Q I had a friend that had to wear a turban-like bandage on his head for a week after his hair transplant, but his procedure was a number of years ago. What is the post-op dressing like now and how soon can you shower after a hair transplant procedure? — E.B., White Plains, N.Y.

A: Patients leave the office after the surgical hair restoration wearing only a tennis band wrap and a surgeon’s cap (that can be worn under a baseball cap).

The morning following the hair transplantation, the dressing can be removed and no further dressings or bandages need to be used.

The day following hair transplant surgery I suggest patients to take 3 or 4 showers to remove the crusting as it forms. The crusts are removed by gently shampooing with a copper-peptide based product. After the 1st day following the procedure, the crusts no longer form and showering/shampooing can be decreased to twice a day; morning and night.

After the first week, showering once a day is fine.