Hair transplant surgery is a significant procedure that requires meticulous preparation and aftercare to ensure optimal results. As an expert trichology prescriber, I, Sunil Kochhar, provide the following guidance based on evidence-based information. This timeline outlines essential pharmaceutical treatments and care routines before, during, and after your hair transplant.
Preparation Phase (Before Surgery)
3 Months Before Surgery
Establish Personalised Pharmaceutical Treatments: Ideally, begin personalised pharmaceutical treatments at least three months before your surgery. This helps prepare the scalp and hair for the best possible transplant outcome. These treatments may include DHT blockers, topical applications, and other medications tailored to your specific needs.
Start TrichoRx24 Hair Supplement: Begin taking TrichoRx24 supplements. These supplements provide essential nutrients and help manage oxidative stress, improving scalp health and preparing your hair for the transplant.
10 Days Before Surgery
Stop Minoxidil: Cease using minoxidil or any other vasodilators. These medications can increase bleeding during surgery, complicating the procedure and potentially affecting the outcome.
Discontinue Irritants: Avoid products that might irritate your scalp, such as harsh shampoos, styling gels, or chemical treatments. Ensuring your scalp is in the best possible condition reduces the risk of complications and promotes a better healing environment.
Stop TrichoRx24 Supplement: Discontinue using TrichoRx24 one week before the surgery. This supplement could affect the procedure and healing process.
Health Check: Ensure you are in good general health. Any underlying conditions should be managed, and you should follow any additional pre-operative instructions provided by your surgeon.
48 Hours Before Surgery
Avoid Certain Medications and Supplements: Refrain from taking ibuprofen, aspirin, omega-3 supplements, and vitamin E. These substances can increase bleeding risk during surgery. If pain management is necessary, consult with your surgeon. Paracetamol is safe to use throughout this period.
Throughout
DHT Blockers: Use continuously to prevent further hair loss.
LLLT Cap: Use continuously to stimulate hair growth, promote healing, and reduce inflammation.
If Personalised Treatments Not Initiated
Focus on Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) Cap: If you have not started personalised treatments, begin using the LLLT cap. This can stimulate the scalp, improve blood flow, and prepare the hair follicles for the upcoming transplant. Avoid using it the day before, on the day and day after your surgery.
TrichoTest DNA Swab: Perform a TrichoTest DNA swab to create a personalised treatment plan that will be ready for post-transplant care. This test analyses your genetic markers to provide insights into the most effective treatments for your hair.
Surgery Day
Surgical Procedure: The hair transplant involves extracting hair follicles from a donor area (usually the back of the scalp) and implanting them into balding or thinning areas. Techniques such as Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) or Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) may be used.
Immediate Post-Surgery Care: Follow the surgeon’s instructions meticulously. This often includes avoiding physical activity, keeping the scalp dry, and taking prescribed medications to manage pain and prevent infection.
Post-Surgery Phase
First 2 Weeks After Surgery
Be Gentle with the Scalp: Avoid touching, scratching, or applying pressure to the scalp. Use a mild shampoo as recommended by your surgeon and wash gently to avoid dislodging the grafts.
Avoid Minoxidil: Do not use minoxidil or other vasodilators as they can irritate the scalp and interfere with healing.
Discontinue Tretinoin: Avoid tretinoin-based products to prevent scalp irritation and support the healing process.
Avoid Growth Factors: Refrain from using growth factor products, which might interfere with the initial healing of transplanted follicles.
Avoid TrichoRx24 Supplement: Continue to avoid TrichoRx24 for the first ten days post-surgery to ensure optimal healing.
Pain Management: Avoid ibuprofen, aspirin, omega-3 supplements, and vitamin E unless approved by your surgeon. Paracetamol is fine to use for pain management.
2 to 4 Weeks After Surgery
Healing Process: During this period, scabs will form and naturally fall off. It's common to experience some shedding of the transplanted hair, known as "shock loss." This is a normal part of the healing process.
Avoid Tretinoin and Growth Factors: Continue avoiding tretinoin-based products and growth factors to ensure the scalp fully heals.
Start TrichoRx24 Supplement: Initiate with one capsule daily for two weeks after the initial ten days post-surgery.
4 Weeks After Surgery
Resume Minoxidil and Growth Factors: Gradually reintroduce minoxidil and growth factor products into your routine. These can help stimulate new hair growth and enhance the overall results of the transplant.
Regular Hair Care: Continue with a gentle hair care routine. Avoid harsh treatments or excessive styling that could damage new hair growth.
Increase TrichoRx24 Supplement: After two weeks of taking one capsule daily, increase to two capsules daily as part of your ongoing hair health regimen.
Avoid Hair Dye for 6 Months
Reason: Avoid using hair dye for six months post-transplant. Hair dyes contain chemicals that can irritate the scalp and potentially damage newly transplanted follicles. The scalp is particularly sensitive during the healing process, and exposure to harsh chemicals can impede proper recovery and affect hair growth.
Recommendation: If colouring is necessary, consult with your trichologist or hair transplant surgeon for safer alternatives or professional advice.
Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) Cap
Throughout the Entire Process:
Consistent Use: The LLLT cap can be used continuously before, during, and after the hair transplant procedure.
Promotes Healing: LLLT works by emitting low-level lasers that penetrate the scalp to stimulate cellular activity and improve blood flow. This promotes faster healing of the surgical site.
Stimulates Hair Growth: LLLT helps in the proliferation of hair follicles, ensuring that transplanted and existing hair remains healthy and strong.
Reduces Inflammation: The therapy helps reduce post-surgical inflammation, creating a better environment for hair growth.
Non-Invasive and Painless: It is a safe, non-invasive, and painless method that can be easily integrated into your routine without any significant side effects.
Maintenance Phase
3 to 6 Months After Surgery
New Hair Growth: New hair growth should start to become visible. Initially, it may appear thin and fine but will gradually thicken over time.
Continued Care: Maintain the use of DHT blockers and the LLLT cap. These treatments can support the health of your scalp and new hair.
9 to 12 Months After Surgery
Full Results: The full results of the hair transplant should be visible, with significant improvement in hair density and coverage. Continue regular check-ups with your surgeon to monitor progress and address any concerns.
Post 12 Months
Personalised Hair Serum: Continue using a personalised hair serum to maintain the density of both natural and transplanted hair. This ongoing treatment helps to nourish hair follicles and prevent further hair loss.
Avoid Discontinuation: Stopping the use of the personalised hair serum can reduce the density of native hair follicles, potentially creating an unnatural appearance of the transplanted hair, known as "islands."
Summary Timeline
Pre-Surgery
3 Months Before: Establish personalised pharmaceutical treatments and start TrichoRx24 supplement.
10 Days Before: Stop minoxidil and other irritants.
1 Week Before: Discontinue TrichoRx24 supplement.
48 Hours Before: Avoid ibuprofen, aspirin, omega-3, and vitamin E.
If No Personalised Treatments Initiated: Start using LLLT cap and do TrichoTest DNA swab.
Day of Surgery: Undergo the hair transplant procedure.
Post-Surgery
First 2 Weeks: Be gentle with the scalp; avoid minoxidil, tretinoin, and growth factors.
2 to 4 Weeks: Continue avoiding tretinoin and growth factors.
4 Weeks: Resume minoxidil and growth factors; continue gentle hair care.
10 Days Post-Surgery: Restart TrichoRx24 supplement with one capsule daily.
Two Weeks Later: Increase TrichoRx24 dosage to two capsules daily.
Avoid Hair Dye for 6 Months: Prevent chemical irritation and ensure proper healing and hair growth.
Pain Management: Use paracetamol if necessary and avoid ibuprofen, aspirin, omega-3, and vitamin E unless approved by the surgeon.
3 to 6 Months: Expect initial new hair growth.
9 to 12 Months: Full results visible.
Post 12 Months: Continue personalised hair serum to maintain hair density and prevent "islands."
Throughout
DHT Blockers: Use continuously to prevent further hair loss.
LLLT Cap: Use continuously to stimulate hair growth, promote healing, and reduce inflammation.
By adhering to this comprehensive timeline, you can optimise your hair transplant results and ensure a smooth recovery process. If you have any questions or need further personalised advice, please feel free to contact me, Sunil Kochhar, your expert trichology prescriber.
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