Early healing
Day 1 after a hair transplant: The first morning
Some oozing overnight is common, so an old pillowcase helps. Many clinics see you today to check the grafts, change or remove the dressing and show you how to wash. Keep spraying saline as your clinic says and don't touch the grafts.
What you can do now
On day 1
What's typical
- Small spots of blood or fluid on the pillow
- Tightness and tenderness, mostly in the donor area
- Mild headache or tiredness
Call your clinic if you notice
- Bleeding that keeps going after 15 minutes of gentle, steady pressure.
- Fever, pus, a bad smell, or redness and warmth that spread.
- Swelling around the eyes with blurred vision, or any trouble breathing.
In the GraftKeeper app, Check a symptom walks you through what to do.
Not yet reviewed by a doctor — verify with your clinic.
Sources
- Hair transplantNHS, 2023
- A hair transplant can give you permanent, natural-looking resultsAmerican Academy of Dermatology, 2026
- Hair transplantation surgeryIndian Journal of Plastic Surgery, 2008
- Complications in Hair TransplantationJournal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, 2018
- Hair Transplantation: Preventing Post-operative OedemaJournal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, 2010