Before FUE Hair Transplant

Confirming You’re Ready for FUE

The first step in preparing for an FUE hair transplant is to determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure.

What Makes a Strong FUE Candidate?

Several factors determine if you are a good candidate for FUE. A strong candidate for an FUE hair transplant has dense hair growth in the donor area and a healthy scalp. For best results, their hair loss should be stable.

When Is the Right Time to Proceed?

Choosing the right time to undergo FUE is essential for a great outcome, as “the sooner the better” may not always be true. You’ll also need to know what to do before a hair transplant and when to do it.

Age plays an important role in timing your FUE. The best age range for FUE is about 25 to 50 years old. Hair loss patterns continue to change before the age of 25, and patients may not have enough healthy donor follicles after the age of 50.

The severity of hair loss is also a factor. Hair transplant surgeons use the Norwood scale staging to classify male pattern baldness into 7 stages. Each stage measures the severity of hair thinning at the crown (top) and at the hairline. Stages 1 and 2 represent minimal loss, while stages 5 through 7 indicate severe hair loss and a receding hairline. FUE is highly effective for stages 1 through 5 due to its precision, excellent hairline restoration, and minimal scarring.

Your Pre-Procedure Consultation

Prior to your FUE, you and your surgical team will review the factors that help determine if you are a good candidate for a hair transplant. Dr. Mohebi will review these factors before greenlighting your procedure.

• Avoid alcohol – Do not consume alcohol the day before your surgery as well as the day of your procedure. Combining alcohol with the medication that is administered during surgery may result in an adverse reaction.
• Stop smoking – If you smoke, it is advisable to stop smoking at least three to five days before your FUE procedure. Smoking causes the blood vessels to constrict and this decreases the blood flow to the scalp. In addition, you should also refrain from smoking for the first five days after your procedure.

Your Step-by-Step Preparation Timeline

After making the final decision to undergo an FUE procedure, you’ll need to know how to prepare and what to expect. Here are your FUE pre-procedure instructions.

Two Weeks Before Your FUE Procedure

Two weeks prior to your procedure, your primary care physician must provide medical clearance, an evaluation that helps determine whether you are healthy enough to undergo FUE. Communicating with your primary doctor two weeks before your procedure also creates an opportunity to review and stop any medications that may affect bleeding or healing.

You’ll need to undergo certain types of bloodwork and health screenings to assess your overall health, ensure your safety, and rule out underlying conditions. Bloodwork may include a complete blood count (CBC), blood clotting studies, and infectious disease screenings. Additional tests may include an EKG to assess your heart health.

In some cases, we recommend starting a scalp health routine about two weeks before FUE to stimulate blood circulation and reduce inflammation. This scalp routine may include daily scalp massages, using antifungal shampoos, protecting your scalp from the sun, and avoiding harsh chemical treatments.

Five to Ten Days Before Your FUE Procedure

You may need to pause certain medications 5 to 10 days before your FUE procedure. More specifically, you’ll need to stop any medications that interfere with the way your blood clots, as they may cause bleeding during or after your procedure. Medications to avoid before hair transplant include:

• Antiplatelet medications (Aspirin, Plavix, and Pradaxa), also known as blood thinners, due to an increased risk of bleeding during and after the procedure; platelets stick together to help blood clot, and antiplatelet drugs can cause bleeding by preventing the platelets from sticking together
• Anticoagulation medications (warfarin, AKA Coumadin) and any newer anticoagulation medications, such as Xarelto; anticoagulants are a different type of blood thinner that affect different proteins, known as “clotting factors,” that change how blood clots form
• Anti-inflammatory medications (ibuprofen, AKA Motrin or Advil, and naproxen, AKA Aleve), as they can act like blood thinners
• Some over-the-counter products also have an anticoagulation effect, and they should be avoided before most surgical procedures (fish oil, vitamin E, Omega 3, St. John’s Wort, Gingko)

In the 5 to 10 days before your FUE procedure, communicate any medication changes to Dr. Mohebi’s team. Be sure to return all signed medical and consent documents in this 5- to 10-day window.

Three Days Before Your FUE Procedure

Three days prior to your hair transplant procedure, stop consuming alcohol and smoking. Alcohol affects how the body absorbs, or metabolizes, the medications used for surgical sedation. This means the surgeon may have to increase the dose to achieve the desired level of sedation. Alcohol can also increase the risk of complications, such as bleeding, infection, and breathing problems.

Smoking can also increase the risk of complications, such as infections, pneumonia, and heart attack. The nicotine in cigarettes and other tobaccos constricts blood vessels, which means grafts do not get all the oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood they need to thrive.

Two Days Before Your FUE Procedure

The preparations you take two days before your hair transplant depends on the type of procedure you’ll have.

Scalp to Scalp FUE

You won’t need to take any special preparations for your hair just before your FUE, but our team may trim your hair to allow for easy removal and placement of the grafts. Using a clipper, we may completely or partially trim the donor area to 1 mm on the day of your surgery; we can also trim your entire scalp to provide the best access to the donor and recipient areas. At your request, we can leave the recipient areas untouched and trim only the donor areas.

Layer shaving is another option. In layer shaving, we trim the donor areas in horizontal layers, which allows the surrounding longer hair to conceal the extraction sites. If you choose layer shaving, your hair must be long enough to cover the trimmed areas, so please avoid short haircuts prior to FUE.

Beard to Scalp FUE

Our hair transplant team asks that you shave the donor areas with a razor two days before your beard-to-scalp procedure, and then avoid shaving the donor areas again until after. Hair grows in two main phases: the growth stage and the resting stage. Shaving with a razor two days prior to your transplant helps us identify and use hairs in their growth phase, which are more likely to provide great results, and avoid hairs in their rest phase.

Body to Scalp FUE

As with beard to scalp procedures, we recommend that you shave the donor areas two days before your body-to-scalp procedure.

Scalp to Eyebrow

A scalp-to-eyebrow transplant requires minimal preparation. Our team will handle any trimming on the day of your scalp to eyebrow treatment.

Celebrity FUE™

 No shaving is required before a Celebrity FUE™. We will trim individual hairs during your procedure.

The Day Before Your Procedure

Avoid eating or drinking anything other than water and clear liquids after midnight on the night before your procedure. We’ll administer local anesthesia and sedation prior to your procedure, and certain foods and beverages can negatively affect anesthetics and sedatives.

Take any essential medications, such as blood pressure medications, with a sip of water at your regular times, even on the day of the FUE hair transplant. Do not take any blood thinners. Avoid alcohol the day before your FUE and on the day of your procedure. Do not smoke cigarettes or cigars.

Prepare yourself mentally, emotionally, and logistically for the procedure and for the positive changes FUE may bring to your confidence.

Because you will receive sedation, you’ll need a ride home. Confirm your transportation arrangements.

Your “Morning of” FUE Procedure Checklist

Things get fairly hectic on the day of an FUE, so we’ve provided this handy FUE preparation checklist.

What to Wear

Your FUE hair transplant will likely take several hours, so dress comfortably. To avoid disturbing the surgical site after your procedure, wear a shirt that buttons up the front rather than wearing anything you’ll need to pull over your head.

Hair Washing Instructions

Wash your hair on the morning of your procedure, but do not use styling products. Shampoo your hair to remove the dirt, oils, and bacteria that could lead to infection. Gels, sprays, and waxes can irritate the skin on the surgical site, clog pores, and suffocate the fragile, newly transplanted grafts.

You may want to take a “before” photo today so you have a record of what you looked like before the FUE hair transplant!

Food and Drink

Do not eat solid foods after midnight on the day of your procedure. You may drink clear liquids, such as apple juice, prior to your appointment. Avoid caffeine, as it increases your risk for bleeding.

Arranging Your Ride Home

You’ll receive sedation for your procedure. Because sedation will make you sleepy, you’ll need a ride home. If you are unable to secure a ride, our office is happy to assist you with transportation.

What to Bring

On the day of your appointment, bring identification and any other items our office has requested. You can also bring comfort items, such as a neck pillow or digital entertainment.

What to Expect When You Arrive

Your FUE transplant day starts the moment you check in. Be sure to bring all necessary documents for check-in.

Next is your pre-operative preparation, in which the hair in the donor area is trimmed as needed. You’ll meet your surgical team, who will finalize your hair design and answer any questions you may have.

Before Your FUE Procedure FAQ

Can I Take My Regular Prescription Medications Before FUE?

You can take most of your regular prescription medications before you undergo FUE. Blood thinners are the primary exception, though, so provide your surgical team with a complete list of all the medications, supplements, and herbal products you currently take.

Do I Need to Shave My Head Before a Hair Transplant?

Shaving is not mandatory. Our team will trim the hair as needed. Discuss shaving with your surgical team during your consultation.

What Should I Eat The Day Before My Hair Transplant?

The day before your FUE, focus on consuming foods that are rich in protein, such as lean meats, fish, and eggs. Protein strengthens your immune system and provides the amino acids your body uses for tissue repair and healing.

Whole grains and vegetables are also good to eat before your procedure, as they contain complex carbohydrates that promote healing and provide sustained energy. Avoid greasy, spicy or fatty foods, as they can trigger inflammation. Drink plenty of fluids, but avoid consuming caffeine or alcohol.

What Happens If I Forget to Follow a Pre-Op Instruction?

Omitting a pre-op instruction may lead to complications that may include an increased risk for bleeding, lower rates of graft survival, or poor results. Depending on which instruction you forget to follow, you may need to delay or cancel your procedure. If you think you have forgotten to follow an instruction, contact us – a member of our surgical team can help you determine your next step.

How Do I Know If My Scalp Is Healthy Enough for FUE?

Your scalp is healthy enough for FUE if:

• Your hair loss/thinning has stabilized
• You have enough healthy follicles to use as donor hair
• You do not have any scalp infections, as characterized by itching, flaking, or redness

Will I Be Awake During the Procedure?

Yes, you will be awake, but comfortable. Our surgical team will administer sedatives to help you relax throughout your procedure. You’ll be able to watch TV, listen to music, or chat with your surgical team.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you are ready to address hair loss or thinning, contact Parsa Mohebi and his surgical team for highly experienced FUE and other hair restoration procedures. Patients come from across the country and from around the world to benefit from hair restoration and FUE from our hair clinic. If you have more patient questions, please see our commonly asked questions and their answers.