Thanks to innovations in hair transplant surgery and the growing familiarity of techniques such as Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), it’s easier than ever for those who suffer from hair loss to regrow their hair – and their confidence. So how long does it take to recover from a hair transplant? Better yet, when can you get back to driving after a hair transplant surgery? Fortunately, most post-procedural activities entail little to no downtime and can be done either immediately or shortly after surgery, with minimal restrictions or complications to concern yourself with.

In this article we’ll sum up the answer to the question: “Can I drive after a hair transplant?”. We’ll cover the specifics to think over before you start driving again, what the recovery process looks like, and general post-op recommendations. If you are planning on getting a hair transplant and want to know if it’s okay to drive after the surgery, read on — because in this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover every detail you need to know.

Understanding Hair Transplant Surgery

Before explaining whether you can drive after a hair transplant, it is once again worth explaining what is meant by a ‘hair transplant’. There are two main methods of surgical hair transplantation: FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) and FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation).

FUE: Follicular Unit Extraction – Individual hair follicles, taken from the back or sides of the scalp that form the ‘donor area’, are removed and then placed into recipient areas where thinning or balding has occurred. The surgery leaves no visible scars, and recovery is faster.

FUT: Follicular Unit Transplantation – also called the strip method – removes a follicular unit hair graft from a strip of skin taken from the donor area. Individual, natural looking hair follicles are extracted and implanted. The end result is a linear scar, along with a somewhat longer recovery period.

Whether the repair is achieved through either of the methods above, the body itself takes time to heal following surgery. Additional post-operative restrictions are also crucial in obtaining optimal results.

Can You Drive After a Hair Transplant?

To answer this most crucial question – can you drive after a hair transplant? In short, the answer is yes. With some conditions, of course: while driving, is not an activity that potentially interferes with the wound-healing phase, what does play a vital role is the timing of getting behind the wheel is the overall condition you are in afterwards.

The Immediate Post-Surgery Period (First 24-48 Hours)
Within the first 24-48 hours after your hair transplant surgery, be prepared to experience a sensitive scalp, swelling, pain and fatigue. In addition, most hair transplant procedures use sedation or local anesthesia to lower the pain associated with the operation. Side effects from these medications can last for several hours after your surgery. Because of these reason, it is unsafe to drive.

The Impact of Sedation and Anesthesia
So when your hair transplant is going to be done under sedation, it is advised that you DO NOT drive immediately after surgery. Sedatives can impair judgment, slow one’s reaction time, cause drowsiness and dizziness, and there may be carryover effects from the sedation past the time when the local anesthesia has worn off – especially if this local anesthesia was combined with oral sedatives or IV medications.

If any other sedative or anesthetic was used, most clinics will recommend that you don’t drive for 24 hours after surgery. This is because you are likely to feel the effects of the drugs for some time, and this impairs driving.

Swelling and Discomfort
In addition to anesthesia, swelling and tenderness are normal for the first 24-48 hours. Swelling usually affects the forehead and eyes, impairing vision and focus, hence why driving becomes hazardous.

Advice: If you experience a large aount of swelling, you should delay driving until that swelling subsides and you feel able to concentrate on the road.

Fatigue After Surgery

Although less invasive than other medical procedures, patients are under stress during a hair transplant. The surgery is demanding on the body as well as the mind; it is not unusual for a patient to be fatigued after surgery, especially if the procedure was long or a high number of grafts were placed. Fatigue will affect your attention, making it more difficult to respond to changing road conditions.

Advice: Take time off to relax. Falling asleep at the wheel, can be just as dangerous as being under the influence of alcohol. Be sure you are fully alert before you drive.

The First Week of Recovery: What to Expect

The first week post-procedure should be dedicated to rest and post-op care only. During this period, it is serious business to follow the instructions provided by your surgeon to avoid damage to the newly planted grafts.

Protective Headwear and Comfort While Driving

Following your hair transplant, your scalp will be sensitive and your grafts will be fragile and need time to settle. It’s best to avoid tight hats or anything that puts any sort of pressure on the scalp for the first few days. That said, if you feel the need to protect your scalp from the sun during a driving journey, a loose hat or soft scarf can be worn.

Comfort Cue: Use a neck pillow or cushion while driving so that your neck doesn’t press into the headrest of the seat; this prevents added pressure on the grafted area and decreases the possibility of damaging the grafts.

Scalp Sensitivity and Avoid Scratching

Itchiness of the scalp is a normal symptom during the first few days after the procedure, as the wounds from the grafts heal. If it is absolutely necessary, thorough washing of the scalp with warm water may help with some itchiness, but scratching or rubbing the scalp will remove the transplanted follicles and should be avoided.

Patients should also refrain from allowing the scalp to be directly hit by the sunlight, which can worsen the itching and discomfort. As mentioned earlier, a loose hat or scarf can be used to shield the scalp from sunlight and prevent touching the scalp while driving, as doing so could affect the grafts and even introduce infection to the transplanted area.

Swelling and Vision Impairment

As mentioned above, swelling is one of the most common after-effects of hair transplant surgery and can even be seen in the forehead as well as the eyes. Swelling can peak on day three or day four after your surgery and can sometimes affect your vision. If the swelling impairs your sight or is painful, you should avoid driving until the swelling clears up.

Suggestion: If swelling continues, avoid driving or arrange for an alternate form of transport to ensure your ability to safely navigate the road.

Long-Term Considerations for Driving After a Hair Transplant

Indeed, most people are able to drive again and return to full activities by the second week post-op. It’s a good idea to follow general aftercare guidelines to protect your scalp and allow healing.

Avoid Direct Sun Exposure

Even a week after your operation, your scalp would not have healed sufficiently to warrant exposing it to direct sunlight, which would cause either sunburn or trauma to the transplanted follicles. So, if you must drive at all during the daylight hours, you will need to cover your head with whatever loose-fitting hat or scarf you can find to protect exposed areas of your scalp. If you are extremely sensitive to sunlight exposure that you can cut a piece of fabric and affix it to their car’s windshield, as a means of further reducing sun exposure.

Stress and Physical Exertion

You may have noticed, driving can sometimes be quite stressful, especially in heavy traffic or on a long journey. After having had a hair transplant, it’s advisable to keep stress on your body to an absolute minimum, to allow the new hair to settle. If driving can be stressful for you or if you are going to spend a few hours in the car, then take a number of little breaks along the way. Do not stress your body out.

Suggestions: If Driving long distances, plan rest stops along the way, get out of the vehicle, stretch, and for several minutes. Furthermore, have someone else drive to avoid becoming too drowsy.

Protecting the Transplanted Area

The implanted follicles will need to be handled with care for several weeks after the operation, as any scalp trauma can potentially impact the growth and final results of your transplant. IF you are feeling a bit weaker then normal for some weeks after the operation, be especially careful when driving.

Cushion Comfort: To prevent the donor’s head from falling back while seated and driving, use a cushion or other supportive device to ensure your head is not pressed against the headrest. Keeping the site of the new transplant away from pressure and trauma will assist with wound healing.

When Is It Safe to Resume Driving After a Hair Transplant?

The majority of patients can go back to driving safely within 24-48 hours of surgery. The following is a rough timeline of what is available for a surgical patient to drive, depending on the level of the patient’s 24-hour recovery:

First 24 Hours

No Driving is advised: Due to the sedation or anaesthesia for the procedure, please do not drive for at least 24 hours; have a friend or family member drive you home from the clinic.

Days 2-3

Driving Restrictions: Most patients may drive within 2-3 days after surgery if they are comfortable, and not having severe swelling or discomfort. You must not drive if you are fatigued or side effect from any prescribed medications making you drowsy. While driving do not rub or bump your scalp.

Days 4-7

Resume normal driving: By the end of the first week, most patients are able to resume driving normally, provided there are no complications such as a significant degree of swelling, infection or discomfort. If you feel confident and alert enough, you should be able to drive.

After 7 Days

FULL ACTIVITY RESUMED: By now, into the second week, you are back to doing whatever you were doing before. Meanwhile, please be sure to adhere to basic post-operative instructions so you can get the most from your hair restoration.

In the end, it’s all about safety and comfort. If you have concerns about whether it is safe for you to drive after a hair transplant, be sure to consult your surgeon for specific advice. If you follow the appropriate recovery instructions, you’ll be able to get back on the road and move through your daily activities, including driving, while protecting your newly transplanted hair quality for the best outcome possible.