Post-hair transplant, patients are advised to sleep on their back in an elevated position and to keep their sleep environment cool and comfortable, minimising irritation and preventing newly transplanted follicles from being rubbed or aggravated.
Sleeping is a major part of the recovery process for any medical procedure, but even more so for hair transplants. To protect your results and prevent delicate hair grafts from being dislodged, you’ll need to slightly adjust your sleeping position for the first 5 nights.
We’ve discussed here all you need to know about getting a good night’s sleep without interfering with your transplant. Following your procedure, you’ll find more details regarding your recovery in your after-care programme, covering aspects such as medications, exercise and washing.
Sleeping After a Hair Transplant: Key Takeaways
- Using extra pillows to keep your head elevated is important for the first few days after a hair transplant because it helps reduce swelling and protect your new grafts.
- Hair transplant patients must avoid lying on their stomach or side, as this can cause pressure or friction on the transplant areas.
- Travel pillows or ergonomic cushions can help maintain an upright sleeping position and reduce the temptation to move during the night while grafts are still settling.
How Should Hair Transplant Patients Sleep?
After a hair transplant, you should sleep at an elevated angle. One of the most important parts of the recovery process is the first 48 hours after your hair transplant.
This is the period where your hair grafts are at their most sensitive and delicate, so there are several precautions you should take to ensure that your grafts stay in place.
One piece of advice we urge all patients to follow is to try to sleep at an elevated angle for the first 5 nights after their hair transplant. While this might be difficult, it’s incredibly important that your hair grafts aren’t dislodged during the night.
Friction of any kind can weaken and dislodge hair grafts. We will provide products for the first five nights post-treatment to help keep all the hair grafts in place and protect the outcome of your procedure.
Friction can also irritate the treated transplant area, so sleeping in an upright position (or angled position) will help your recovery process run smoothly without any delays.
What Is the Best Bed Linen to Sleep on After a Hair Transplant?
Patients are advised to sleep on fresh sheets and to use soft, natural, non-abrasive linens.
Aside from dislodging hair grafts, the worst thing you can do for your hair transplant is sleep on dirty sheets. Bedsheets are notorious for accumulating bacteria and dead skin cells.
Prepare in advance and have your bed made with fresh sheets for the night. If you’re going to be sleeping on a recliner or sofa, cover the sleeping area with fresh sheets or a fresh duvet.
Why Does My Sleeping Position Matter Following Hair Transplant Surgery?
Newly transplanted grafts are fragile, and keeping your head elevated and sleeping on your back will:
- Improve the speed at which swelling goes down
- Prevent oedema where the forehead swells
- Protect grafts from abrasion and friction
KSL Clinic says, ‘Your sleeping position is one of the most often overlooked aspects of recovering from a hair transplant. Keeping your head elevated and minimising any contact with the grafts during that first week can make a big difference in how quickly swelling subsides and your transplants heal.’
Adequate sleep is also a factor in some causes of hair loss, which is why following post-transplant advice carefully – and maintaining a healthy sleep schedule over the long term – is strongly advisable. [1]
Good sleep hygiene also applies to non-scalp transplants, such as beard transplant procedures, which now account for 5% of all hair restoration surgeries, according to the latest data. [2]
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When Can I Sleep in My Normal Position Again?
After 5 days, it will be fine to sleep in your normal sleeping position again.
That being said, we’d still advise you to use soft linens and avoid any friction on your scalp. Avoid all friction and abrasive materials – such as pillows with sequins, raised designs or raised textures.
Summary of How to Sleep After a Hair Transplant
The ideal sleeping position after a hair transplant is at an upright angle, but using cushions and pillows to elevate your head is also generally fine. Hair transplant specialists strongly recommend against sleeping on your side or stomach, with a quick recap as follows:
| Sleeping Position | Safety After a Transplant | Reasons |
| Upright at a 45-degree angle | Optimal | Helps to reduce swelling and prevent contact with your grafts |
| On your back with your head elevated | Usually safe | Protects grafts, provided your head stays elevated |
| On your side | Not advisable for the first few days | Presents a risk that transplanted follicles will be dislodged |
| On your stomach | Must be avoided | Causes pressure on grafts and can lead to transplant failure and further procedures and costs |
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Will I Have to Sleep Upright After a Hair Transplant?
Our advice is to plan to sleep upright or in an elevated position for around the first five days. However, you may wish to continue doing so for the first week, depending on how quickly the swelling subsides and whether you are confident that your grafts have started healing.
What Should I Do if I’ve Accidentally Slept on Newly Transplanted Grafts?
If you’ve made brief contact, this won’t normally be a major issue. If you’re concerned, it’s best to contact your hair transplant surgeon, and to take steps to avoid any further rubbing or pressure – you’ll also find some useful advice within these hair transplant FAQs about what and what not to do.
Why Are Hair Transplant Patients Advised Not to Sleep on Their Side?
While many people are side sleepers, there is the chance that movement during your sleep will create friction against the transplanted follicles, and it is more likely that you will be prone to rolling over.
How Long Will I Have to Sleep Upright After a Hair Transplant?
Our advice is to plan to sleep upright or in an elevated position for around the first five days. However, you may wish to continue doing so for the first week, depending on how quickly the swelling subsides and whether you are confident that your grafts have started healing.
Why Are Hair Transplant Patients Advised Not to Sleep on Their Side?
While many people are side sleepers, there is the chance that movement during your sleep will create friction against the transplanted follicles, and it is more likely that you will be prone to rolling over.
What Should I Do if I’ve Accidentally Slept on Newly Transplanted Grafts?
If you’ve made brief contact, this won’t normally be a major issue. If you’re concerned, it’s best to contact your hair transplant surgeon, and to take steps to avoid any further rubbing or pressure – you’ll also find some useful advice within these hair transplant FAQs about what and what not to do.
