16 Days Post-Procedure, I Still Have Scabs

Hello,
I am a 34 year old male and it’s been 16 days since my Hair Transplant of 1200 grafts. I still have scabs. I have been very gentle with washing, but am currently allowing the full pressure of the shower head. I have not scrubbed my scalp the way I normally would prior to surgery. Today, I lightly rubbed and picked a scab with the hair attached. It came off pretty easily. Was this the graft? Did I lose the future hair?

Can I start scrubbing my scalp at this point? My doctor recommended waiting 1 more week (3 weeks total) before washing and combing my hair as I did prior to surgery. What is your recommendation? And did I lose my hair graft? I am eager to get back to normal life. Thank you for any help.

Patients may generate scabs after surgery. It is best to wash them off before they get ‘rooted’. When they are not washed off immediately, they may last for days. I have even seen patients who do not wash well and have their scabs last for weeks. Pulling off scabs during washing and styling is one of the most common causes of losing a graft after transplant, although I would doubt that it would occur 16 days out. We did a careful study to determine when the vulnerability of graft loss ends and we found out that the existence of scabs parallels that risk. Study shows that pulling grafts can remove the whole graft any time during the first 10 days, at which time the scabs usually fall off with reasonably vigorous washing.

When fully healed, the follicle becomes part of the recipient skin and will keep its ability to generate new hair. You are well beyond day 10 and it is unlikely that you will lose your graft at this point in time. Let shampoo stay on your wet hair for 10 minutes or so, then rub the scabs gently with your fingers and the scabs will fall off.