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Preparing for hair transplant surgery and beyond.

sl

sl

BHR Clinic Patient Advisor
Once you are sure that surgery is the right choice for you, and are confident you have found right clinic, you can then make the necessary preparations.

A deposit is usually paid, and the terms and conditions of any payment should be transparent. Some clinics will have a no refund policy, so ensure to clarify the situation before making any transaction.



Most clinics will provide you with a booking document or other documentation regarding pre-operational instructions, deposits, travelling, hotel, required blood tests etc. The information provided will also include things you must do, and things you must additionally should avoid.


The avoidance list will generally be issues like coming off any medication or vitamins that will thin the blood or cause excessive bleeding. Alcohol, smoking, caffeine, Minoxidil, vitamin E are examples of substances that will need to be ceased for a period of time, both pre and possibly post surgery. The clinic should however be approached if anything is not clear. Usage of drugs, recreational or otherwise should also be declared to the clinic, as they can severely affect blood coagulation, and is a reason why clear and open communication is essential from the start.


For the €œdo € list, there may be certain scalp exercises to perform, (more common for Strip surgery) in order to improve scalp laxity. A blood test before surgery is good medical practice, and will check for conditions such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and the status of coagulation etc.


Apart from the above medical pre-requisites, there are also practical issues, hints and tips that may be of benefit, This is where the experience of the clinic advisor will really help, by offering advice on simple things from travel arrangements, to the type of clothes to wear and accessories to bring to aid you in your treatment. Some examples of this would be bringing a shirt to wear post-surgery to avoid overhead activity of putting on t-shirts, sunglasses to hide facial swelling, an ice pack to treat the swelling itself, and a travel pillow to help sleep with the head elevated. Also, Aloe Vera and vitamin E oils/sprays to apply to the scalp post-surgery, and head-wear such as a baseball cap or bandana would also be useful. This is not an exhaustive list, but rather some examples of advice that will be helpful to the patient.


For during and post-surgery entertainment then DVDs could also be considered. It is important however to travel as lightly as possible so as to avoid lifting heavy bags post-surgery, especially if a Strip surgery has been performed.


Travelling is also a factor to consider, sitting by a window seat may be better than an aisle seat with less chance of an elbow from a passing passenger, or returning first class may be a preferred option in terms of protecting your investment and ensuring more space and less chance of having your head hit or bumped by other passengers near by. Personal choice but something I try to do after surgery if not before and have paid less than the standard price on Eurostar for this due to how ticket allocation worked.


Booking ample time off work, hotel and indeed travel arrangements should be done as soon as possible and not left to the last minute. If travelling from afar then many would prefer to arrive at the destination two days prior to surgery in order to acclimatise to the new surroundings, find out where local shops are, or simply to allow for possible travel delays, and still safely arrive in time for the surgery.
Simple things like changing currency, buying travel adapters etc should also not be left to the last minute. Like anything in life, poor preparation gives poor performance, so the better prepared the smoother things should be upon arrival and for post surgery.
Being mentally prepared is also an advantage. This is by no means easy and no one is without a certain degree of anxiety. Ensure to raise with the clinic any concerns you have that cause any extra stress or nervousness. Sometimes a simple call to the clinic/advisor can put your mind at rest and try to prepare as much as possible as to eliminate rushing and last minute stress.


Upon arrival to the clinic, you should be made to feel as welcomed and relaxed as is possible. The confidence of the doctor and medical team should also be transmitted to the patient. Ideally there should be someone available to speak your language fluently, and be able to translate throughout the day if need be. Any lack of communication will inevitably cause stress, especially if the patient feels he/she cannot express him/herself.


There will usually be consent forms to sign, these should be read and understood before signing and is a good time to raise any last concerns. Failing to sign the forms would forfeit the surgery, so it is important to clear up any issues at this stage.
Effective communication throughout is key, and even more so post-surgery, as the patient goes through the final stages of concern, such as getting home safely, healing in time for work duties, and possible anxiety about future growth. An experienced advisor will be pro-active and answer many such worries even before they are voiced, while also seeking to have very frequent post operative communication with the patient, solicited or otherwise.


For the patient it will all be a new experience of wearing bandanas, keeping out of the social arena, and following strict post-operative guidelines. The world will seem very different for a few weeks and even loneliness or €œpost op blues € can set in. The advisor however, should have ample knowledge and ideally even personal experience of all of the above, and so be able to give timely and comforting advice.


Additional hints and tips may also be given at this stage, such as what foods to eat, vitamins to take etc, along with anything that will give the patient a head start in healing. As the saying goes €œEvery little helps! €

 
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D

Dazzster26

Valued member
Thanks for the write some great tips , I will ensure i Get the window seat when I travel home, I am starting on a good protein diet today for sure



Cheers



Dazz
 
topccat29

topccat29

29 year HT veteran
Yes I have to agree with Dazzster I €™m big on protein but more so on healthy fats, specifically raw protein and fat in the way of raw eggs. Not everyone €™s cup of tea but after so many years I really have come to enjoy them. Obviously one needs to know the source of the egg etc, etc, etc and no clinic or person can recommend another do this as the liability of eating from a tainted source is too great without the proper experience.

Sometimes even the type of shampoo you use is going to matter as I have seen many clinics unknowingly recommended baby shampoo €¦ €¦ €¦ €¦ €¦ €¦ €¦ €¦a big no, no for anyone who understands the food and cosmetic industry.

Something interesting about shampoo that I just happen to read again last night in an old book I have is not only are all the chemicals a problem like the parabens, phthalates, etc but any wheat proteins sometimes listed as hydrolyzed vegetable protein or even corn related additives can be an issue as they are absorbed through the skin. For those staying away from grains this could very well be an area of additional focus.

This quote is from the book and it €™s regarding inflammatory responses from gluten sensitivity which many unknowingly might suffer from in its many forms including gut disorders or an over reactive sympathetic nervous system, ( excess sweating , anxiety, joint issues, etc). Always keeping inflammation in the body down and providing a consistent healing environment can sometimes be as simple as not reaching for that slice of bread or using that shampoo that has a wheat based derivative listing in the ingredients.

€œThe inflammatory response invoked by gluten exposure additionally activated the brain €™s inflammatory microglial cells, which have no built in inhibitory mechanisms and do not readily wind themselves down again. In can take many months for a brain-based inflammatory response to an antigen such as gluten to subside. The damage and neural degeneration this can cause over time, together with the effect of generating over arousal of the sympathetic nervous system (the flight or fight response) can be significant.
 
D

Dazzster26

Valued member
Hi Guys

did you read this about what Dr Dorin stated about shampoos and some of the ingredients to be aware of , its their on the forum i checked in the bathroom at home and all the shampoos in their had the below in them , am certainly going to look for an alternative now , you know guys I am not ashamed to say it I have learned so much on this forum , the crap I used to take which I Know today was no good for my hair and could cause hair loss, TC thanks for your notes on protein am going to keep at for awhile

Cheers



Dazz



Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.[/b] Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), another harsh detergent, is the agent in many shampoos that causes that foaming lather we often see in hair commercials. What you don €™t know is that exposing your hair to this chemical actually destroys it in the long run, stripping it of essential oils it needs to stay healthy, breaking down protein and halting healthy
 
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Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
Good post Sl, the window seat is a must if flying back as it stops you getting knocked accidentally on aisle seats and you can relax without having to let others out.
Daz, the shampoo post hits home.
Topccat, thanks for the diet tips, anything that helps the body recover is good.
Cheers all,
Bm.
 
topccat29

topccat29

29 year HT veteran
Dazzster thanks for the heads up, I did see thread but didn €™t want to comment. You have to understand I have not been to a doctor for health issues in about 30 years and I have very little respect for most health advice offered by the medical establishment except for just a very few doctors who tend to agree with my view and that is rare. There is also the issue I have with getting good information from someone who is selling something in this case shampoo €¦ €¦ €¦ €¦ €¦ €¦.just a personal thing for me and not trying to knock anyone........just how I feel. Actually I believe bar soap is better and washing one €™s hair as little as possible is preferable as the layer of oil is there to protect both the skin and the hair but in my own situation with using concealer that is not possible so I do use a all natural shampoo by someone that follows the principles of the Weston A Price foundation.


I also believe it is infinitely better obtain information from books as usually there is nobody working an angle if you know what I mean. And speaking of books I always bring 3-4 books with me for my surgical trip. Keeps my mind busy which is very important as one can start to obsess about the surgery if too much free time is allowed. So I would suggest bringing books and having books available both before and after the surgery.


I also bring a laptop to keep me busy. I ended up burning out the adapter as I brought the wrong one and left my converter at home. Then the power at the hotel went out and I lost the wireless connection. The hotel helped me out with an ethernet cord but the plug didn't have a receptor. Long story short I used a knife to dismantle the outlet and found a cord inside which I was able to fish through to make a connection. If I would have known I would have brought my own cord and my tool bag ;)

 
D

Dazzster26

Valued member
Hi TC well



Totally agree on bringing a couple of books I got me laptop with me as and also do some singing it keeps me busy and if not busy I tend to eat to much cakes and stuff , Oh so you saw that about the shampoo no worries mate this is a good thread and I am already booking the window seat when i go home for sure , I always double with adapters and extension cords its habit working at sea

Cheers



Dazz
 
Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
Yes it's good to have something to occupy you after surgery, also if you get a chance before surgery purchase any items you require for your stay.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Dear,

Thanks for sharing its really informative. Before under gone through this process must stop smoking and drug.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Thanks for sharing such useful tips to those who are going to take hair transplantation soon.
 
N

Nightowl

member
Very informative and well written, more clinics should help educate patients in their research. ¬b`
 
C

Crudance2006

Member
Very helpful post Sl. Full of things I never thought about before.
 
I have also facing the hair thinning problems from last few months. I have been used so many treatment and now I finally decided to go for the hair transplant surgery.
 
S

soumya17

Member
Preparing for your Hair Transplant:

1. Stop smoking at least 24 hours before surgery. Smoking can affect wound healing and also affects your recovery so stop or if you are unable to then put it temporarily on hold until after your surgery.

2. Do not have alcohol in the three days before your surgery. It is better if you have your last alcoholic drink a week before your surgery.

3. Don €™t have a hair cut before your surgery. It is important to let the donor area grow so that there is enough for the transplant. Plus it will cover the stitches following your surgery.

4. Massage your scalp about a month or two weeks before your surgery. Do this for a minimum of 10 minutes per day or a maximum of 30 minutes if possible. This will help to soften the skin and improve the skin tone. It will also get the blood flowing in that area.

5. If you are over a certain age, for example 45 and above then some clinics may ask you to undergo tests such as an ECG beforehand. You may also have a blood test.

6. Stop taking aspirin or any anti-inflammatory medication two weeks before your surgery.

7. Avoid taking anti-depressants, beta-blockers and blood thinning drugs two weeks before surgery. Your surgeon will provide you with a list of what medications you can and cannot take beforehand.

8. Stop taking any multivitamin/mineral supplements or herbal supplements such as Gingko Biloba two weeks before surgery.
 
D

doctorforme

member
Exactly, It needs a Proper Preparation before going for a Hair Transplant Surgery.
The Stage Involves finding the donor region and then extracting grafts from the scalp and implanting to the recipent region of the Patient's Scalp.
There are some pre and post Hair Transplant Methods that needs to be followed accurately.

 
Y

Yayban

valued member
Read this thread earlier today, thanks for sharing it Stephen.
 

AngleD

member
Thanks for sharing this very valuable information, sharing infornation on hair transplants is very educational.
 
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