Post-Op Question and Answers

Don’t bring any valuable things you can bring audiobooks/ AirPods

Percocet for severe pain- take it the night after the procedure. Motrin for moderate pain- every 6 hours Medrol Dose Pack- for swelling- take as directed Duricef-antibiotics 2x a day for 5 days- Check the allergies first if you have any contraindications to any medications.

All supplements should be avoided 10 days prior to and 2 weeks after the procedure. 10 days before you can take Tylenol for pain., no aspirin-like (blood-thinning), and no Motrin prior to the procedure.

You should be avoided 10 days prior to the procedure and you can take 2 weeks after the procedure.

Avoid Alcohol for 7 days after the procedure. Alcohol has a negative effect on the healing process.

Please consider shaving down the backside/donor area to zero/skin level 0.9mm using the machines and not blades before coming in. If you are not comfortable, our technician will shave the back donor area only.

The donor area heals very quickly. There is no visible scarring once they heal in about 7-10 days.

This is due to the healing process your scalp goes through in order to repair itself following hair extraction and implantation. As part of this healing process, the scalp releases chemicals (histamines) that cause itching.

You can take Benadryl 25mg for itchy.

Wear a button-down shirt or something easily removable.
Avoid wearing any clothing that must be pulled over the head, to prevent any damage or dislodging of the grafts.

Yes, it’s normal after 2 days. It is also normal to experience bruising, redness, itchiness, swelling, and/or soreness that may last from 3-5 days.

Weight Lifting and intense workouts should be done after 2 weeks. Avoid strenuous activities, vigorous exercise, saunas, steam rooms, and swimming.

To minimize the swelling on the forehead and around the eyes, apply the ice pack over the eyebrows for 15 minutes every hour, not on your grafts.
The swelling part is part of the normal healing process and will usually disappear after 7-10 days.

You can remove the bandage 24 hours after the procedure.

You can use an airplane pillow for the first 10 days or more nights. To avoid any injury to your grafts we also recommend sleeping two pillows behind your back.

These scabs will naturally fall off. Don’t be alarmed if there are short hairs in the scabs when they fall off. The hair bulb is inside the scalp.

Do not wash your hair or scalp for the first 3 days.
After the third day, lightly wet the hair with a cup of warm water, and mix the baby shampoo and warm water in a cup. Pour gently over your head. Do not rub, and do not submerge your head. Rinse lightly with a few cups of warm water to rinse out the shampoo.

You can shower your body but should keep your head/scalp dry.
Spray the saline solution over the areas where the grafts were placed 4-5 times a day. Use the mist setting. You may stop when the bottle is finished.
(Saline solution will provide on the day of the procedure)
After the 10 days, you may take a normal shower with gentle water pressure
(no high pressure or massage setting). However, continue to use baby shampoo. Gently rub the scalp with the pads of your fingers (no nails)

Any baby shampoo that is free of fragrance, parabens, dyes, phthalates, and sulfates.

Avoid swimming for 4 weeks, most swimming pools contain chlorine which should not come into contact with healing wounds. Once your scalp is fully healed, you can go swimming.

We normally suggest avoiding any headgear. You can wear hats with loose caps, not too tight after 2 weeks. (Baseball caps are not recommended) Wearing a hat runs the risk of the grafts being compressed, damaged, or displaced. We suggest waiting after 3-4 weeks.

Do not use any hair products, hair dryers, or power showers. Your new follicles will remain vulnerable for a while after the procedure.
You can start to use it after 6 weeks.

It’s normal, after the hair transplant it falls out a few weeks up to 4 months then start grows the baby hair. This is all part of the process and will eventually lead to your transplanted follicles sprouting rich, healthy new hairs.

After a month you can use Rogaine/Minoxidil.

Yes, you can continue taking the Finasteride tablet.

Hair Coloring or straightening after 2 months.

Certainly. If you still have any post-op questions please send a text message to (201) 351-8388, and Dr. Gartner will answer as soon as possible. Thanks!