It’s not recommended to take alcohol after a hair transplant procedure. Alcohol consumption after the follicular unit extraction procedure interferes with the recovery process making it lengthier.
Follicular unit extraction (FUE) hair transplant is a great strategy to help you with your hair loss which may be due to age, balding, scalp injury, or thin hair.
Thus, to recover successfully after a hair transplant procedure you need to get the procedure done at the best hair transplant clinic in Dubai and be keen to follow pre and postoperative care instructions.
But, one of the instructions that patients find hard to follow is abstaining from taking alcohol.
Pre-operation instructions are also part and parcel of the recovery process. So, if you are scheduled for a hair transplant surgery, avoiding alcohol for seven days is not an option. Alcohol consumption before surgery could bring issues such as;
- Inflammation
- Swelling
- Dehydration
- Increased pain during the process
It could also hinder the recovery process and make it longer.
Let’s have a look at what you should know about the risks of taking alcohol after a successful hair transplant in Dubai.
What happens if I take alcohol after the hair transplant procedure?
It’s not recommended to take alcohol after a hair transplant. Every hair transplant patient would want to have a successful transplant and a smooth recovery process. Before embarking on the hair transplant journey, be sure to know what you are signing up for.
Consult an expert doctor on the risks of consuming alcohol before or after the hair transplant. It may be hard to avoid alcohol, but it’s worthwhile in lowering the chances of hair transplant complications. The complications that may arise include;
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Alcohol consumption leads to thinning of the blood.
Patients are likely to bleed more after the small incisions due to thinning of the blood. This may be a result of impaired platelet count caused by alcohol. Remember, alcohol is known to interfere with the functionality of the liver. You may be aware that the liver produces platelets and clotting factors.
Thus, alcohol intake causes blood clotting problems that hinder the recovery process and the procedure’s general success. Bleeding may prolong the recovery period, which may increase post-hair transplant complications such as infection in the donor and the scalp’s recipient area.
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Alcohol consumption may lead to a deficiency of specific nutrients.
This may affect a person’s general well-being leading to a slow recovery phase after a hair transplant. Alcohol consumption may cause direct malabsorption of certain nutrients such as vitamin B1 and folic acid resulting in a slow recovery process since such nutrients are essential in the healing process.
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Alcohol decreases blood supply.
Alcohol reduces blood supply. Typically, blood transports nutrients to different parts of the human body. The transplanted hair grafts depend on blood to supply them with essential nutrients and oxygen.
Alcohol disrupts blood circulation resulting in a reduced amount of blood flowing to the grafts. When hair grafts run short of blood supply, they die and fall off. So, if you don’t want to jeopardize the recovery process and the result, avoid alcohol at all costs.
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Alcohol leads to dehydration
If you drink any alcoholic product, the kidneys produce more urine than normal, thanks to more water being flushed from our bodies. This leaves our bodies dehydrated, interfering with the new hair grafts’ growth in the scalp’s recipient area. Thus, if you want healthy development of the hair grafts and a smooth healing process, drink lots of water to maintain healthy hydration levels and avoid alcohol.
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Alcohol intake results in swelling
Alcohol makes our veins expand and stretch. This could be uncomfortable for patients. Therefore, to eliminate swelling, avoid alcohol intake before and after the hair transplant procedure. Doing so will speed the recovery process and increase the chances of survival of hair grafts.
How long should I avoid alcohol after hair transplant?
In order to give the new hair grafts a chance of success, it’s recommended to avoid alcohol for 10-14 days after the transplant.
After a successful hair transplant, you must avoid taking alcohol while the scalp recovers. Each human is unique, and every recovery process takes a different amount of time. Some people recover real quick, while others may take a more extended period. It’s recommended to refrain from alcohol for at least a few weeks(1-2 weeks) after the procedure.
When you resume taking alcohol, ensure you do it in moderation so that the alcohol does not affect the hair follicle’s healing process.
While alcohol is not advised after a hair transplant, it’s crucial to stay hydrated. Drinking enough water during the recovery period promotes healing in the donor and the recipient area. Also, it encourages the growth of the new hair grafts.
You also have options to take other non-alcoholic drinks such as tea and fruit juice to boost healthy levels of hydration after the procedure.
Should I worry if I take alcohol after the scalp has recovered?
After 1-3 weeks following the procedure, the patient can go back to his regular drinking routine before the process. If your habits involve taking alcohol, then you are at liberty to do so after a recovery.
The healing process may take a varied amount of time for different people. Yet, if you follow the pre and post-operative care procedures well, the healing process might be shorter.
What else should one avoid after a hair transplant?
Besides avoiding alcohol after the hair transplant procedure, hair experts recommend patients to forgo tobacco products and medications, including blood thinners, antidepressants, a medicine used to treat high blood pressure, aspirin, and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Remember to inform your hair transplant surgeon of any prescribed medication you are using. Secondly, be sure to ask the surgeons for guidance on tobacco usage and blood-thinning medications. Avoid using them before and after the hair transplant procedure since it’s beneficial for the healing process.
Wrapping up
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) provides an ideal solution for baldness, loss of hair resulting from injury in the scalp, or thinning of hair. The process involves small incisions and requires a shorter recovery period than other hair transplant techniques such as follicular unit strip surgery (FUSS).
Hair transplant has evolved, allowing modern, safe, and advanced hair transplant strategies; therefore, minimal risks are involved.
Regardless, alcohol intake may jeopardize the hair transplant procedure and the recovery process by; thinning out blood, reducing blood supply, and causing dehydration.
It may be hard to resist the urge to consume alcohol with all these alcohol stores available in Dubai. But then, taking alcohol may tarnish the effects of the transplant. It may reduce the chances of survival of the new hair grafts and also complicate the recovery process.
For any consultation regarding hair transplant in Dubai, please contact the best hair transplant in UAE.