Certain precautions need to be taken before the hair restoration surgery

Certain pre-surgery precautions are necessary for the success of the hair restoration surgery. Taking of pre-surgery precautions helps in making the hair transplant procedure effective and satisfactory. Consult your surgeon about how to prepare for the transplantation. He/she will give you specific instructions and guidelines. You follow the instructions religiously in the run up to the hair restoration surgery.

Precautions

The common pre-transplantation precautions to be taken by the patient include the following –

• Testing for HIV and Hepatitis
You need to undergo a test may conduct the test. The test results are usually anonymous and the blood samples tested do not carry your name. You are just given a reference number.

Even if the result of the test is positive it will not stop your from going to a hair restoration surgery. It will just entail that the surgeon and nurses have to take extra precautions during the operation. For example they may use double gloves or be extra cautious while using needles and scalpels.

• Examination of bleeding/blood clotting time.
The blood test may also include examining your bleeding/blood clotting time. It will determine your suitability for the hair restoration surgery.

There may also be a urinalysis to check for diabetes and other diseases. The clinic might also want you to get a full medical check up. That is to determine whether your general health is good enough for you to undergo the surgery.

• Avoiding tobacco and alcohol
Stop smoking around one or two weeks prior to the hair restoration surgery and also take care to avoid passive smoking as much as you can. Smoking inhibits blood flow and that is likely to affect the healing procedure after the hair restoration surgery.

Stay clear of alcohol for 10-14 days preceding the hair transplant procedure because alcohol is likely to increase the bleeding rate.

• Use of antibiotics
You may be suggested to take antibiotics that are meant to counter infection possibility during the procedure.

Brief your surgeon about the drugs < drugs-hair-restoration-surgery.shtml> and medications that you may be taking. Some drugs are likely to have negative impact on the hair restoration surgery. You should avoid taking drugs that weaken the blood clotting system. Use of drugs like Minoxidil, Aspirin and Warfarin should be avoided.

• Avoiding permanent waves, hair coloring and facial creams
Stay away from permanent waves, hair coloring or hair relaxing procedures for 1-2 weeks prior to the operation. Consult your doctor if you are using a skin dream. You may be asked to discontinue it.

• Stop working out
You may need to stop doing physical exercises. Consult your doctor if you are exercising regularly and follow his instructions.

Do’s and Don’ts for 1-2 days prior to the hair restoration surgery

• Avoid late night parties and try to get lots of sleep. If you are using sleeping pills, get them okayed by the clinic/surgeon in advance.
• Wash your hair with antiseptic/antibacterial soap/shampoo for each of the two days preceding the operation. Consult the clinic about which one to use. Avoid Nizoral shampoo because it is likely to interfere with some antibiotics.
• Shift to the hotel in case you have booked one near the clinic.
• It is high time you arranged for somebody to take you to and from the clinic. You are not likely to be able to drive after the surgery.

Things to do on the D-day

• Wash your hair with antiseptic/antibacterial soap/shampoo. It is nice if you take a shower.
• Have a normal breakfast. It is good to avoid caffeine.
• Wear clothes that can be removed without pulling them over your head. You may have a huge bandage on our head after the surgery. That must not be dislocated during removing the clothes. Also make sure that your clothes are loose and comfortable because you may be asked to lie down and sit in various positions during the surgery.
• Do not carry valuables like jewelry or alike. It is better to leave your wallet at home.
• Go to the lavatory before the surgery. You can not use it for a long period during the procedure.

A note of caution

The hair transplant procedure has certain uncertainties and risks that include the followings -

• It is susceptible to infection like any surgical procedure. Excessive bleeding and/or wide scars may result in the scalp reduction procedure.
• There may be internal developments hindering hair regrowth in the recipient site. That may necessitate repetition of the surgery.
• You may have a small bump on the scalp at the recipient site that can be covered by the surrounding area.
• Hair loss progression after surgery may result in a patchy look. It occurs especially when the transplanted hair lies next to hair patches that are still thinning out. In such cases additional surgery may be required.

Be serious about following the pre-operative cautionary measures suggested by the surgeon/clinic. These measures play an important part in the outcome of the hair restoration surgery.