Drinking alcohol before hair transplant?

Question

So I have been advised not to drink a week before my hair transplant. 2 days prior to the hair transplant I went out with a few mates. Only planned to have one drink. One thing led to another and I was totally drunk. Recovered the next day but was totally fine the day of my hair transplant. I know I should have been wiser but what's done is done. I am now worried that it will affect my hair transplant growth (I am a few weeks past the operation now) please give me some details.

Ozge Ergun, MD · Answer

Dear sanchez91Thanks for the question. Typically, it's best to avoid consuming alcoholic beverages for at least 48 hours after surgery. Even if you do consume alcohol, be sure to go easy. I wish you all the best.

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

Drinking excessively is a bad idea before and after surgery.  As you state what is done is done and you will just have to wait to see the results.  If there were no issues with your surgery, then I would suspect your intoxication probably would not impact the overall results.

Marco Barusco, MD · Answer

The alcohol consumption prior to the hair transplant procedure, by itself, should not affect the growth of the transplants as long as it did not make the procedure more difficult for the doctor and the team performing it. The reasons we ask patients not to drink alcohol before the procedure is that alcohol interferes with some of the medications we use during the surgery, including sedation and anesthesia. Also, alcohol, particularly red wine, can make you bleed considerably during the surgery, which makes it more difficult, requiring more manipulation of the grafts during placement and delaying the completion of the surgery. As log as none of these things have happened, you should be fine.

Epameinondas Bonaros, MD · Answer

We always advise our patients to avoid alcohol 48 hours before surgery. The reason is that alcohol can increase the bleeding during the procedure.Alcohol intake two days before the hair transplant is certainly not recommended, but it will not affect the growth of the transplanted hair.

Jeffrey W. Hall, MD · Answer

The end result of your good time "with a few mates" will not adversely affect the growth of your transplants. The advise to obtain from alcohol prior to your procedure is related to the amount of bleeding during the extraction and implantation period. So at this point don't fear and "cheers"

Daniel Berg, MD · Answer

The main reason I ask patients to refrain from alcohol prior to surgery is because significant alcohol intake can increase risk of bleeding during and just after surgery.  Since bleeding was not a problem in your case, it is very unlikely that drinking would have any impact on your surgery either way.

Gerald Searle, DO · Answer

As long as you did not bleed abnormally during the surgery or postoperatively, I would not be too concerned about the results.  It is unlikely that the liquid refreshment you enjoyed with your friends affected your surgery since it was 48 hours before the surgery.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

It is highly likely that your drinking episode will not impact your hair transplant. The alcohol is metabolized completely in a day so there should be no residual at the time of your surgery.

Drinking alcohol before hair transplant?

Answers (8)

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