Please Note: These instructions have been carefully prepared by your physician. If you have any questions after your procedure, the first thing to do is to review this information. The transplanted and donor areas must be treated differently.  Please review the following sections again. 

If you are having a medical emergency: 

Call 911 and/or go to the nearest hospital emergency room. 

For general, non-urgent post-op questions, please call us at 310 402 2849. 

Care of Transplanted Area 

At the time of surgery, your scalp was thoroughly cleaned of blood and crusts, but these will tend to re-form soon after your procedure. Care should be taken while cleaning the transplanted site during the 10 days following surgery, because it is during this period that the healing mechanisms of your body secure the grafts firmly in place. However, appropriate care of the recipient area will minimize crusting and make the transplant less noticeable and the healing more rapid. 

When you arrive home (or your hotel) after your procedure, remove your bandana and surgeon’s cap, but not the headband. Please stay in bed and rest for the reminder of the day/evening as the medications given to you during your procedure will make you tired.  

The morning following surgery, remove your bandage and shower your body with comfortably warm water. Allow the shower water to flow gently over the donor area. You may partially block the flow of the water with your hand so that the scalp is not subject to strong, direct pressure. Lift up the hair in the back of your scalp so that water may irrigate the donor area as well.  

If we have provided you with shampoo, place a small amount of the shampoo on your finger tips, gently apply to the transplanted area, and rinse it off with indirect running  water. If we have provided you with foam, spray it on to the transplanted area, wait for 5 minutes and then gently rinse it off using low pressure and warm water. Be careful that you pat the area and do not rub. Stop soaking your head as soon as the shampoo or foam is rinsed off. It is not necessary to remove all of the crusting during the first shower.  

Keep doing this once a day for the first 10 days. You can start taking regular shower and use shampoo (baby or medial grade) from 11th day to 20th day. After 3 weeks, you can use regular shampoo. 

If the grafts are soaked too long, they may swell and rise above the skin surface and appear as little white bumps immediately after showering. This is a problem more likely encountered the first few days after the procedure. It  is not harmful to grafts, but indicates that you are soaking too much. As soon as you allow your scalp to dry, they will disappear. 

It is important when shampooing, or rinsing the transplanted area, that you are gentle for the first 10 days following surgery. DO NOT RUB, PICK, OR SCRATCH, as this may dislodge grafts. 

From one to four weeks post-op, you can expect that some transplanted hair will begin to shed. This is a normal process and should not be a concern. The healthy hair follicles are firmly in place at TEN days post-op and cannot be dislodged.  

If there is still any residual crusting at this time, you may scrub it off in the shower. First, soften the crusts by soaking them in the shower under direct running water and then, using regular shampoo, scrub them all off. If this is not done, the crusts will eventually fall off naturally as the hairs are shed. 

Please note that when hairs are shed, there may be a crust at the top and a bulb at the bottom. Remember the bulb is not the root (the growth part of the hair follicle). It is normal for the hair, bulb and associated crust to be shed and this does not represent a lost graft. If a graft is actually lost (something that may occur the first few days following the procedure) there will be bleeding at the site of the lost graft. Therefore, if you don’t see any bleeding, don’t be concerned. 

Do not use tar shampoo (a dark-colored, medicated shampoo used for psoriasis) on the transplanted area for 10 days following your procedure, as this may interfere with the growth of the grafts. 

Care of Donor Area (and non-transplanted parts of scalp)  

The morning following surgery, remove your bandage and shower with comfortably warm water. Gently wash the donor area with your hand using the shampoo that we have provided to you. The shower water may hit the area in the back of your scalp directly. If this is uncomfortable for you, turn down the water pressure or partially block the water with your hand. 

The purpose is to soak off the crusts from the donor area, so that it will heal well, and to remove crusting from the hair in the non-transplanted area. This may take 15 minutes or more in the shower. You will not hurt the donor area by using directly running water or by rubbing or washing the area gently. 

After the shower, pat the area dry. Apply a thin layer of petrolatum jelly (Vaseline) to LIGHTLY cover the entire donor area. You should purchase a box of 4×4 Telfa pads and a roll of paper tape. The petrolatum should be reapplied to the donor area throughout the day to keep the area greasy and to keep it from drying out. You should  continue applying the petrolatum for 7 days. It is not necessary to use ointment after that. At bedtime, after you have applied the ointment, place Telfa pads over the donor area and secure the edges with paper tape. It doesn’t have to be placed exactly. The purpose is to keep too much ointment from getting on the pillow. You may want to use the tape to pre-attach the pads to form a long strip before placing on your scalp.  

If at any time there is bleeding in either area, do not be concerned. Apply direct pressure with a dry, clean cloth until the bleeding stops. This may take several minutes. If you have any concerns or questions, please contact us. 

You may dry your hair with a warm (NOT HOT) hair dryer. Hair spray should NOT be used for the first week. 

Medications You May Need 

Sleeping Medication: You have been given Valium 5mg (generically known as diazepam) or Xanax 0.5mg (alprazolam) tablets to help you sleep. If the pills are too strong and you are very tired the next day, you can break the tablets in half. If they are not making you sleepy, you may take up to two at bedtime. 

DO NOT DRIVE under the influence of Valium or Xanax. DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL WHILE TAKING ANY MEDICATIONS GIVEN TO YOU FOR SLEEP, PAIN or HICCUPS. 

Pain Pills: If you have discomfort following your procedure, you may Extra Strength Tylenol for the first two days post-op and then, Aspirin, Motrin, Naprosyn or Advil after that as needed. 

Cortisone: You have been given oral cortisone to minimize swelling after the hair transplant. This medication  should not be taken by diabetics. A rare complication of degeneration (aseptic necrosis) of the hip joint from taking corticosteroids has been reported. 

Hiccups: Do not drink carbonated beverages (such as beer, Coke, Pepsi, or any other soda) the day of and the day following your procedure, as this increases the occurrence of hiccups during the recovery period. If hiccups occur and do not resolve quickly, call the doctor with the phone number of a local pharmacy so that he may prescribe Chlorpromazine 25mg (Thorazine). Take two Chlorpromazine when you get the medication and then one tablet every four hours until the hiccups stop. DO NOT TAKE VALIUM AT THE SAME TIME AS THE THORAZINE AND DO NOT DRIVE, AS IT MAY MAKE YOU SLEEPY. 

Itching: You may experience some itching either in the transplanted area or in the donor area following your procedure. In general, itching is part of the healing process and should not be a cause for concern. A common contributing factor may be dryness. You may also experience itching as the new hairs grow in. If the itching is bothersome to you, purchase Hydrocortisone Ointment 1% in 30 gram tubes which may be bought over the counter (it must be in Ointment form, not a cream). This may be applied locally to the areas that itch, as needed, up to four times a day. It is also possible that you may be using too much shampoo or shampooing too long which can dry the scalp. If you feel that this is a factor, please cut back on the shampooing. DO NOT SCRATCH THE SCALP as this may dislodge grafts. 

Infection: Small pustules, yellow crusts and/or significant redness in the donor or recipient area may be early signs of infection. If you notice any of these symptoms please contact the office as they may require treatment with antibiotics. 

Minoxidil (Rogaine): Rogaine may cause severe irritation to the scalp. If this occurs after a hair transplant, it can interfere with hair growth. If you choose to use Rogaine after your procedure, you should wait a minimum of one week after surgery. If any sign of redness, irritation, itching, or burning occurs, stop the medication and call our office. 

Other Post-op Issues 

Swelling 

If there is significant swelling, it usually occurs around the 2nd to the 5th day post-op. The swelling usually begins at the hairline and then, from gravity, it gradually moves down the forehead and settles into the bridge of the nose and around the eyes. Occasionally, it may cause the eyelids to swell shut for a short period of time. Sometimes the swelling is extreme, but it always resolves by itself after a few days and does not require any special treatment. It should not be a cause for concern. 

If you would like, you may place cool compresses over the area that is swollen, as long as it is not placed over the implants. Sleep with your head raised at a 45-degree angle for the first 3 nights after the procedure; this may help to prevent swelling. You may use a recliner chair or 3-4 pillows. If the swelling is associated with redness, pain, tenderness, fever or chills, it may indicate an infection. If any of these symptoms occur, please call our office. 

Bleeding 

Before you leave the office, all bleeding will be controlled. Rarely, some bleeding may occur after the procedure. If bleeding occurs, put firm, continuous pressure on the area. We suggest using a rolled up, clean towel and lying your head on top of it. APPLY CONTINUOUS PRESSURE FOR A FULL 20 MINUTES. If the bleeding does not stop, call us at the above numbers and follow the directions given. If you are unable to reach us, then go to the nearest Emergency Room and show these instructions to the physician on duty. 

Lost or Dislodged Grafts 

It is not uncommon to lose a few grafts after the procedure. Do not be concerned, this is expected. If a graft falls out, but does not bleed, the growth part of the follicle was not lost and so this should not be of any concern. 

Activities, Alcohol and Other Restrictions 

The day after your hair transplantation, take it easy. You will be tired from the sedatives given the day of your surgery. If possible, spend this day at home, or in a comfortable place, and concentrate on showering properly and following the post-op instructions. 

You may perform your normal daily activities the second day following the procedure including moderate exercise. Abstain from sexual intercourse and alcohol for THREE days following the procedure. For the first 10 days, you should avoid any activities that rub or put direct pressure on your scalp. After 10 days, you may resume your normal daily activities including swimming and exercise. 

Smoking 

Smoking causes constriction of blood vessels and decreased blood flow to the scalp, predominantly due to its nicotine content. The carbon monoxide in smoke decreases the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. These factors may contribute to poor wound healing after a hair transplant and can increase the chance of a wound infection and scarring. Smoking may also contribute to poor hair growth.

The deleterious effects of smoking wear off slowly when one abstains, particularly in chronic smokers, so that smoking puts one at risk to poor healing even after smoking is stopped for weeks or even months. Although it is not known exactly how long one should avoid smoking before and after a hair transplant a common recommendation is to abstain from 1 week prior to surgery to 2 weeks after the procedure. 

Sun 

Please avoid unprotected exposure to sunlight for one month. Wear a hat when you are going to be outside after 10 days. After 10 days you may use a strong sunscreen with a SPF of 30+. Do not get sunburns or excessive sun on an unprotected scalp any time. This is good policy for everyone, not just those who have had a hair transplant.  

Infection 

Redness, swelling, and slight tenderness are to be expected for the first few days after a procedure. If the redness, swelling, or tenderness increases after the second day, call us. Rarely, one or more grafts may become infected. 

They present as white pustules (pus pimples) or redness around individual hairs. They may be associated with a yellow-colored crust and may be tender. If this should occur, please contact our office. It may require antibiotic treatment. 

Virtually everyone will develop a few pimples in the recipient area starting at about a month following surgery and continuing for several months. These are new hairs breaking through the skin. They occasionally can be confused with a true infection, but pimples tend to resolve on their own in 3-4 days. As individual pimples resolve, new ones may crop up.  

They generally do not require treatment. Larger pimples can be unroofed by removing the thin top layer of skin with a sterile needle, and then any fluid can drain. If more than just a few develop at one time, or the skin in a larger area  

becomes swollen, red, tender and hot, then you should call us as antibiotics or drainage by the doctor may be necessary. 

Ingrown hairs may cause a cyst to develop in the area of a graft. They can develop over a graft that was placed several months earlier. Cysts present as local swelling and redness, with or without tenderness. We can treat these easily in the office. 

If the donor or transplanted area becomes infected, swelling, pain, or tenderness may be present. There also may be a discharge or pus in operated areas. Fever and/or chills are also indications or infection. If any of these conditions should occur, please contact the office. 

Numbness 

Numbness, tingling or similar sensations may occur temporarily on your scalp. These are the results of cutting small nerve endings in the skin during the course of harvesting the donor grafts and creating the recipient sites. This generally disappears within a few weeks to months, as nerve endings re-grow. 

Hair Coloring and Cosmetics 

Do not dye your hair for 4 weeks following the procedure. Do not use cosmetic camouflage agents (such as Toppik) for at least 7 days following your procedure. When applying the cosmetic camouflage agents, or washing them out, be very gentle through day 8 through day 10 (at which time the grafts are permanent).