After having a hair transplant, it’s critical to follow your doctor’s recommendations. And even though you’re happy to follow their advice if it means your hair transplant will be successful, do you ever wonder why they give it? For more information on some of the most typical post-operative instructions, continue reading.

cigarettes that spell out “no”
Smoking
The usual offenders that can impede the healing process after hair transplant surgery are smoking and drinking alcohol. Starting with the former, there is ample evidence of its effects on the body as a whole. Concerns about smoking’s effects on your scalp and newly transplanted hair grafts after a hair transplant can be divided into two categories: wound healing and blood flow to the hair grafts.

A favorable environment for proper healing and hair growth is facilitated by healthy blood flow. To give your hair grafts the best chance of surviving, it is crucial that they heal properly in the first few weeks because you have literally just had thousands of tiny incisions made in your head.

Smoking narrows blood vessels, and the carbon monoxide in smoke reduces the capacity of the blood to carry oxygen. Your body’s capacity to heal is slowed down when this occurs. Infections may have a better chance of entering the body as a result, and scarring may also be impacted.

The longer scabs or crusts cover the hair grafts, the less oxygen they receive, increasing the likelihood of failure if the body can’t heal quickly (not growing).

Smoking has an impact on the body in any amount, so most doctors err on the side of caution and advise against smoking before and after a hair transplant. Chronic smokers are most at risk for these problems.

The precise amount of time one should abstain from smoking before and after a hair transplant is unknown because there haven’t been many studies done specifically looking at the relationship between smoking and hair transplants, but common recommendations range from 1 month to 3 days prior to and 1 week to 1 month after.

A shelf with various alcohol brands.
alcohol use following a hair transplant
Alcohol has an impact on the blood as well. It may result in blood thinning and affect your blood’s capacity to clot.

This may present a problem on the day of your procedure because the extensive network of blood vessels in the scalp can cause even minor head wounds to bleed profusely after a hair transplant. Your physician will advise you to avoid foods and beverages that cause your blood to become even more thin (this is why you must also inform your doctor about any blood-thinning medications or vitamins you take). Alcohol may also have an impact on the local anesthesia used before your hair transplant.

Additionally, patients are advised to avoid drinking too much alcohol after having hair transplant surgery. Although there is still a risk of bleeding due to blood thinness, the bigger problem is that alcohol can interact with the antibiotics that will be prescribed to prevent infection.

Your ability to recover will also depend on how well you sleep and eat. Alcohol interferes with sleep cycles and hinders your body’s ability to absorb some nutrients necessary for proper healing.

As a result, while it may be tempting to grab a beer before your procedure if you’re feeling a little anxious or to toast your recovery with alcohol, hair transplant surgery does necessitate a lengthy and occasionally delicate recovery period. It is therefore best to abide by your doctor’s advice regarding alcohol.

No-Intercourse Sign Warning
Following a hair transplant, having sex
You might wonder how the doctor could be so cruel if they tell you to refrain from having sex for three to seven days after your hair transplant.

But similar reasons for limiting exercise during the first two weeks also hold true for a roll in the hay. During sex, your blood pressure rises and there may be a higher chance of bleeding. There haven’t been many in-depth investigations into this theory, though.

The biggest worry is that your recently implanted grafts could unintentionally hit something and be pulled out as things get hot and heavy (which will lead to a stream of blood from your head which is admittedly less sexy).

You will be instructed to avoid touching the transplanted area for the first 4 to 12 days to allow the grafts to become permanently embedded. You will also be instructed to use a travel pillow while sleeping to prevent contact between your head and the pillow and to be extra cautious when getting in and out of vehicles. Therefore, some medical professionals advise that you should hold off on having sex for a few days after having hair transplant surgery.

solar exposure
After getting a hair transplant, you’ll probably be told to avoid direct sunlight on your head for several months. One of the issues is perspiration. If the sweat is not properly cleaned off the skin, it can accumulate bacteria and cause an infection.

Since you will need to wash your head after the transplant but should avoid touching the transplanted area as much as possible, having a hair transplant and perspiration don’t mix (so rubbing or scrubbing is out of the question).

Sunburn is the other issue. You will have thousands of tiny incisions on your head, as was previously mentioned. It will take some time for the skin surrounding these wounds to regenerate the skin cells that darken to shield us from the sun’s harmful rays. Before the skin cells have had a chance to regenerate, expose the wounds to the sun. This could delay healing and increase scarring.

The deeper tissue layers that heal more slowly than the skin’s surface tissue may also be accessible to the sun. The tissues and hair follicles may both be harmed if you get a sunburn on your scalp before the deeper layer has had time to heal.

So make sure to heed your doctor’s advice to limit your exposure to the sun, wear a hat, or apply sunscreen before going outside for an extended period of time.

boy splashing his feet in the water
Swimming
In order to make their trip into a vacation filled with thoughts of sun, sand, and swimming, many people choose Turkey for their hair transplant. You can swim in a pool without submerging your head, but you never know when someone practicing their best cannonball might accidentally splash you.

You will be advised not to swim right after your hair transplant because the chlorinated water used in pools can harm or even kill hair grafts.

While many doctors used to recommend saltwater for a variety of ailments, the ocean is sadly no longer as clean as it once was, so both fresh and saltwater can be a source of infection. Fresh water can contain contaminants. If any beach sand gets on your transplanted area, it can irritate you as well.

The typical advice is to prepare yourself to spend at least 14 days sitting by the pool (under an umbrella out of the sun, of course).

warm sauna
a sauna or steam room
Some people regularly use saunas or steam rooms, but just as excessive sweating from exposure to the sun can be dangerous, so can excessive sweating from a sauna or steam room.

The incisions from the hair transplant can serve as convenient entry points for infection in these environments, which have the potential to be bacterial breeding grounds.

Additionally, the heat may cause blood vessels to expand, prolonging the post-op redness. Typically, you’ll be told to stay out of either for 14 to 30 days.

using a mortar and pestle, spices, and garlic
savory and sour dishes
Many doctors advise limiting or avoiding spicy food for at least a few days because it can thin the blood and increase the risk of bleeding, along with other foods like garlic and multivitamins.

In order to lessen swelling caused by the local anesthesia that was used, many doctors will offer a headband and advise using cold compresses on a regular basis. Some doctors advise cutting it as an extra precaution because salty foods can increase swelling.