Smoking and hair transplant

vwbuslover

Just curious how smoking cigarettes will effect the growth of grafts. I know the post- op instructions say to decrease as much as possible, but is there any evidence that there will be less growth if a person is a smoker compared to a non- smoker, and why does it effect something that is growing out of the head anyways? Please let me know

forhair

Welcome to the forum vwbuslover,
I'm going to tell you something that most smokers don't want to hear...
Smoking cigarettes can kill you!!!.
I have been smoking from age 16 to 28 , then i stopped for 7 years!... started again for 2 years (how strange,ha?) and 4 months ago i stopped smoking again, this time it's final!.
Screw the hair i feel so much better... Mr. Green

Now, to your question...it is very important to stop at least 3 days prior to surgery and for at least 3 days after your procedure. Smoking (nicotine) inhibits blood flow to the skin and scalp by constriction of blood vessels, the blood carries more oxygen then in normal circulation...
All this can results in bad healing, increase scarring, and make the whole procedure very bloody and messy for the surgeons.
Some even suggest to stop 2 weeks prior and continue smoking only 1 month post op. Each doctor to is own...if your coming to Dr. Cole for surgery, they will give you full instructions.

By the way, no alchohol and coffee as well. Coffe also increase the blood flow...

vwbuslover

Thanks!! That makes me feel better that it is more about the procedure itself, and not about cutting the percentage of the grafts growth rate down by a lot. After the procedure I did not smoke for a week, then started smoking a few a day. Did not go to crazy to quickly. Everything seems to be healing nicely still.