Early healing
Month 1 of 18
Day 3 after a hair transplant: Swelling at its peak
For many people swelling is at its most visible around days 3 and 4, sometimes with puffy eyelids or a little bruising. It usually settles within a week. Keep sleeping propped up and keep up the gentle washes.
What you can do now
On day 3
What's typical
- Swollen forehead or eyelids
- Crusts around the grafts
- Tight, sore donor area
Call your clinic if you notice
- Swelling around the eyes with blurred vision, or any trouble breathing.
- Swelling on one side only that is hot, red and painful.
- Fever, pus, a bad smell, or redness and warmth that spread.
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