Medication After Hair Transplant: During the Recovery Period and Long-Term Optimisation
Undergoing a hair transplant is a life-changing procedure for many individuals, offering a permanent solution to hair loss. However, the success of a hair transplant doesn’t end once the procedure is completed. To ensure the transplanted hair grafts survive, heal properly, and deliver optimal results, it is crucial to follow a detailed post-operative care regimen that includes specific medications.
At My Hair UK, we take great care to guide our patients through this process, ensuring they understand the importance of medication in the early stages after the transplant, as well as the long-term treatments that may further enhance the results.
When patients typically ask about hair transpant medication, there are 2 distinct types that are completely separate: the initial medications prescribed to patients following their hair transplant, which are essential for graft survival and preventing infection, and also long-term medications that can support hair growth and help optimise the results of the transplant. These do 2 completely different things and it is important to understand the differences and why they are recommended - we will explore this in detail below:
Initial Short Term Medication After a Hair Transplant
The first week after a hair transplant is critical for ensuring the survival of the newly implanted grafts. During this period, patients are given specific antibiotic and corticosteroid medications to help manage the healing process, reduce inflammation, prevent infection, and support optimal graft survival. At My Hair UK, the following medications are typically prescribed:
Cefalexin (Keflex) 500mg – Antibiotic To Prevent Infection
Cefalexin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic commonly used to prevent infection after surgery. Given that a hair transplant involves multiple small incisions into the scalp, it is vital to prevent bacterial infection, which could disrupt the healing process and harm the newly transplanted follicles.
Why is Cefalexin prescribed after hair transplant surgery?
The risk of infection is always a concern following any surgical procedure. Cefalexin is prescribed to minimise the risk of infection and ensure that the scalp remains clean and free from harmful bacteria. By preventing infection, the medication allows the transplanted grafts to heal in a safe and sterile environment.
How is Cefalexin taken?
The patient is prescribed 500mg tablets of Cefalexin, which should be taken twice daily for six days, with one tablet taken in the morning and another at night before bed.
Duration of use:
Cefalexin is typically prescribed for six days to provide adequate protection during the initial healing phase when the scalp is most vulnerable to infection.
Alternate: Doxycycline 100mg – Antibiotic For Those Allergic to Penicillin
Patients who are allergic to Penicillin may be allergic to Cefalexin, so an alternative antibiotic is necessary. In these cases, Doxycycline 100mg is prescribed as a substitute for Cefalexin. Doxycycline is an antibiotic that helps fight bacterial infections and is effective in preventing infection following a hair transplant.
Why is Doxycycline prescribed after hair transplant surgery?
Doxycycline works similarly to Cefalexin, by inhibiting the growth of bacteria, making it an excellent alternative for patients with a penicillin allergy. Just as Cefalexin protects against infection, Doxycycline provides the same safeguard for those who cannot take penicillin-based antibiotics.
How is Doxycycline taken?
The patient is prescribed 100mg of Doxycycline, to be taken once daily after food, in the evening. This helps reduce the risk of gastric irritation that can sometimes occur with Doxycycline when taken on an empty stomach.
Duration of use:
Doxycycline is typically prescribed for six days, similar to Cefalexin, ensuring complete protection against infection during the healing process.
Prednisolone 5mg – Corticosteroid To Reduce Inflammation and Prevent Swelling
Prednisolone is a corticosteroid that helps to reduce inflammation and swelling in the scalp after the transplant. It plays a key role in managing the initial healing phase by preventing the immune system from attacking the transplanted follicles, which could lead to graft rejection.
Why is Prednisolone prescribed after hair transplant surgery?
After a hair transplant, the body may perceive the new follicles as foreign, leading to an inflammatory response that could impair graft survival. Prednisolone suppresses this immune response, reducing inflammation and swelling around the grafts, thus ensuring they can properly integrate into the scalp.
How is Prednisolone taken?
Prednisolone is typically prescribed at a dose of 5mg per tablet, taken once daily for three days. The patient is instructed to take five tablets in the morning, after food. This high dose for the first three days ensures the immune system is adequately suppressed, and the follicles are protected as they settle in the scalp.
Duration of use:
Prednisolone is usually prescribed for three days, after which the body’s immune response should stabilise, and the need for additional steroid use diminishes.
Lansoprazole 30mg – To Prevent Stomach Irritation
Lansoprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that works by reducing the production of stomach acid. It is commonly prescribed to prevent stomach irritation or ulcers that can occur as a side effect of other medications, particularly prednisolone (a corticosteroid), which can cause gastric issues if taken without protection.
Why is Lansoprazole prescribed after hair transplant surgery?
The use of prednisolone post-transplant is essential to reduce inflammation and prevent an allergic reaction to the hair follicles, but one of its side effects is an increased risk of stomach ulcers or discomfort. Lansoprazole mitigates this risk by reducing acid production, ensuring that the stomach lining remains protected during the early healing phase.
How is Lansoprazole taken?
Patients are instructed to take 30mg of Lansoprazole once daily, typically before the evening meal on an empty stomach. This timing helps the medication to work effectively, as it reduces acid production before the stomach is exposed to food, thus offering the best protection.
Duration of use:
Lansoprazole is typically prescribed for six days after the transplant, ensuring adequate protection while the patient is on other medications that may irritate the stomach.
Long-Term Medication After a Hair Transplant
Once the initial recovery period has passed, there are several long-term medications and treatments that can be used to optimise the results of a hair transplant. These treatments are optional but may enhance the growth of new hair, increase follicle density, and prevent further hair loss. Some patients worry that they will have to take medication for the rest of their lives following the transplant - this is absolutely not the case, these following hair loss treatments are just a few of those available to help optimise and enhance the results.
Minoxidil – To Stimulate Hair Growth
Minoxidil is one of the most commonly used treatments for hair loss, and it can also be beneficial after a hair transplant to stimulate new hair growth and enhance the overall results of the procedure.
Why is Minoxidil used after a transplant?
Minoxidil works by stimulating blood circulation in the scalp, which helps nourish hair follicles and promote new growth. After a transplant, it can also support the newly transplanted follicles, encouraging them to grow faster and thicker.
How is Minoxidil used?
Minoxidil is available in both topical and oral forms. The topical version is the most common, and patients typically apply it directly to the scalp twice daily, once in the morning and once at night.
Long-term benefits:
Using Minoxidil long-term can help maintain the density of transplanted hair and stimulate the growth of additional hair. However, it is important to continue using Minoxidil consistently, as stopping the treatment can result in the loss of the newly grown hair.
Finasteride or Dutasteride – To Prevent Further Hair Loss
Finasteride and Dutasteride are medications used to treat male and female pattern baldness. Both medications work by inhibiting the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, which converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone responsible for the miniaturisation of hair follicles and hair loss.
Why are Finasteride and Dutasteride prescribed after a hair transplant?
These medications help prevent future hair loss and maintain the results of a hair transplant by reducing DHT levels. While Finasteride is most commonly used for male pattern baldness, Dutasteride is sometimes used for patients who need a more potent treatment.
How are Finasteride and Dutasteride used?
Both medications are typically taken orally as a daily pill. Finasteride is commonly prescribed at a dosage of 1mg per day, while Dutasteride is usually taken at 0.5mg per day.
Long-term benefits:
These medications are most effective when taken consistently over a long period of time. They can help maintain the results of a transplant, prevent hair thinning, and improve the overall quality of the hair.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy – To Enhance Growth
PRP injections are a treatment that involves using the patient’s own blood to stimulate hair growth. After the blood is drawn, it is processed to concentrate the platelets, which are then injected into the scalp. The growth factors in PRP help rejuvenate hair follicles and improve the density and quality of the hair.
Why is PRP used after a transplant?
PRP therapy enhances hair follicle health, promoting faster growth and improving the quality of both transplanted and native hair.
How is PRP administered?
PRP therapy involves a series of injections into the scalp, typically performed once a month for the first few months, and then every 3-6 months thereafter.
Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) – To Stimulate Follicles
LLLT uses low-level lasers to stimulate hair follicles and promote hair growth. The treatment can help increase the effectiveness of hair transplants by improving scalp circulation and encouraging follicle activity.
Why is LLLT used after a transplant?
LLLT helps rejuvenate hair follicles and can speed up the recovery process, making it an effective post-transplant treatment.
How is LLLT used?
LLLT is available through various devices, including laser caps and combs. These devices are typically used at home for 20-30 minutes a day, or weekly in a treatment centre.
Conclusion
Medication plays a crucial role in both the immediate recovery and long-term success of a hair transplant. The medications prescribed during the initial post-operative period, such as Lansoprazole, Prednisolone, Cefalexin or Doxycycline, help ensure graft survival, prevent infection, and reduce inflammation. After the recovery period, Minoxidil, Finasteride, Dutasteride, PRP therapy, and LLLT are just a few of the treatments available that can further optimise the results of the transplant, supporting hair growth and maintaining density.
At My Hair UK, we provide our patients with the best possible care and guidance throughout their hair restoration journey, ensuring that they understand the medications and treatments that will help them achieve their desired results. By following the prescribed medication regimen and committing to long-term care, you can enjoy a fuller, thicker head of hair and maintain your hair’s health for years to come.
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