When Can You Start Walking After Your Hair Transplant?

Quick Summary: When Can You Start Walking After Your Hair Transplant?

You can start walking after a hair transplant within 1 day. However, you should avoid hiking, and other forms of strenuous walking until 2 weeks has passed.
The risks to your hair transplant include sweat-induced irritation, infection, straining, and dislodging hair grafts. These factors can prolong the recovery process and adversely affect the hair transplant result.

Most patients want to return to normal life as soon as possible after a hair transplant and we advise that you can start walking after a hair transplant the day after the procedure. However it’s important to note, the hair transplant is vulnerable in the first few days following the procedure.

Vigorous exercises, such as hiking or speed walking, aren’t advised during the first 2 weeks due to the risk of sweating or straining. These exercises can pose a risk to your transplant grafts.

If you’re considering a hair transplant but are eager to resume your daily activities, it’s essential to understand the key aspects of aftercare and recovery. This guide will cover everything you need to know about walking after a hair transplant, helping you to make informed choices and maximise your results.

Can I Walk After a Hair Transplant?

You can start walking again 1 day after your hair transplant surgery. If walking is part of your normal routine, you will be able to walk at a gentle pace. Your hair transplant is still in the recovery phase. It can take 2 to 3 months for the new follicles to fully develop and begin to grow new hair. In the interim period, you will want to protect the delicate transplant.

Some walking is possible. However, you should avoid overexerting yourself – especially during the first 7 days following the procedure. Try to get as much rest as possible to allow your body to recover. It will improve the success of the hair transplant.

Vigorous walking, such as hiking or speed walking, isn’t advised until two weeks following your hair transplant. Introduce light exercise which doesn’t make you sweat. You may also want to avoid walking in excessive heat if you’re likely to sweat on your scalp.

Does the Type of Transplant Matter?

Yes. The type of hair transplant can affect the timeline for resuming physical activities. The two primary types of hair transplants – Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) and Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)^1,2 – have different recovery processes.

FUE (Follicular Unit Excision). This minimally invasive procedure generally has a shorter recovery time. You can start walking after a FUE hair transplant the following day. That being said, it’s crucial to avoid activities that might cause sweating or increase blood flow to the scalp, as this could affect healing.
FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation). FUT is a more invasive procedure involving removing a strip of scalp. As such, it takes long to heal. Still, some gentle walking is permitted within a few days. Your scalp may feel more sensitive due to the linear incision at the back of your scalp. Therefore, avoid direct strong sun exposure for 1 month and any exercise that might cause sweating in the first 2 weeks.

Regardless of the procedure, walking is typically the first exercise allowed after a hair transplant, as long as it’s gentle and doesn’t induce sweating. Always follow the specific guidance of your surgeon, as individual factors may influence your recovery plan.

The guidance around walking after your hair transplant are unchanged whether you are undergoing a hairline, temple, crown or transgender hair transplant.

Risks of Walking After a Hair Transplant

Following your hair transplant, you want to promote healthy hair growth and reduce the risk of damaging the hair follicles. Physical activity might seem like a good idea. After all, it’s part of a healthy lifestyle. However, overly strenuous exercise can damage the hair follicles. Potential issues include sweating, straining which can cause infection and dislodge hair grafts^3,4.

Sweat-Induced Scalp Irritation

Walking after a hair transplant is usually fine due to the low risk of sweating. The obvious exceptions are hiking, speed walking, or prolonged walking on a warm day. Sweating causes irritation of your scalp, which is already sensitive following the procedure.

Avoid any activity that increases your risk of scalp sweat or excessive strong sun exposure for the first 4 weeks following the procedure. The more you sweat and the more irritation that occurs, the longer the healing process. This is true for both FUE and an FUT hair transplant.

Straining

We don’t associate straining with walking. However, if you’re walking up lots of stairs or hiking up a hill, straining might occur. Your body naturally strains to support itself as you move upwards. As you strain, the pressure in your head increases. The additional pressure can cause your hair follicles to literally pop out or become dislodged. It’s a key consideration when walking after a your hair transplant.

Infection

Like any surgical procedure, infection is always a risk. Walking outside increases your exposure to dirt, dust, debris, and other factors that increase your risk of infection. Consider where you’re walking to minimise any potential risks.

Vigorous walking can make you sweat, which causes bacteria and other microorganisms to proliferate. This is less than ideal in the first 14 days following your hair transplant procedure when the scalp is most vulnerable.

Dislodging Hair Grafts

Dislodging your hair grafts is one of the biggest risks immediately after your surgery. Until they’ve become firmly established, the hair follicles are extremely delicate and easily dislodged. Mild or moderate walking is unlikely to increase the risk of dislodging hair grafts. However, as explained, walking up several flights of stairs, up a steep hill, or walking with weight adds to the intensity of the exercise. It only takes a single bout of vigorous exertion to dislodge your hair grafts.

It takes 14 days for your grafts to become secure. Therefore it’s best to keep the pace slow and gentle for the first 14 days to avoid this happening and give your hair grafts the best chance of success.

Post-Hair Transplant Timeline

Immediately following your hair transplant, your body begins the recovery process. It will take 1 month until you can fully resume every activity. However, once 2 weeks pass by, you will increasingly be able to participate in exercise apart from contact sports. Here’s a concise overview of the timeline:

First 7 Days

You can start walking within a day after a hair transplant. Aside from that, you’ll want to avoid any form of strenuous exercise, including hiking, power walking, and running. If you go for a leisurely stroll, minimise sweating and direct exposure to the sun. Both of these factors can irritate your scalp.

Also, walk slowly to ensure your blood pressure doesn’t rise. The higher your blood pressure, the greater the risk of dislodging hair grafts. If you feel like you can’t do any more or you’re pushing too hard, take a rest.

That being said, short, gentle walks promote blood circulation, which can help with the healing process. Day by day, you’ll be able to walk a little further.

14 Days After Procedure

After two weeks, you can resume light exercise. That includes weight-lifting, cycling, yoga, pilates, golfing, rowing, and some vigorous walking. You can walk up a gentle hill and enjoy some direct sun exposure.

If you’re not sure if you should perform an exercise, speak to your surgeon. Any lingering redness or sensitivity of the scalp is a cause for concern. Consult your hair transplant surgeon for an evaluation.

1 Month After Procedure

When you hit the 1-month mark, you can resume most forms of exercise including contact sports.

Book Your Hair Transplant Today

Speak to our team to learn more about a hair transplant procedure. From the personalised consultation to the post-surgery period, we guide you through your hair transplant journey. Start your path to fuller, natural-looking hair—schedule your consultation now and take the first step towards renewed confidence.

References

Jimenez F, Alam M, Vogel JE, Avram M. Hair transplantation: basic overview. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2021 Oct 1;85(4):803-14. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0190962221009014
Unger WP. Hair transplantation: current concepts and techniques. InJournal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings 2005 Dec 1 (Vol. 10, No. 3, pp. 225-229). Elsevier. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022202X15525943
Nadimi S. Complications with hair transplantation. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2020 May 1;28(2):225-35.
Gawande MJ, Bansal S, Daga A, Latke S, Joseph S, Agrawal R. Hair Transplant: Challenges, Solutions and Guideline for Beginners. Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International. 2021 Nov 12;33(49B):185-94. Available at: http://editor.classicopenlibrary.com/id/eprint/298/