Understanding Surgical Hair Restoration: What to Expect After Your Procedure

Hair transplantation surgery is an effective, permanent solution for hair loss, but many patients are unsure about what happens after their procedure. Post-surgical care and recovery are critical components of achieving optimal results from your hair transplant. At Hair Restoration Centers, we recommend several complementary approaches to enhance healing and maximize your transplant results.

Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT): A Powerful Post-Transplant Tool

Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is a non-invasive, painless treatment that uses specific wavelengths of light to stimulate hair follicles and promote hair growth. The laser light penetrates the scalp to energize cells within the hair follicles, improving blood flow and increasing cellular activity. This process helps extend the growth phase of the hair cycle, making it effective for individuals recovering from hair transplantation procedures.

LLLT is commonly delivered through devices such as laser combs, helmets, or professional-grade clinical systems available at our Hair Restoration Centers locations. Unlike high-power lasers used in other medical procedures, low-level lasers emit no heat, ensuring a safe and comfortable experience for the user. LLLT has been FDA-cleared as a treatment for hair loss and is suitable for both men and women seeking to improve hair density, slow shedding, and revitalize the health of their hair.

How LLLT Enhances Hair Transplant Results

The clinical laser systems used at Hair Restoration Centers feature an open-hood design, offering 100 percent coverage of the treatment area and stimulating hair follicles throughout the affected sections. Light from the laser beam helps prevent or in some cases stop hair loss by increasing the metabolism of the follicles and stimulating protein production. The FDA has cleared laser therapy in the form of a comb or helmet for at-home use as well.

For post-transplant patients, LLLT provides several specific benefits:

  • Accelerates the healing process after surgery
  • Reduces redness and inflammation in the treated areas
  • Decreases discomfort during recovery
  • Encourages transplanted hairs to grow faster
  • Provides extra energy for healing to nearby follicles affected by surgical trauma

Recommended LLLT Treatment Schedule

For optimal results following your hair transplant procedure, our board-certified surgeons recommend the following LLLT treatment schedule:

In-Office Laser Therapy:

  • Two to three 30-minute treatments a week for 8 weeks
  • One treatment a week for 16 weeks
  • Followed by two treatments a month for 6 months
  • Quarterly treatments for ongoing maintenance

At-Home Therapy:

  • Usually 20 minutes 2-3 times per week with an FDA-cleared device

What to Expect from LLLT Treatments

In clinical studies, participants using LLLT consistently experienced one or more of the following benefits:

  • A slowing down of hair loss typically occurring 4-18 weeks into treatment
  • An increase in hair follicle size, which promotes fuller, more lustrous hair and typically begins 18-26 weeks into treatment
  • Growth of new healthy hair, which is normally seen at 26-52 weeks into treatment

The Science Behind LLLT Hair Restoration

LLLT employs cool lasers that target hair follicles, stimulate microcirculation, and improve cells’ metabolism. Using true lasers as opposed to LEDs is critical for effective hair restoration. These lasers produce virtually no heat, but still allow the maximum amount of light and energy to be delivered to the treatment area.

LLLT Benefits for Different Hair Restoration Patients

Both men and women can benefit from laser hair therapy following hair transplantation procedures. LLLT is particularly valuable for patients:

  • Looking to prevent further hair loss or thinning in non-transplanted areas
  • Wanting to maintain hair growth from their surgical procedure
  • Seeking to speed post-surgical healing
  • Desiring to maximize the density and appearance of both transplanted and existing hair

At Hair Restoration Centers, our board-certified surgeons incorporate LLLT recommendations into your personalized treatment plan, ensuring you receive comprehensive care that extends well beyond the day of your procedure. With our nationwide network of 27 locations, we make it convenient to receive ongoing LLLT treatments as part of your hair restoration journey.

Contact Hair Restoration Centers today to learn more about how LLLT can enhance your hair transplant results or to schedule a personalized consultation with one of our board-certified hair transplant surgeons.