Your Surgery - Pre-operative instructions

1. Suspend the use of Minoxidil (Rogaine) 15 days prior to surgery, however continue taking Propecia.

2. Stop smoking one week before surgery and do not resume smoking until one week after surgery, or reduce to a maximum of 3 cigarettes per day.

3. Do not cut your hair near the date of surgery. Longer hair (at least 2-3 inches) will make it easier to hide the suture line and help hide the small scabs of the transplanted area.

4. Do not take aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications like Motrin, Advil, or Ibuprofen, for one week prior to surgery. These medications can thin the blood and cause bleeding during surgery. Many over the counter medications such as AAS, Aspirin, Alka-Seltzer, Bufferin, Excedrin, Empirin, etc., contain aspirin and should not be taken seven days prior to surgery. If you are not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist. As little as one Aspirin can thin the blood for up to two weeks.

5. Avoid strenuous exercise and/or heavy lifting one week prior to surgery. There is some evidence that this can also thin the blood. Light exercise at about 50% normal is okay 3 days before surgery.

6. Continue the medicines you take regularly such as antihypertensives, hypoglycemiants (oral or insulin) even the morning of your surgery.

7. The evening before surgery:
• Wash your hair using shampoo only (do not use conditioner or other hair products).
• Do not drink alcoholic beverages.
• Should you normally take sleep-aids, you may do so on the evening before your surgery.
• Light meal the night before surgery. Avoid heavy foods.
• Adhere to absolute fasting starting midnight prior to surgery. Upon waking, do not drink water. Should you need to take medicine, do so with a tablespoon of water.

8. The day surgery:
• Arrive to the hospital at 6:30am having ceased to consume any food or beverage since midnight prior.
• Wear underclothes and socks made only of cotton. Do not wear clothing containing lycra or accessories made of metal (rings, earrings, piercing, etc) and preferably be using a button-down shirt. Do not wear any type of pullover as it could damage the transplanted area when put on. The same restrictions to clothing apply to the day following surgery.
• Between one to two hours following surgery, the patient is free to leave the hospital but should not drive himself due to the sedation. The patient should be accompanied.
• Upon leaving, the patient will receive an envelope with all of the post-surgery instructions and the medicine that is necessary to take for the first 24 hours.

9. On the following day, the patient should return to the clinic for cleaning and shampooing the grafted area. Shampoo time is 4:00 pm during the week and anywhere between 9:00a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on weekend days. This should take approximately 30 minutes.

* The entrance of companions in the operation room is prohibited, even if they are doctors or related professionals. PLEASE DO NOT INSIST.

Best wishes for a smooth surgery.