Is smoking cigarettes really going to ruin a hair transplant?

Question

Hello — is smoking cigarettes really going to ruin a hair transplant? Last year after my first FUT I vaped HEAVILY beginning 2 days right after my procedure. I also smoked cigarettes here and there and for sure 3-4 months after I started smoking cigarettes exclusively 1-10 per day everyday. And I had excellent results of my HT. I go to the gym twice a day, have perfect diet and supplement regimens, and am very healthy otherwise. Can anyone answer why I still got great results??

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

yes smoking can cause the hairs not to survive or do well. after transplant do PRP/acell and theradome (see link).  Best, Dr. Emer.

Kapil Dua, MBBS, MS · Answer

Smoking causes vasoconstriction of the vessels which usually affects the blood supply of the scalp. You should consider yourself lucky if you have got good results despite smoking. However, if you continue to do the same, the phenomenon of vasoconstriction will keep on continuing and it may lead to affecting the results in the long term.

Sandeep Bhasin, MBBS · Answer

Dear Sir, It is well known that smoking causes hair fall as nicotine is a vasoconstrictor, but there can be other causes also for your good results.Hair growth depend on many factors as Genetic factors ,Nutritional status, Hormonal level etc. It is also important that what medications are you using. If you use Minoxidil it can cause vasodilation and may counter the action of Nicotine. So for whatever reason you are having good results be cautious as Hair fall may start suddenly and irreversibly as you already had Alopecia Androgenita needing Hair Transplant. In case you loose these hair it will be difficult to regain them and Hair transplant may have limits as number of grafts are limited.For your own good health and long term results of Hair transplant avoid smoking as you seem to be very health cautious.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Smoking could impact the results of your hair transplant.  Nicotine constricts blood vessels which can affect the healing tissues.  It can result in poor outcomes.  It is important to note that it is not simply smoking, it's any type of nicotine including vaping or patches.

Sait Gokhan Bircan, MD. · Answer

Hello,
Smoking can cause risk for necrosis which is death of tissue resulting in no hair growing in that area. Nicotine affects blood circulation that which is really important for the implanted area. It is recommended to not smoke for a month after procedure.

Epameinondas Bonaros, MD · Answer

Smoking causes constriction of blood vessels and decreased blood flow to the scalp and may contribute to poor wound healing after a hair transplant and increase the chance of wound infection and scarring. Smoking may also contribute to poor hair growth, although no one can predict the extent to which it will happen. Please note that studies show improved blood flow within a month of replacing cigarettes with vaping, so the latter may not be as harmful as regular cigarettes. I am glad you had excellent results, and you might even have better if you had not smoked at all. At our clinic, we recommend abstaining from smoking at least one week before surgery until two weeks after the procedure.

Kevin Blumenthal, MD · Answer

Smoking CAN affect a hair transplant but does not necessarily mean it WILL ruin it. The nicotine in the cigarettes causes constriction of the blood flow throughout the body and can therefore affect the blood supply to the grafts. If you are young and otherwise healthy perhaps the nicotine did not affect the blood vessels enough to cause much of a problem. And who knows, perhaps the results would have been even better if you had not smoked? Be thankful it worked well despite the smoking. And of course, smoking can cause a host of other medical problems including lung cancer as I'm sure you know. I hope this helps.

Randy Dean, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hi and welcome to our forum!
Nicotine is a potent vasoconstrictor. Inhalation of nicotine will decrease the blood supply to your tissues. If vulnerable due to atherosclerosis or other vascular disorder (of which the patient may be unaware), the decrease in blood supply could reach a critical level where hair graft survival may be jeoparded. The phenomenon doesn't occur in everyone who smokes cigarettes, but it does increase the risk of partial or complete graft failure.
You were lucky.
Best wishes...

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