Reasons Why You Should Stop Alcohol Consumption Before and After Hair Transplant
Drinking alcohol before and after hair transplantation is one of the things to be avoided after the operation, as it may cause serious complications that may lead to the failure of the operation.
Alcohol usually slows down the healing process and increases the possibility of infection. Drinking alcohol either before or after a hair transplant has similar consequences as smoking cigarettes.
In the following lines, we'll find out the 5 main reasons why patients should stop alcohol consumption before and after hair transplant.
So let's dive right into it!
Reason (1): Alcohol Acts as a Blood Thinner
Drinking alcohol before hair transplant dilutes the blood because alcohol is known to have blood-thinning properties. This in turn increases the possibility of bleeding during the operation which could lead to some serious complications.
Also, continuing to consume alcohol after hair transplant slows down the recovery period which leads to infections.
Reason (2): Drinking Alcohol Reduces the Effect of Anesthesia
Individuals who are regular drinkers can feel the pain during the operation a little more than those who don’t drink. This is because alcohol interferes with the anesthetic drug and delays its effect on the body.
Needle-Free Anesthesia Reason (3): Alcohol Decreases the Blood Supply
By now you probably know that hair grafts rely on blood to supply it with the necessary nutrients. However, alcohol consumption before hair transplant disrupts blood circulation and reduces the amount of blood that flows to the grafts.
As a consequence, when hair grafts run short of blood supply they die and fall out. So, if you don’t want to compromise the result of your hair transplant avoid drinking alcohol before and after the operation for at least 7-10 days.
Reason (4): Alcohol Dries Up Your Skin
When drinking any type of alcoholic beverage our kidneys produce more urine than normal and flush out water from our bodies.
This leaves our skin dehydrated which impedes the healthy growth of the transplanted hair. Instead, patients should consume at least 2,5 liters of water daily to stay hydrated.
Reason (5): Alcohol Inflates Our Veins
Alcohol makes our veins expand and stretch leading to more swelling of the face. This could be uncomfortable for patients during the first days following the operation.
To eliminate the swelling patients must stop drinking alcohol before and after hair transplant.
Stop Alcohol Consumption Two Weeks Before and After Hair Transplant
In order to maximize the success of your hair transplant and eliminate the risks of harming your transplanted grafts it’s crucial that you adhere to the pre-and post-op instructions.
This includes abstaining from alcohol consumption, smoking, taking multivitamins, and exercising after the operation.
The ideal time to stop drinking alcohol is two weeks before and two weeks after the hair transplant. This will help break down the alcohol in your system and give your body enough time to prepare for the surgery.
It also helps your blood pressure go back to its normal levels before the operation.
If you find it hard to stop drinking for two weeks, then we recommend you cut down alcohol consumption starting a month before the surgery.
This way you will be able to stop drinking completely at least 1 week before your scheduled hair transplant.
Summary
Alcohol consumption before and after hair transplant reflects negatively on the transplanted grafts and impedes their healthy growth. This is due to a shortage of blood supply and dehydration of the skin which leaves the scalp dry and unhealthy.
Additionally, alcohol has other risks during the operation. For instance, given that it has blood-thinning properties it increases the risk of bleeding. It also affects the anesthesia which is why it takes longer for some people to get numbed.
Now that you're aware of the negative effects of alcohol on hair transplant this should make it easy for you to stop drinking before and after the operation.
Share Your Opinion, Please