before bedtime, we recommend taking one for overnight comfort. For mild discomfort after the first few days, over-the-counter extra-strength Tylenol is fine.
Have a good, low-sodium dinner when you leave our office and drink plenty of fluids — especially water — through the evening. No alcohol while you are taking the narcotic.
Do not lift or check under the bandage — it must hold firm, even pressure overnight. Before sleeping, wrap the long gauze over the top of the bandage and tie it under your chin so it cannot shift. If the bandage falls off, that is fine; do not put it back on. Keep sleeping elevated.
Bandage removal day
- Eat a good breakfast before your appointment. Our surgeries are scheduled each morning, so please be on time.
- One hour before your appointment, take 1 Tylenol #3 with Codeine for comfort. If you are driving, take two over-the-counter extra-strength Tylenol instead.
- Begin your post-operative Prednisone with breakfast on this day, unless contraindicated.
- Baseball caps are provided for all patients. Female patients may prefer to bring a scarf to wear afterwards.
- Do not exert yourself for the first few hours after removal — exertion can cause bleeding.
- Occasionally there is slight bleeding from the recipient or donor area. Use the gauze we give you to apply firm pressure with your fingertips for 5–10 minutes; call the office if it continues.
Most patients experience some forehead or facial swelling. Two things help:
Ice, 10 on and 20 off
Apply the reusable ice pack given to you to your forehead, temples, eye area and the nape of your neck — as much as possible for the first few days. Never place cold packs directly on the grafts.
Sleep at 45°
Use a few pillows or a reclining chair for one to five nights. Alternatively sleep flat with no pillow except to support your neck — not your head — so gravity pulls any swelling away from your face.
Shampooing
Starting the second day after surgery, wash your hairtwice daily — morning and evening — for the first ten days, in this order.
- Fill the bathtub with warm water and lie back until the water covers the donor and recipient areas — only your face exposed. Earplugs are recommended to prevent ear infections, and Epsom salts added to the bath aid healing.
- Soak the donor area for 10 minutes, then sit up and massage the donor area with shampoo (no medicated or dandruff shampoo) using the pads of your fingertips, with as much pressure as you can tolerate.
- While massaging the donor area, gently pat the shampoo suds onto the recipient area.
- Rinse with clean, warm tap water from a cup.
- Gently pat the recipient area dry with a clean paper towel, or blow dry on a “cool” setting. Continue applying the ATP every hour until the bottle is finished.
- Apply the water-based Aquagel to the recipient area and Bacitracin to the donor area.
Exercise & activity
Immediately post-operatively, place 5 pellets under your tongue every hour until bedtime. For the rest of the first week, 5 pellets three times daily.
Apply to any bruised or swollen areas twice daily for two weeks. Do not apply to grafted or sutured areas, and avoid contact with the eyes.