Medication To Be Taken After Hair Transplant: Which Should You Use?

No matter how well your surgeon performs your hair transplant, the outcome depends just as much on how much care you take afterwards. All Wimpole Clinic patients are given an aftercare pack to help them look after their hair post-surgery. However, you need to know exactly what you can and cannot do. This includes knowing which medications are to be taken after your hair transplant.

Medications can include prescription drugs, supplements, and painkillers. So which medicines are safe for you to take, and how will they impact your new hair growth?

Do you have to take medication after a hair transplant?

Sometimes your doctor will prescribe medication for you to take after your hair transplant procedure. This is to promote healthy hair growth and ensure your hair transplant gives you the results you want.

In addition, you’ll need to take certain medications before, during and after the procedure to ensure a successful, painless hair transplant.

At the start of the transplant procedure your surgeon will administer a local anaesthetic, usually Lidocaine. This numbs the affected areas of the scalp. This is a very effective short-term anaesthetic which wears off quickly after the procedure, and which has no side-effects.

Afterwards, you may receive a cortisone steroid application to prevent any swelling from the surgery. Your surgeon will apply an antiseptic dressing to the donor area of your scalp to help prevent infection.

Which medicines should I take after a hair transplant?

Your surgeon or hair loss consultant will discuss which medicines are to be taken after a hair transplant with you beforehand. Here are some of the most common medications:

Antibiotics

Antibiotics help the body fight infection. Clinicians prescribe them proactively to prevent infection, which can cause damage to the hair grafts.

Prednisolone

Prednisolone is a steroid that prevents and reduces hair transplant swelling. You might be prescribed this for up to a week after your procedure. Other steroids may be recommended instead of Prednisolone. Learn more about steroid creams for hair loss.

Rogaine

Rogaine is the brand name for Minoxidil, a drug that’s proven to stimulate hair growth and create thick, healthy hair. We recommend taking Minoxidil after your hair transplant to reduce shock loss and prevent losing your native and original hair.

Rogaine is a topical solution, so you’ll need to rub it into the affected areas on your scalp. While rare, some patients report colour changes in their hair when using Minoxidil.

Propecia

Propecia is another hair growth stimulant, and contains the hair loss drug Finasteride. Taking Finasteride after a hair transplant can minimise ongoing hair loss. It is usually taken orally.

Propecia and other medicines containing Finasteride are only suitable for men. Take a look at these Finasteride results to see real patient photos and and a timeline of expected results.

Antihistamines

Some patients find that their new hair grafts are very itchy. Scratching the area can negatively impact your hair transplant, so clinicians sometimes suggest antihistamines if your scalp is extremely itchy.

If you’re considering taking another type of medication — whether it seems relevant to the hair transplant procedure or not — it’s best to discuss this with your hair loss consultant. They can tell you if the new medication is likely to affect the success of your hair transplant.

Can I take painkillers after a hair transplant?

Yes — the Wimpole Clinic team usually gives you painkillers and anti-inflammatories to take at home along with your aftercare pack.

Unless you’re usually advised not to take painkillers, you can also take your own paracetamol and over-the-counter pain management medicines. If you’re unsure which medicines you can take, speak to your GP.

Are supplements necessary?

Certain vitamins and other nutrients are needed for strong healthy hair. However, there’s little proof supplements or lotions on the market will speed up the rate of hair growth or prevent hair loss (though there are some which claim to do this). A good hair transplant surgeon will tell you that supplements aren’t necessary for you to take after a hair transplant.

That said, a good multivitamin supplement won’t do any harm (although you should always take the advice of your GP before taking any supplements, particularly if you take regular medications).

What is essential is that you follow a balanced diet, get plenty of sleep and fresh air. This is all you usually need to maintain the success of your hair transplant.

Long term medication after a hair transplant

If you’ve had an FUT procedure, you may be concerned about scarring. In this case, you may want to use creams or lotions that help reduce the appearance of the scar. You can apply these once the wound has fully healed and any scabs have fallen off.

If you’re using medicated creams like Minoxidil, it’s important to note that the effects will wear off if you stop using it. As a result, you may wish to continue using these medications long-term. Discuss how long you should use your prescribed medicines with your hair loss consultant and surgeon.

Existing medications and conditions

Certain medications can affect a surgical procedure or its outcome. That’s why it’s essential that you tell your surgeon about any long-term medications before you commit to hair transplant surgery. They can then advise you accordingly on the likely outcome.

Book a free consultation

If you have any questions or concerns about medicines to be taken after hair transplant surgery, discuss this in a free consultation with a hair loss specialist. Our experienced consultants can talk you through pain management after a hair transplant, and the benefits of certain hair growth medications.