We’ll go over everything you need to know and what to expect when you undergo FUE hair restoration surgery. Forhair’s patients will receive a full set of instructions for their FUE surgery preparation in Atlanta or New York. WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU UNDERGO HAIR RESTORATION SURGERY?
What is an FUE hair transplant?
The FUE technique (Follicular Unit Extractions) is the most frequently utilized approach for people who have baldness issues.
FUE is a game-changing development in the hair restoration industry. FUE is, in reality, the first hair restoration procedure that minimizes scarring. FUE has many advantages compared to FUT and provides superior hair restoration before and after results. Hair transplantation prior to the advent of this method necessitated significant scarring and lengthy recovery periods -Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Scalp Reduction are two examples. Such methods provide poor outcomes. FUT and other previous procedures result in doll-like hair and unnatural appearing hairlines.
THE FIRST STEP – Consultation and Professional Assessment
A consultation with a qualified hair restoration surgeon is the first step in preparing for an FUE procedure. If you’re considering an FUE hairline restoration, be sure to do your research and consult with a qualified physician.
During your visit, you will talk about your surgical goals and concerns with the doctor, and he or she will recommend the best course of action for you based on online video consultation, photo consultation, or in-person consultation.
In the consultation process, the doctor or the patient advisor will want to know all about your medical issues and the medications that you are currently using. If you’re taking beta-blockers, blood-thinning medication, or an anti-depressant, the surgeon must be informed since they may influence the recovery process.
In order to verify that you meet the clinic’s health standards before undergoing surgery, you may be required to have some blood tests done previously.
Medical Conditions You Should Disclose
Your consultation isn’t just about hair. It’s about making sure you’re healthy enough for surgery and that your results won’t be compromised by something in your medical history.
Be upfront about everything. That includes:
- Heart conditions or history of heart attack (within the past year, especially)
- Diabetes or blood sugar issues
- Autoimmune disorders
- Bleeding disorders or clotting problems
- Any surgery planned within 8 weeks before or after your transplant
- History of keloid or abnormal scarring
If you’ve had any major medical event in the past year, your surgeon needs to know. They may need to adjust medications or take specific precautions.
Blood Tests and Medical Clearance
Most clinics require blood work before surgery. This typically includes:
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Blood clotting factors
- HIV and Hepatitis screening
- Blood sugar levels
Some patients may also need an electrocardiogram (ECG), especially if they’re over 50 or have a history of heart issues.
Don’t wait until the last minute. Get your tests done early so results are ready well before your surgery date.
After the consultation
The procedure is completed when you’ve been given the green light for surgery. The next step, after you’ve been approved for surgery, is to prepare your home for recovery. In the days following surgery, you’ll need somewhere to lie down and relax, so make sure your house has plenty of cushions, blankets, and food.
Your doctor will most likely provide you with instructions before your operation. However, this checklist can assist you to keep track of what to do and what not to do on your big day.
Your doctor might recommend you use minoxidil or finasteride/topical finasteride to begin hair loss treatments. This is the trade name of a popular hair loss medication. This will be determined by where you are losing your hair and where the transplant will take place on your head.
Up to a month before the procedure
Before getting a hair transplant, you must plan your arrival. If you live close to the clinic or in the area, you can simply go home and come back the following day if needed. Just make sure you either get transportation, such as a taxi, train, or bus. If you drive in your own car, make sure to get someone to escort you. If you live far away or in a different country and need to fly in, the clinic’s patient advisors will help you reserve a flight. Also, make sure to reserve a hotel room near the clinic if you don’t live nearby. You won’t want to go back home the same day if you’re traveling to the clinic.
Start Your Scalp Preparation Early
Here’s something most preparation guides skip: your scalp needs to be ready for surgery, not just your schedule.
Recommended – Start massaging your scalp for 10-30 minutes daily. Use your fingertips, apply gentle pressure, and work in circular motions across the donor and recipient areas.
Why does this matter? Scalp massage increases blood flow. Better blood flow means better healing and potentially better graft survival. It’s a simple habit that can make a real difference.
Think of it like warming up before a workout. Your scalp is about to go through a procedure. Get the circulation going.
Supplements and Vitamins to Avoid Before FUE
This is where a lot of patients make mistakes. You might think vitamins are always good for you. Before surgery, some of them aren’t.
Stop taking these at least one week before your procedure:
These supplements can thin your blood or interfere with clotting. That means more bleeding during surgery and slower healing afterward.
If you’re taking any of these for a medical reason, talk to your doctor before stopping. But for most people, a one-week break won’t cause any problems.
You can resume your supplements about 5-7 days after surgery, once initial healing is underway.
Hair Length and Scalp Preparation
The recommendations below are general guidelines. Every patient is different, and your specific situation may call for a different approach.
Some cases don’t require full shaving, like when we’re not transplanting between existing hair or when working on smaller areas. Other cases might need more extensive preparation.
The best approach? Discuss this with your clinic before surgery. During your consultation, ask specifically about shaving requirements for your procedure. Your surgeon will tell you exactly what’s needed based on your hair loss pattern, the number of grafts planned, and where they’re being placed.
Standard FUE: What Happens to Your Hair
For larger FUE sessions (1,500+ grafts), the donor area gets shaved down to about 1mm on the morning of surgery. Don’t worry about cutting your hair beforehand. Your surgeon will trim it to the right length.
One thing to avoid: don’t cut or shave the recipient area for at least two weeks before your procedure. The existing hair helps the surgeon design your transplant and determine the natural direction of growth.
If you have longer hair on top, leave it. It can actually help conceal the recipient area during early healing.
Morning of surgery? Show up with your hair at the length you normally wear it. No gels, no wax, no styling products. Just clean hair.
Don’t Want to Shave? We Have an Option for That
Not everyone can show up to work with a shaved head. Maybe you’re a professional who needs discretion. Maybe you just don’t want to explain the buzzcut to everyone at the gym.
That’s exactly why ForHair offers No-Shave FUE, what we call C2G.
You keep your current hairstyle. You return to the office the next day. Nobody knows you had anything done.
C2G works especially well for men and women with longer hair. The transplanted follicles blend right into your existing hair, and you get the same 97% success rate as standard CIT®.
The trade-off? It takes more time (each hair gets trimmed individually before extraction) and costs more than shaved FUE. ForHair typically transplants around 2,500 grafts per C2G session.
But for patients who need to stay under the radar, it’s worth every penny. Busy professionals particularly love this option. You get the procedure done and go back to your life without anyone being the wiser.
10 days before surgery
In order for the clinic to provide you with the highest quality medical care, it is imperative that you follow the instructions that they give you.
You’ll be advised to avoid taking aspirin or other anti-inflammatory medications for two weeks before your treatment. This is because it might cause excessive bleeding or make healing difficult.
If you are taking any medicines, particularly beta-blockers, blood thinners, or antidepressants, tell your doctor. These medications can also have a negative impact on your recovery.
It’s critical not to drink alcohol or caffeine for a few days before your operation, since they can deplete your body of fluids. You should also quit smoking at least 24 hours prior to and avoid taking any blood-thinning medicines on the day of your surgery. You’ll need to get there early on the day of your surgery to complete any necessary paperwork and preparations.
On the morning of your procedure, you should take a bath or shower and wash your hair thoroughly using regular shampoo. After shampooing, rinse thoroughly and use a fresh, clean towel to dry your hair. Do not apply sprays or gels to your hair. If you wear a hairpiece or hair system, make sure it is removed prior to your morning shower and not replaced before your procedure.
Make sure you eat breakfast on the morning of your treatment. Have a light lunch before going to surgery if you are scheduled for it in the afternoon.
Wear comfortable clothing on the day of your procedure, and bring a coat, sweater, or socks for warmth, as you may find our surgical center is very cold. A button-up shirt is best because you do not need to pull this over the grafted area after your procedure.
Medications That Require Special Attention
Some medications need more than just a conversation. They may need to be adjusted or temporarily stopped.
Blood thinners like Coumadin, Plavix, and Heparin are typically contraindications for surgery. If you’re on these, your surgeon needs to coordinate with your prescribing doctor.
Beta-blockers like Propranolol (Inderal) may need to be switched to a more selective beta-blocker before surgery. Don’t stop these on your own. Your surgeon will advise you.
Antidepressants should ideally be paused about two weeks before surgery, but only under medical guidance. Never stop psychiatric medications without talking to your prescribing doctor first.
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) include more than just aspirin. Advil, Motrin, Ibuprofen, Aleve, Excedrin, and Alka-Seltzer all fall into this category. Stop all of these two weeks before surgery.
The Day Before Surgery
Get a good night’s sleep. This sounds obvious, but nerves can keep people up. If you’re anxious, that’s normal. But do what you can to rest.
Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Eat a normal, balanced dinner. Don’t do anything extreme with your diet.
Confirm your transportation for the next day. Remember, you won’t be able to drive yourself home after the procedure.
If you’re staying at a hotel near the clinic, check in and get settled early. You don’t want to be rushing around the morning of surgery.
The Morning of Your Procedure
On the morning of your procedure, you should take a bath or shower and wash your hair thoroughly using regular shampoo. After shampooing, rinse thoroughly and use a fresh, clean towel to dry your hair. Do not apply sprays or gels to your hair. If you wear a hairpiece or hair system, make sure it is removed prior to your morning shower and not replaced before your procedure.
Make sure you eat breakfast on the morning of your treatment. Have a light lunch before going to surgery if you are scheduled for it in the afternoon.
Wear comfortable clothing on the day of your procedure, and bring a coat, sweater, or socks for warmth, as you may find our surgical center is very cold. A button-up shirt is best because you do not need to pull this over the grafted area after your procedure.
What to Bring on Surgery Day
The clinic will provide most of what you need, but here’s a checklist to make your day smoother:
- Button-up shirt (you won’t want to pull anything over your head afterward)
- Warm layers (surgical centers run cold)
- Entertainment (books, downloaded shows, music with headphones; the procedure takes several hours)
- Phone charger
- Loose-fitting hat for the trip home (your clinic may provide one)
- ID and payment confirmation
- List of current medications (just in case)
A Note on Fasting
The article says to eat breakfast, and that’s correct for most FUE procedures done under local anesthesia.
However, if your surgeon plans to use sedation (oral, intramuscular, or IV), you may be asked to fast. Typically that means no food after midnight the night before.
Your clinic will give you specific instructions. When in doubt, ask. It’s better to clarify than to have your procedure delayed because you ate a bagel at 6 AM.
What should I expect during the FUE operation?
The hair transplant using the FUE technique is a low-risk procedure. The surgeon will put you at ease. If you are still hesitant, consider how your life will change after the operation, and how much better you will look with new hair.
To keep you calm throughout the hair restoration process, you will be seated while a modest number of local anesthetic injections are administered to numb the treatment area. Throughout the complete hair transplant procedure, we will keep an eye on your comfort.
You will notice a significant improvement in your hairline once the transplant is over, which enables new hair follicles to develop quickly. Hair development after almost six months can be expected, and the final result is visible approximately one year later, according to most individuals who had their transplants restored.
You are advised to rest well during preparation for the FUE method.
The importance of careful preparation for FUE cannot be overstated, and it’s important for obtaining safe, natural, and permanent hair while undergoing the procedure.
Post-Surgery Follow-up
In addition to learning about the surgery itself, it’s important to understand what sort of post-operative care is required in order to ensure a successful outcome. Your surgeon will give you detailed instructions on how to care for your new hairline in the days and weeks following surgery. Be sure to follow all of their instructions closely, as improper care can lead to infection or other complications. In general, you’ll need to avoid strenuous activity, keep your head elevated when sleeping, and shampoo your scalp gently with bland soap.
You should expect to feel completely normal after surgery, so sit down and take a load off. After the surgery, we recommend you get some good rest. You’ll most likely need to keep a bandage on your head for the first few days after surgery, as well as your new hairline in the days and weeks following surgery.
The clinic’s staff will provide you with the bandage and also pain relief medication if needed. Make sure you follow all of their instructions carefully since incorrect treatment might lead to infection or other problems.
You should generally avoid intense exercise, keep your head elevated while sleeping, and shampoo your scalp softly with a mild soap.
Most importantly, be patient! Don’t expect immediate results. It takes between 4-6 months to start noticing hair growth and 12-15 months for full results. By following these guidelines and patiently waiting for your recovery period to conclude, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying a natural-looking FUE hairline.
Post-op FUE Questions
These are some of the most frequently asked questions after surgery.:
WHAT COULD INCREASE MY SCALP PRESSURE?
- Lifting heavy Items. Do not lift for 1 week
- You may do a light workout in 1 day
- Don’t bump your head. (car, doors, shelves….)
- Don’t hit your recipient area with direct shower pressure for 6 days.
WHAT COULD INCREASE THE BLEEDING?
- MEDICATION: – Aspirin and Vitamins in general. Stay off for 5 days.
- ALCOHOL: Avoid.
- CAFFEINE: (Coffee, Coke, Tea), a tendency to increase blood pressure, therefore increasing bleeding. Decrease the quantity you drink.
WHAT ARE THE OUTSIDE FACTORS THAT COULD IMPAIR THE GROWTH OF YOUR GRAFTS?
- (a) Direct sunshine exposure for a long period of time. Avoid outdoor activities, or wear a hat and use strong sunscreen. Avoid sun exposure for 3-6 months.
- (b) Smoking. Decrease as much as you can.
- (c) Swimming pools because of the chlorine. Avoid pools for 2 weeks.
Conclusion
The hair restoration process can be very exciting and a positive experience. You are not ill or injured or sick, and you are not hurt in any way. You’re having the treatment simply because you want to. You recognized a problem with your hair loss and have taken action to address it.
That is what mature, responsible people do when they are concerned about their hair loss. So be enthusiastic about your treatment and the decisions you made, and enjoy the benefits of it. If you did everything necessary and followed the instructions and advice of your clinic, you’ll be able to tell that it was all worth it when you look in the mirror 6-12 months later and see a living, healthy, growing hair where there previously was none.
It’s essential to do your research before getting started and choose an experienced surgeon and staff to get a successful FUE hair transplant. If you’d like to set up a consultation with one of our specialists and find out what to anticipate from follicular unit extraction, give us a call.
Frequently Asked Questions About FUE Preparation
How long before FUE surgery should I stop taking vitamins?
Stop taking Vitamin E, Vitamin B complex, fish oil, and any multivitamins containing these at least one week before surgery. These supplements can thin your blood and increase bleeding during the procedure. You can resume them about 5-7 days after surgery.
Can I keep my hair long for FUE surgery?
For standard FUE, the donor area is typically shaved to 1mm. However, ForHair offers No-Shave FUE (C2G) for patients who want to keep their current hairstyle. With C2G, you can return to work the next day without anyone knowing you had a procedure.
What medications should I avoid before hair transplant surgery?
Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, and other NSAIDs for two weeks before surgery. Blood thinners like Coumadin and Plavix require coordination with your prescribing doctor. Also, stop herbal supplements like ginkgo, garlic, and ginseng one week before.
How long should I stop smoking before FUE?
Ideally, stop smoking at least one week before surgery and avoid it for two weeks after. Nicotine restricts blood flow to the scalp, which can affect graft survival and healing. This includes vaping and nicotine patches.
Do I need blood tests before FUE surgery?
Yes, most clinics require blood work, including a complete blood count, clotting factors, and screenings for HIV and Hepatitis. Some patients over 50 or with heart conditions may also need an ECG. Get your tests done early so results are ready before your surgery date.
