Medically reviewed by Dr. Kim Dae-woo, Medical Director, MONARA Dermatology Clinic

What is placed on the day matters, and so does what happens at one month when it sheds, at four months when it returns, and at eight months when the outcome becomes readable. The clinic schedules that whole year rather than discharging you at the door.

Programme

From the day of surgery to one year

Day of surgery
PRP treatment (autologous)
Day 1
Wound check and dressing · shampoo method demonstrated · LLLT laser
The laser at this stage is for inflammation and swelling.
Week 1
Graft take reviewed · medication reviewed · LLLT laser
Month 1
Shedding phase reviewed · O₂ scaling · LLLT laser
Transplanted hair sheds heavily at this point. It is expected.
Month 4
Regrowth reviewed · MTS · LLLT laser
Month 8
Roughly 80% of the final result is readable · touch-up considered where indicated · LLLT laser
Year 1
Final result assessed · touch-up considered where indicated · PRP or MTS · LLLT laser

Before surgery

Pre-operative precautions

Tell the medical team about your health accurately — hypertension, diabetes, drug allergies, panic disorder, or the possibility of pregnancy.
Stop antithrombotic medication such as aspirin and warfarin two weeks beforehand. If you cannot stop it, say so — the operation can still be performed safely.
Stop circulation-related supplements two weeks beforehand: omega-3, vitamin E, onion or garlic extract, ginkgo extract.
Colouring and perming are restricted for about four weeks after surgery, so do them beforehand if you need to. If you have a lot of grey hair, colour it one or two days before you come.
Do not cut your hair short beforehand — longer hair covers the donor area better afterwards.
At least four hours without food on the day, for safe sleep sedation. Essential medication such as blood pressure or thyroid tablets may be taken with a little water; diabetes medication should not.
Wash your hair the night before, since you cannot on the day, and avoid facial make-up.
Wear loose clothing that opens with buttons or a zip.
Bring a loose hat — a bucket hat, hiking cap, bandana or hooded top. Not a baseball cap or a beanie.
Use public transport or bring someone with you rather than driving yourself.

After surgery

Post-operative precautions

The first two weeks decide how well the grafts take. Care when dressing, washing and sleeping is not a formality during that period.

The first two weeks decide how well the grafts take. Be careful with the operated area when dressing, washing and sleeping.
No smoking and no alcohol for at least two weeks. This has a direct effect on take rate.
Light walking any time; light running from one week; strenuous exercise from two weeks.
A hat can be worn immediately if it rests rather than grips. Tight baseball caps and beanies can catch and pull out grafts.
Shampooing starts the day after surgery, using the foam method demonstrated at the clinic rather than ordinary washing.
The grafted area may itch. Do not scratch it — tap it instead, and take care not to scratch in your sleep.
A single dislodged graft can bleed considerably. Press a clean cloth or gauze onto the point for about ten minutes.
Sleep on your back. Turning slightly to the side is fine, but keep the grafted area off the pillow.
Facial swelling is common for two to three days. Use a cold compress on the forehead, rest lying face-up, and massage above the brow from the inside outwards to keep the eyelids down.
The prescription contains an antibiotic, a gastric protectant, an anti-swelling agent and an anti-inflammatory analgesic. Regular medication and supplements can resume the day after surgery, once bleeding has been checked.
Styling is comfortable from two weeks. Colouring and perming from four weeks.
Crusts are removed gradually from day ten — soak them until soft first. Anything still attached after fourteen days can be rubbed off, and shampooing is unrestricted from then.

Shampoo room at MONARA Dermatology Clinic

Day one

The method is shown, not just written

Shampooing starts the day after surgery, but not by washing normally. The foam method is demonstrated at the clinic on the day-one visit, in the shampoo room, before you go home with the written protocol.

Washing

The foam shampoo method

Shampooing starts the day after surgery, but not by washing normally. The method is demonstrated at the clinic on the day-one visit.

Your usual shampoo is fine.
Wet the hair thoroughly with lukewarm water at low pressure.
Lather the shampoo away from the grafted area, taking care not to touch it.
Rest the foam gently on the grafted area and leave it for two to three minutes until it settles.
Everywhere else, including the donor area at the back, can be washed normally.
Rinse with gently running water at low pressure until the foam has gone.
Rinse the grafted area again with sterile saline after the water, for about seven days, so no shampoo residue is left.
Do not rub with a towel — press to remove water.
Dry thoroughly with a fan or a cool hairdryer.
Apply antiseptic to the donor area for about a week after drying.
Spray the graft take tonic (EGF) onto the grafted area every four hours, continuing until the bottle is finished.

Aftercare

From the day of surgery to one year

PRP treatment (autologous)

Wound check and dressing · shampoo method demonstrated · LLLT laser

Graft take reviewed · medication reviewed · LLLT laser

Shedding phase reviewed · O₂ scaling · LLLT laser

Regrowth reviewed · MTS · LLLT laser

Roughly 80% of the final result is readable · touch-up considered where indicated · LLLT laser

Final result assessed · touch-up considered where indicated · PRP or MTS · LLLT laser

Pre-operative precautions

Post-operative precautions

The method is shown, not just written

The foam shampoo method

Questions about recovery?