Here in South Florida, you’re never too far from the water. Whether in the Atlantic, the Gulf, a lake, or a pool, swimming is part of our way of life. Of course, people love to swim no matter where they live, and as summer arrives, they’ll love it even more frequently. That’s why it’s no surprise to us that one of the most common questions our hair transplant surgery patients ask is: “When can I go swimming again?”
One of the great things about the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) hair transplant technique we use at the Hair Transplant Institute of Miami is that healing tends to be faster and involve less post-operative limitations on activities than other hair transplant methods.
Nevertheless, you still need to take it easy after hair transplant surgery, and that includes holding off on swimming for a bit while healing to avoid infection or damage to the still-fragile transplanted follicles. So, while you’ll never have to worry about a toupee or hairpiece floating away and you will soon be able to swim without limitation, you will still want to be careful about taking a dip in the days and weeks after your surgery.
Swimming in the Ocean
While FUE is terrific in that it leaves less scarring than older transplant methods, you will still have some scars – remember, you are recovering from a surgery. As with any type of surgery, the areas where the skin was opened are particularly vulnerable to infection while they heal. Sadly, our oceans are full of increasing amounts of pollutants which could make their way into your still-healing scalp and cause illness or other complications. Once your scabs have healed or fallen off, however, you can swim all the way to Cuba if you want.
Swimming Pools
While the chlorine in swimming pools may reduce the risk of infection, that doesn’t mean it can’t cause damage in other ways. The chemicals in chlorinated pools can kill hair grafts while they are still healing. Try to stay out of the pool, or at least keep your head above water, for at least two weeks up to a month after surgery. After that, you should have no problems enjoying time in the pool.
Once you are back in the water, you should still try to avoid diving for a while as the impact of your scalp into the water can cause strain and pull of the scalp and the donor area. And since you will likely be out in the sun while enjoying a cool dip, make sure you protect your scalp from sunburn with the right scalp sunscreen.
Schedule an Appointment for a Hair Loss Evaluation Today
If you are concerned about your hair loss and are ready to do something about it, we invite you to schedule an evaluation at the Hair Institute of Miami. Drs. Nusbaum and Rose are internationally acclaimed hair restoration surgeons with more than 40 years of combined experience. To receive a personalized evaluation and treatment plan, contact us online or call our office directly at 305-925-0222.