Are Steroid Injections A Good Option To Address Swelling After Hair Transplant?

Question

Can you safely reduce massive swelling in transplanted areas with steroid shots without hurting the hairs?

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

Some doctors use steroids some don't for post-operative swelling.It is not usually given AT the site of the transplanted area. It is either given orally or by an injection to the arm.

Sanusi Umar, MD · Answer

I would not recommend steroid injections since there could be complications at the site of the injection, such as tissue loss. Sometimes steroids are given orally before and after the transplant to reduce the chance of the swelling occurring and in severe cases, oral steroids may help to reduce the swelling. In any case, you should consult your physician for evaluation and management.

Colin Hong, MD · Answer

Swelling at the front side of the hair is usually common after a hair transplant and steroids may be a good option when it comes to addressing swelling after a hair transplant. Steroids may reduce or stop the swelling after a hair transplant. Steroid comes in 2 forms, it is either administered orally or injected via the arms of the patient after surgery. Steroid also has other side effects and not all the surgeons use them routinely.

Allan J. Parungao, MD · Answer

This is a personal preference among surgeons. We have had success injecting a very low dose of Kenalog along with the tumuescent solution just prior to creating the graft recipient sites. Some of my colleagues instead give a medrol dose pack postoperatively. This also works well. Ask your surgeon what he/she prefers.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

Yes, the use of steroids can slow down or eliminate the amount of swelling after a frontal hair transplant

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD (retired) · Answer

Forehead swelling is very common for the first several days to 1 week after hair transplants. A Medrol dose pack could be taken (oral steroids) to help decrease the swelling. You should contact the surgeon that did your hair transplants for specific recommendations and treatment options.

Sheldon S. Kabaker, MD FACS (retired) · Answer

Forehead swelling coming on 2-4 days after a hair transplant is somewhat frequent if corticosteroids are not given at the time of surgery or during the post operative period. If this preventative measure was not done or didn't work, a short course of steroids can be considered. Whatever the case, the swelling almost always subsides by 7 days. I prefer to inject a long acting cortisone type drug (triamcinolone) mixed in the local anesthetic we use to numb up the scalp. With this regimen, we see only a 2% incidence of post hair transplant swelling in spite of doing up to 3500 grafts in one session.

Are Steroid Injections A Good Option To Address Swelling After Hair Transplant?

Answers (7)

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