A lot of people are curious about whether or not they can play sports after getting a hair transplant. People who have had a hair transplant or are researching the price have additional concerns, such as when they will be able to resume their favorite sport or what kinds of sports are appropriate in the days immediately after the procedure.
Find yourself in a similar circumstance and have similar questions. This article will not only provide answers to these commonly asked questions but also give you several useful hints that will be helpful when engaging in any sporting activity to avoid affecting the grafted hair.
Sport Following a Hair Transplant Surgery
Abrupt movements and physical activities, sweat, sun exposure, and other pressure placed on the operated region can damage transplant results. Relaxing during the first week following a hair transplant and avoiding any form of strenuous physical sport is crucial to prevent graft damage. This practice is especially critical when the grafted region is still healing following the surgery, as this is when the transplanted hair is most susceptible to damage.
Therefore, the answer to the question “can you sweat following a hair transplant?” is “not too much.” This practice is because excessive perspiration raises the likelihood of developing an infection after the procedure. During the first week following a hair transplant surgery, you should avoid engaging in any strenuous physical activity. Instead, you should rest as much as possible during this time. These activities include lifting weights, running, and football, as there is a severe chance of receiving hits to the head while playing a game, which can cause injuries to the newly grafted follicles.
One way to tell if it’s safe to resume athletic activity following a hair transplant is to observe the progress of the grafts’ recovery. If the patches have fallen off, it implies that the scarring from the grafting procedure has healed. The healing process normally occurs 7-10 days after the operation, although the exact time frame might vary from patient to patient based on factors like age, overall health, preexisting illnesses, etc.
However, you should always remember that as long as the recovery period is not completed, you should always relax. If you do not rest, you risk causing damage to the implanted grafts and changing the operation outcomes. To ensure the greatest possible results, you should refrain from engaging in physical activity for the first month. However, experts generally acknowledge that you can participate in low-intensity sports and activities beginning in the second week of pregnancy. These activities and sports should never involve sweating or excessive effort.
Sports To Participate in After Getting a Hair Transplant
Playing sports is a beneficial activity and significantly contributes to our health. However, after receiving a hair transplant, not all activities are appropriate because we should take care of the transplanted area and avoid inflicting any harm to the grafts. While there is an overall consensus that athletes can return to their sports activities as early as the second week after surgery, they should be aerobic and low-intensity without requiring significant effort, touch, or sweat.
Therefore, you should exercise modestly by doing activities such as walking (but not running), stretching, Pilates, or doing exercises to warm up. But you shouldn’t engage in strenuous activities like weight training until the third or fourth week following the hair transplant; during the second week after the procedure, you shouldn’t be able to do so. On the other hand, you can perform repetition exercises without using any weight.
After the transplant surgery, if you want to participate in sports that require physical contact with other players (such as soccer, basketball, etc.), you will have to wait at least one month before doing so. Because engaging in any activity too soon can result in graft damage, resulting in an unsuccessful transplant or with the intended effects, it is essential to respect the suggested waiting for intervals.
In addition, it is of the utmost importance to stay out of the sun when exercising in the weeks immediately following a hair transplant. Not only do the sun’s rays interfere with the wellness of the follicles and the healing process, but they also result in increased sweating, which raises the infection risk. Our greatest option is to engage in outdoor activities in shady areas or when the weather is overcast. Do not wear hats or caps since these items cause friction and pressure on the operated site, which can harm the grafts and should be avoided.
Swimming After Hair Transplant
Activities like swimming, which require us to wet our hair and expose it to chlorine or salt water, can damage the grafts we have received. It’s important to remember that wetness, particularly the chlorine and similar chemicals contained in pool water, can cause follicles and the skin of the scalp to become dehydrated and irritated, in addition to stripping away the natural oils that preserve the hair.
Because salt is a corrosive substance that also causes dehydration, we must avoid swimming in saltwater pools and seawater for the same reason. In addition, saltwater swimming pools may include other substances that could impact the hair’s overall health. Similarly, avoiding spas or saunas within the first few weeks after the operation would be best.
Generally, experts recommend waiting a minimum of a month before engaging in any sport in the water. Even after this period, experts recommend wearing a shower cap to protect your head while in the water. In addition to using a swim cap, another measure that you may take to boost one’s level of protection is to dampen one’s hair and then apply hair conditioner without first rinsing the hair. This practice will allow the conditioner to serve as a barrier against the damaging effects of chlorine.
Conclusion
Following these exercise guidelines after a hair transplant can safeguard the growth of the transplanted hair. Still, you should consult and listen to your doctors’ advice about how to proceed in your cases.