When deciding the best time for a hair transplant in Istanbul, some people wonder if the season should be taken into consideration as well. If there even is the best season for hair transplant.
You’ll never really hear a clinic tell you that they close shop during summer, winter, or spring due to whatever reason. In fact, hair transplant services are offered all year round.
Still, there are something things you need to consider when getting a hair transplant in either summer or winter (spring’s a middle ground, anyway).
Even so, it’s nothing that you really need to worry about if you’ve already made your booking.
Should You Get A Hair Transplant In Summer Or Winter?
If you have to choose between summer and winter, it’d be better if you get a hair transplant in winter. That’s mainly because:
- sweating is not a concern during winter
- the sun’s weaker
The problem with sweating is that it can clog your pores, and that can become a breeding ground for bacteria. It can fill with pus, rupture, and then infect the surrounding follicles.
You don’t have to have surgery to experience this. People normally experience this. But when you’ve had a hair transplant, the integrity of your scalp is already compromised because of the punch holes and incisions.
And if sweating ends up causing a hair transplant infection, it may end up affecting the results of your surgery. It may affect the survival of the grafts on your scalp, which can lower the overall hair density.
Other than that, even simply sweating is problematic because when you try to wipe the sweat off your scalp, you may end up uprooting the hair grafts.
Another reason why winter is better than summer is that, according to the National Library of Medicine, because the earth tilts away from the sun in winter, UV levels are lower. So, essentially, the sun’s not as strong (doesn’t mean it’s still not a risk, though).
In any case, however, your surgeon may advise you to stay out of direct sunlight for 1 month after your surgery.
But by not getting a hair transplant in summer, you won’t have to deal with humidity either or be constantly wary of heat-related illnesses (again, it can still happen in winter).
Which Month Is Best For A Hair Transplant?
Spring months – April and May in Turkey and the UK – might be ideal for you to get a hair transplant.
It’s because you don’t have to deal with harsh summer sun or winter travel difficulties.
Although, if it’s the latter, you might still have to deal with strong winds and/or rain, in which case it’s best to keep your head covered with an umbrella (or by just staying indoors).
Is Hair Transplantation Done In Cold Weather?
Hair transplantation can very well be done in cold weather. It’s not a limitation as long as you’re able to make it to the clinic.
But it should be noted that even though winter is considered a better season for hair transplants, it also has some considerations, such as:
- You cannot wear beanies and woolly hats for 1 month after surgery.
- If the central heating’s too high, it can also cause sweating.
- Winter activities (e.g. skiing) can also cause sun damage.
While you can wear loose caps and scarves after 2 weeks, you can’t cover your scalp with anything too tight for a month (even when it gets cold). It can easily dislodge hair grafts.
Also, while you’re rarely going to find yourself in a situation where you’re sweating a lot during winter, it can still happen, and you need to be careful. Also, sun damage remains a risk.
But with getting a hair transplant in winter, people have the extra advantage of keeping their surgery discreet.
Not many people want to leave the comfort of their homes (there’s also no swimming or sunbathing on a beach), and it’s also the holiday season with Christmas and New Year’s.
Does Rainwater Damage Hair Transplantation?
With rainwater, it’s not so much the wetting that’s the problem (you can wash hair 2 days post-op), it’s what’s actually in the water that may end up harming your grafts.
For this reason, it’s always better to keep your head protected from the rain after a hair transplant (some say it’s okay after 13 days, but you must consult your surgeon about this).
If rainwater’s dripping after mixing with dirt and grime on a dirty surface or if it’s acid rain, it can be bad news for your newly transplanted grafts, which is why it’s always better to be cautious.
Conclusion
Hair transplant and temperature aren’t exactly linked with each other. Even though sweating can be a problem in summer, you can still blast the air conditioner to not sweat. There are ACs in the clinics, transfers and hotels, so you won’t have much to worry about.
For some people, it’s easier to travel for a hair transplant in Turkey abroad during summer because it’s vacation time, and schools are also closed (no worry about picking up or dropping your kids off).
But if the summer sun’s going to bother you, you can consider getting the surgery in winter or spring. More so than the season, though, it’s important you’re physically and emotionally ready for this surgery.
And for that, you can always consult an experienced and qualified medical professional. Depending on your situation, they can also help recommend a suitable time for your procedure.
Reviewed and Approved by Dr. Cagla Yuksel.
