Pre & Post hair transplant instructions 2024

In this article, we'll go over the most critical pre and post-operative hair transplant instructions the patient should consider in order to get the right results after the operation.

Table of contents

• Pre-operative instructions for hair transplant

• Post-operative instructions for hair transplant

• Hair washing after hair transplant 

Pre-operative instructions for hair transplant

Although hair transplant is not a surgical procedure that requires general anesthesia, it is still a procedure that is performed inside an operation room and needs a set of necessary pre-operative instructions which must be followed:

1.  The candidate for a hair transplant should make sure to perform a couple of medical examinations. So he can check his current medical condition and discover if he is qualified for a hair transplant. For example, some people who suffer from blood diseases or diabetes should not perform hair transplants.

2. Smoking has bad effects on the operation results. So, people who get used to smoking a lot should consider that smoking may affect their results after the operation. It is recommended to avoid smoking for 2 weeks. People who can not quit for 2 weeks must avoid it for at least 24 hours before the operation.

3. Drinking alcoholic beverages is also not a good choice for operation. The candidate should avoid drinking alcohol for a week before the operation.

4. The candidate should tell his doctor about all his current medications. Some medicines, such as aspirin and anti-inflammation medications may cause bleeding during the operation, so the patient should avoid them two weeks before the procedure.  

5. The patient should avoid spicy food for at least 3 days before the operation. 

6. On the operation day, the patient is encouraged to consider the following instructions: 

• Avoid consuming caffeinated beverages that may affect the operation badly.

• Try to wear loose clothes which you can take off easily.

• Avoid wearing makeup on the day of the operation.

• Sleep enough before the operation.

Post-operative instructions for hair transplant

When your hair transplant is done, and it is time to come home, you should be very careful of your movement that may cause damage to your new implanted hair grafts since they are still fragile. Here are some instructions that you should follow after your operation to ensure good results.

1.  Sleep with your head elevated for at least 5 days after your operation. Avoid sleeping on your tummy or side or rubbing your implanted hair grafts against a pillow. 

2. If you experience swelling, you can use ice packs over your eyebrows. It can help you prevent swelling.

3. Keep wearing your bandage around your donor area for 2 days, to avoid any possible infection.

4. Drink a lot of water after your hair transplant. Hydration can help you maintain your results.

5. Do not scratch your scalp to avoid damaging your new hair grafts.

6. Avoid exposing your scalp to direct sunlight for a long time, especially the first days after the operation. After a couple of days, you can go outside under sunlight, but make sure you cover up your head with a hat you received from the hospital.

7. Do not do any heavy exercise for at least a week after your procedure.

8.  Be careful while wearing or taking off your clothes on the first days after your operation. In this period, your hair grafts are still fragile and any wrong move might damage them. 

9. Drinking alcohol directly after your operation is wrong. Alcohol can hamper your blood supply to your scalp affecting your newly implanted hair grafts. Therefore, you are recommended to quit for a week after your operation.

10. Smoking is also a bad habit that can be harmful to your results after your operation. Smoking can reduce blood flow to your new implant grafts and affect their healthy growth. Therefore, you should wait at least a month after the procedure. 

Hair washing after hair transplant 

After your hair transplant, hair washing is a very important process for ensuring the best results. Here is the right way to wash your hair after a hair transplant: 

1. Firstly, gently apply lotion on the implanted area of your scalp and leave it for 20 minutes. 

2. Wash your hair with warm water and make sure the lotion is fully removed from your scalp.

3. Put a small amount of a special shampoo in your hand and gently spread it over your scalp before rinsing it off.

4. Finally, dry your scalp well with medical gauze or a soft piece of cloth gently. Then, you can apply a certain kind of cream on your scalp and leave it for the next day.