Swelling on 4th day..please respond..thanks!

[hair4ever]

Hi..I just had hair transplant surgery on 4 days ago with Dr Powlinga who works with Dr Beehner in Saratoga..The staff was great, the surgery went well(1,600 graffs..4,000 hairs) and other than initial shot was surprisingly painless!..we talked some about post surgery..they said that there might be swelling on the 3rd or 4th day..Other than some significant itching at night which i understand is normal, I thought it was going very well and was going to get away without swelling..Not so lucky!

I have some significant swelling above & around the top of my nose and especially in my eyes..Not horrible..just looks like bad alllergies, or like ive been punched!..eyes are half shut..a little panicky but decided that won't help!..I ve taking Predizone daily for last 3 days, tylenol(allergic to advil) and used iced on forehead and eyes..in reading, I am reasurred its a normal part of the process for some..Question Being: The Dr said to go with Icing the swollen area..I have also read that it is good to use a warm/hot wash cloth on swollen area..Which works better and what has your experience been..how long did it last? Thanks!

[Davidmr]

I have not had a HT so am not an expert but for swelling in general it is best to use ice not heat in the early phase. Ice causes constriction of the blood vessles which leads to decreases influx of inflammatory mediators to the site of injury- therefore less swelling. Heat, in theory, does the opposite- causes dilation of the blood vessles to the area that gets the heat directly and allows more mediators to the site of injury. Make sure your doctor is not concerned about steroid use and post-op healing.

Good luck

[stormlaw]

My doc gave me steroids to take for 5 days, plus I slept in a recliner for a week. I had no swelling. It will go away!

[Dr James DeYarman]

Swelling

Post-op swelling of the forehead is due to the saline injections during the hair transplant. Ice will not help this situation in fact can make it worse. You need to put hot moist packs to the forehead for 1-2 minutes then follow with massage of the area for 5 minutes. I have my patient do this every hour for the first 2 days. The massage should be from the midline out above the eyes with the objective to move the fluid out and down into the neck. Place your thumbs under your chin with your fingers above the eyebrows and move from the middle out. Good luck

[gillenator]

The swelling usually does not last very long, 3-5 days, then goes away as it it absorbed into surrounding body tissues.

I would imagine by now it has dissipated?

[Spex]

All normal - it will gradually calm down after 4-6 days. Sleep upright

[SilverSurfer]

Massage your face from the inner forehead towards the edges of your face. It will dissipate the swelling in your face(eyes, nose, eyebrows, etc)TWo days the most you will have this discomfort. Sleep in an upward angle

[HairyDude]

7 days after HT the swelling is gone. I looked like the elephant guy on the 4th day.

[gillenator]

7 days after HT the swelling is gone. I looked like the elephant guy on the 4th day.

Some folks swell more than others.