Can hair restoration surgery be performed on a breastfeeding mother?

Question

I am currently almost 7 months pregnant and plan on breastfeeding my baby for at least a year. I have been looking into getting this procedure done but I'm not sure if I'd have to wait until I'm completely done breastfeeding or just have enough expressed milk around the time of the surgery and resume nursing once it's completed.

John E. Frank, MD · Answer

Interesting question:I do not believe the local anesthetic used in hair transplant would impact lactation, however that should be confirmed with the pediatrician.  As far as hair results, it is going to depend upon what you are trying to accomplish.  Post partum effluvium however is common and should also be considered.John Frank, MDNew YorkOhio

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

The very hormone that helps you produce breast milk (prolactin) may cause diffuse hair loss as many postpartum women complain of this phenomenon.  How this may affect a hair transplant surgery is not clear. I personally would not like to be the doctor who performs your surgery to have you return with diffuse hair loss.Hair transplant surgery in general, is performed under local anesthesia.  The same type of anesthesia dentists use.  The surgery or anesthesia will not interfere with breast feeding or nursing from a medical point of view.The discomfort and pain management after surgery may be an issue while trying to care for your newborn.Another thing that may be an issue is the narcotic pain medication (Vicodin, etc) that will cross into the breast milk.  Medication warnings will point out that it can be "potentially unsafe".   You can discuss this with your brave doctor.

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

Weigh the pros and cons by meeting with a few surgeons. I don't advise my patients to have surgery until month 9.  The hormone changes can cause shedding and we don't have a good sense of how this associated  shedding affects growth.  All drugs used in surgery need to be considered as well - in terms of the effects on breast milk. Most are safe but any and all would need to be reviewedPost partum telogen efflvium (shedding) can also precipitate (cause to appear earlier than might otherwise) or worsen some forms of hair loss - especially genetic hair lossPlease get the views of a number of physicians.

Jonathan Ballon, MD (in memoriam) · Answer

Only an experienced hair transplant surgeon could properly evaluate and advise you with regard to whether or not a hair transplant would be appropriate for you. Most surgeons would probably recommend waiting at least 6-12 months to see if the usual postpartum "telogen effluvium" (shedding/thinning) has resolved. Assuming you are a good candidate, there shouldn't be a problem with regard to nursing your baby: the drugs commonly used during a hair transplant – diazepam, midazolam, lidocaine, bupivacaine, and epinephrine – are excreted in minuscule amounts in breast milk, and local anesthetics are poorly absorbed orally.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

What is the rush?  Why consider a hair transplant now. Although it can be done safely under local anesthesia. my general rule with pregnant women is to postpone any surgery until after the pregnancy. The good news is that there is no rush, no emergency with regard to hair transplants, ever as it is an elective procedure.

Can hair restoration surgery be performed on a breastfeeding mother?

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