The recovery period following a hair transplant is crucial for improving the results and supporting the healing. [1]
There are several dos and don’ts associated with the recovery period after a hair transplant. For example, you must know whether it is safe to exercise after a hair transplant and what types of exercises are suitable during the recovery period. You must also know when you can start exercising and the kind of activities you need to avoid to protect the donor and recipient areas of your hair transplant.
This article is aimed at providing information about if and when you can exercise after a hair transplant and the safe exercises to practice in order to avoid any adverse effects. We will also have a look at the effect of exercises on your hair transplant results to help you make informed decisions.
Can I Exercise After a Hair Transplant?
How long after a hair transplant can I exercise?
You can introduce gentle exercise, such as walking, after about 10 days of your hair transplant. You may start or resume contact sports or weight training about four weeks after the surgery.
The duration of these workouts should initially be short to allow your body enough time to get used to the physical strain after a period of limited activity during your recovery. For example, gentle exercises such as walking and yoga can be performed for a period of 30 to 40 minutes a day, 5 days a week.
Also, you should perform only light exercises that do not cause you to sweat too much as excessive sweating of the skin of the scalp can create a favorable environment for the growth of germs. This might put you at risk of infections.
Can I go to the gym 2 weeks after a hair transplant?
Most hair transplant surgeons advise patients to avoid going to the gym for a month after a hair transplant, especially if they plan to perform intense activities, such as running on a treadmill or lifting heavy weights.
You may go to the gym 2 weeks after your hair transplant, provided you only plan to perform slow walking on a treadmill without increasing the slope of the ramp. You can go back to all forms of workouts about 4 weeks after this procedure, or after the incisions have completely healed.
You can also talk to your hair care expert at the HEVA and your fitness consultant to know whether you can go to the gym and work out after a hair transplant.
How long after a hair transplant can I lift heavy weights?
You can start lifting heavy weights about one month after a hair transplant, provided the incisions have fully healed.
Also, in case you notice redness and swelling at the treatment areas of the scalp after resuming heavyweight lifting, you might need to stop this activity until the healing has taken place.
When can I start running after a hair transplant?
You can start brisk walking and running 2 or 3 weeks after a hair transplant.
Simple exercises like walking can be started as early as 10 days after this procedure.
How long after a hair transplant can I start swimming?
You can start swimming 2 to 4 weeks after your hair transplant procedure.
This will allow enough time for the treatment areas on the scalp to heal and the scabs to fall off, thus protecting you against the risk of infections.
Is it okay to sweat after a hair transplant?
Hair care experts strongly recommend avoiding excessive sweating for at least one month after a hair transplant as the moisture associated with sweating can increase your risk of infection. It may also slow down healing and cause damage to the hair grafts. [3]
Excessive sweating induced by strenuous activities can also strain the newly grafted hair follicles and hamper healing. So, if you notice redness and swelling at the sites of incisions on your scalp after resuming exercise, you can talk to your hair transplant surgeon. Your doctor might advise you to stop or reduce the duration and intensity of your exercises if these side effects are suspected to be induced by excessive sweating.
Why You Should Not Exercise Right After A Hair Transplant?
Exercising is not recommended right after a hair transplant because it increases sweating on the scalp and heats the body.
The increase in moisture and temperature in the scalp can create a favorable environment for the growth of germs such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This can not just delay the healing but also increase the risk of infections. This can keep you from seeing the desired results from your hair transplant procedure. [4]
In addition, exercising right after a hair transplant also tends to increase the pressure in the head, causing the hair grafts to pop out and dislodge.
What happens if you exercise too soon after a hair transplant?
Exercising too soon after a hair transplant can damage the hair follicles, dislodge the hair grafts, and increase the risk of infections, primarily by increasing sweating and causing strain on the treatment areas.
What types of exercises are recommended in the first month after the operation?
Gentle exercises, such as walking and yoga, are highly recommended in the first month after the procedure. You can perform these exercises for 30 to 40 minutes a day depending on your physical stamina.
References:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547740/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547754/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30589248/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35658310
