Alcoholic Beverages and Aspirin Are Not to Be Taken for 48 Hours After Surgery. We Will
Alcoholic beverages and aspirin are not to be taken for 48 hours after surgery. We will provide you with a prescription for pain medication if needed. Tylenol or Advil are good over the counter alternatives for pain. If you need to bend down to pick something up—BEND AT YOUR KNEES for the first 48 hours. DO not bend your head down.
Relax the remainder of the day. Do not get hot and sweaty. Do not lift anything heavy. No alcohol, sex, working out, or ANY strenuous activities at all for the first 5 days. All of this could initiate bleeding.
In occasional instances, minor bleeding may occur from the transplant site and/or donor area. This can be controlled by applying gentle, but firm pressure on the area for 5-10 minutes. Press only. DO NOT RUB! You may want to place a towel on your pillow for the first few nights to protect your linens.
Sleep in an upright position at a 45-degree angle the first 5 nights after surgery, either in a recliner or on your bed with several pillows. You can take a Valium prior to sleeping to help you relax. U shaped neck pillows are very helpful for this purpose.
To prevent swelling on the forehead or around the eyes, apply an ice pack over the eyebrows for 5-10 minutes every hour. Not on the grafted area. If swelling occurs it will appear on the second or third day after surgery. The swelling is a part of the normal healing process and will usually disappear within one week. Begin using ice packs immediately after surgery and continue for the next 72 hours. Do not use hot compresses - this will only intensify the swelling.
We advise you to wash your head 24 hours after surgery. Lightly wet your hair using a mug or bowl to pour water on your head. Lather shampoo in your hands and spread the lather in a gentle patting manner. Do not rub. Rinse off with warm water using a mug for pouring water. Do not let the shower spray hit your head full strength for the first 5 days. (It could dislodge some of the recipient grafts.) It is recommended to wash your head daily for the first two weeks. You can start gentle massage after the first 4-5 days and you can allow the water spray from a shower head after the first 4-5 days.
If you color your hair, please wait 4 weeks after surgery.
Do not wear a hairpiece for at least 2 weeks. We recommend discontinuing it altogether. Wait at least 72 hours before using a cap/hat.
Scabbing will form over the transplant sites and solidify the first few hours after the procedure. These scabs will naturally fall off within 2 weeks. Do Not Pick or Scratch at these scabs at any time;doing so can endanger the healing of the graft and could cause scarring or chance of infection. Do not be alarmed if there are short hairs in the scabs as they fall off. The hair follicle is inside the scalp.
Folliculitis is one or more ingrown hairs that cause a pimple like lesion. If this happens, apply a warm, moist cloth to the area for several minutes, 3 times a day. If the area does not improve, call our office.
Avoid swimming for at least 5 days. Avoid direct sun exposure on the grafted areas for four weeks. Sunburn may result in discoloration of the area.
We encourage you to not smoke at least one month prior to surgery and two months after surgery because smoking impairs wound healing.
Call our office for any questions/emergency: 916-783-0580.
After hours emergency: 916-769-4189.
1650 Lead Hill Blvd., Ste. 400 Roseville, CA 95661 1-855-SAC-HAIR