PRE- OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS

48 HOURS BEFORE:

1.      No alcohol.

One night before:

1.      Have a good night sleep.

2.      Wash your hair the evening before or the morning of surgery, if your hair is long, please also use conditioner.

3.      Do not apply hair spray, mousse or gel.

Day of surgery:

1.      Eat before coming in. No regular coffee, decaf is okay.

2.      Consents for surgery (if not already signed) will be signed on the day of the surgery.

3.      You may bring in a DVD movie or choose from our selection.

4.      Be relaxed. The procedure is not hard on your system.  Our staff will do everything they can to make this a comfortable a pleasant experience.

5.      You can bring and use your cell phone during the procedure.

6.      You will have a lunch break provided by us.

POST OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS

1.      Take it easy for the remainder of the day.  Do not do heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for at least 5 days.  Do not lean over to your shoes or pick-up objects for the first 48 hours, as this may provoke bleeding.

2.      Do not drink any alcoholic beverage for 2 days following the transplant procedure, to avoid excessive bleeding.

3.      If bleeding occurs in the donor area, apply firm pressure, steady pressure for 20-30mins.Repeat if necessary.  If bleeding persists, locate the exact bleeding point and apply pressure directly to the area with an ice pack and then clean cloth.  If bleeding continues, contact us or your family physician.  If you are out of town, go the nearest emergency department, ask the attending physician to suture the area.

4.       Take your medication for pain at the first sign of discomfort.  Don not wait until you have pain.  Take 1 tablet approximately 20 minutes before retiring for the evening.  Take this medication with food.

5.      Sleep with your head elevated on 2 or 3 pillows for 4 days.

6.      Until the graft recipient sites have healed, keep the area clean.

7.      Crust (scabs) will form over the transplant sites and solidify the first few days.  These crusts will naturally fall off and will be very itchy within one week.  Do not pick at these crusts at anytime.

8.      You may develop some post-operative edema (swelling) of the forehead and eyes for up to 2-3 days post-op.  Ice pack can be applied to the forehead area.  Do not apply ice to the grafts.  This is not serious and resolves itself spontaneously.  We have applied tape across your forehead to reduce swelling.  If in the unlikely event you have fever, redness or pain call the doctor immediately.

9.      Surgical staples or suture in the donor area should be removed in one week unless specified by the doctor.

10.  Wait as long as possible before using any hair care products, for example, hair coloring, hair straightening and hot oil treatment.

11.  Massage your forehead as we show you as frequent as possible.